It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Green Bay WI area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Green Bay home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you must consider in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Green Bay WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with 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 certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Green Bay WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Green Bay WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Green Bay WI residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously 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 program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Green Bay WI area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.