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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Ashwaubenon WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Ashwaubenon residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you must consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Ashwaubenon WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Ashwaubenon WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Ashwaubenon WI after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher 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 sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Ashwaubenon WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Ashwaubenon WI area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.