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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Gillette WY area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Gillette home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected 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 complete superior education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Gillette 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 all states, but many employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Gillette WY area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Gillette WY after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any help. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Gillette WY residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry 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 may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average 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 an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Gillette WY area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.