For a future pharmacy technician, the preparation for a financial aid application is similar to other, non-medical students. Financial and personal information needs to be compiled. Determine if you are dependent or independent of your parents. If dependent, you need your parents' financial information. Apply for financial aid at least two semesters before attending a school or program. Contact the school during the financial aid application process--the school could have opportunities available.
Financial aid opportunities fall under federal and non-federal types.The main avenue of financial assistance is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a federal application, and can be applied across state lines, but it can also be used to apply for aid from state, local or school, sources. The non-federal options can come from scholarships and grants, and this is where health-care specific financial aid will be. There are general scholarships, such as the Medical Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship, which gives $1,000 to any type of student entering the medical or health-care professions. More specific scholarships include the McKesson Pharmacy Scholarship, which annually gives out $1,000 to 50 pharmacy students of any type in the United States, as of 2010.
A federal financial aid check is sent either from the school or from the federal aid office. A non-federal check could also be sent from the foundation, but there might be a celebratory dinner, where the members responsible for giving the financial aid can meet the grantee. A federal check will arrive before each semester, and a non-federal check may also come at the beginning of each semester, or once a
year, before the term begins.
Pharmacy technician certification states that a technician training program can take up to one year to complete, but the Health Careers website says that the program can last up to two years. If additional semesters are needed, you will need to reapply for federal financial aid. Before applying for scholarships, check if the disbursement schedule corresponds to when aid is needed.
It might be thought that a student applying to a specialized field, such as pharmaceuticals, needs special financial aid options. But this is only the case for scholarships or grants. For a pharmacy technician, the main source of financial aid is the same as any other student, FAFSA. The Guide to Health Care Schools website lists financial aid myths: the applicant will not receive aid if his family takes in a high salary; the applicant's grades are too low to get aid; there is only federal aid; financial aid will be used to pay tuition; a student loan is lifetime debt; only a genius gets a scholarship; loans affect credit history; state schools have better aid programs; no one uses financial aid.