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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to select from in the River Falls WI area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your River 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 a number of other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded 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 programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of River Falls WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with River Falls WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in River Falls WI after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their River Falls WI home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable 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 classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the River Falls WI area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify 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 illness, work or family obligations.