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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Baytown TX area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Baytown residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Baytown TX employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Baytown TX area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Baytown TX upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Baytown TX home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician college you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Baytown TX area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.