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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Wisconsin Rapids WI area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Wisconsin Rapids home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician 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). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Wisconsin Rapids WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Wisconsin Rapids WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Wisconsin Rapids WI upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Wisconsin Rapids WI home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry 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 decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Wisconsin Rapids WI area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.