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Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to pick from in the Menomonee Falls 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 covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Menomonee Falls home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you must consider in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Menomonee Falls WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 Menomonee Falls WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Menomonee Falls WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement 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 employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Menomonee Falls WI home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing 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 might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average 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 converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Menomonee Falls WI area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check 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 may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.