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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Waunakee WI area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Waunakee residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Waunakee WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Waunakee WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Waunakee WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some support. Find out if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school 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 College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Waunakee WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose 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 usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Waunakee WI area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.