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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Laramie WY area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Laramie residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Laramie WY employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Laramie WY area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Laramie WY after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If so, find out 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 appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Laramie WY residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing 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 might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Laramie WY area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.