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Points to Ask Pharmacist Tech Schools
After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Fort Mohave AZ area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Fort Mohave residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Fort Mohave AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Fort Mohave Arizona area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Fort Mohave AZ upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Fort Mohave AZ residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Fort Mohave AZ area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.