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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Caledonia WI area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Caledonia residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other factors that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Caledonia WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Caledonia WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Caledonia WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some support. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Caledonia WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Caledonia WI area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.