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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Casper WY area and throughout the USA, so you need to create 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 programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Casper residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have obtained 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 screened and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Casper WY employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Casper WY area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Casper WY upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Casper WY residence. Students who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Casper WY area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.