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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Cudahy WI area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Cudahy residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned 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 evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Cudahy WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Cudahy WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Cudahy WI upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Cudahy WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Cudahy WI area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.