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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Courses
After you have determined whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Opelika AL area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Opelika home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you need to consider in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. 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 acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Opelika AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Opelika Alabama area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Opelika AL after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Opelika AL home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often 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.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Opelika AL area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.