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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Mount Pleasant WI area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Mount Pleasant home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional 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 offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Mount Pleasant WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician school should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Mount Pleasant WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Mount Pleasant WI after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Mount Pleasant WI residence. Students who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average 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 a chance to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Mount Pleasant WI area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option 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 because of work, illness or family emergencies.