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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to pick from in the Milwaukee WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Milwaukee home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Milwaukee WI employers 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 every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Milwaukee WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Milwaukee WI upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting task without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Milwaukee WI home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Milwaukee WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.