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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Cheyenne WY area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Cheyenne residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you need to consider in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Cheyenne WY pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This qualification may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Cheyenne WY area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Cheyenne WY upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Cheyenne WY home. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical teacher to student 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 an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Cheyenne WY area, verify that they are offered. 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 as a result of work, illness or family obligations.