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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the College AK area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your College home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you should consider so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacist Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many College AK pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways 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 practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with College Alaska area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in College AK after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without any support. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out 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 appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their College AK 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 local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 sort of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the College AK area, check 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 carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.