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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Beaver Dam WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Beaver Dam residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Beaver Dam WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Beaver Dam WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Beaver Dam WI after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any help. Find out if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Beaver Dam WI home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Beaver Dam WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.