"Why becoming a certified pharmacy technician is not worth your time"

I'm glad to hear that California is one of the state's that requires some type of formal training. In Illinois, all you have to have is a high school diploma and no felonies. You do, however, have to passed the Certification test within 2 years of your license application date. The problem we have seen arise here is that a lot of the tech's that are getting to the end of their 2 years and take test and fail it because they have not been educated. And I agree that these schools have popped up everywhere, the trick is finding a school that has some kind of accreditation standards. The ASHP has a list of schools broken down by state and so the the PTCB, the NPTA, and just about every other professional pharmacy organization. I can assure you that you will not about allowed to step foot into an IV room here without knowledge of pharmacy-specific Calculations and aseptic technique. To be a Pharmaceutical Rep you have to be licensed to even step foot on the pharmacy floor so they'd have to be certified in your state from what you are saying. Over a million people are injured every year due to preventable medication errors by UNTRAINED staff. 10,000 of them die.... Your stories are very sad indeed, and I have heard similar stories as well. Of course it makes you feel bad, but there are a lot of things in this world that make you feel bad and are completely out of your hands. Like I said, I love my job and I've been a tech for 7 years. Seems like all of you that are complaining about being a tech chose the wrong field!

I couldn't agree with you more on training and how some new techs do not realize how serious the meds are, then again when techs are paid like McDonald's wages after going to a school for 6 months - it's an employers market here in Los Angeles. My Neighbors daughter works at an In N Out hamburger chain & makes over 30,000 & works 30-35 hours a week slicing onions(had a 2 week training course.
And yes there are good & bad things in the pharmacy. I won't have anything to do with a prescription if I can't read the writing - what good is writing if you can't read it? I love being a tech - when I can find a place to work. I have had my license for 10 years and seems useless here - some employers might see too many years might equal to too much payroll. There is also a lot of mail order going on which insurance companies are in cahootz with drug companies - Like Unitedhealth has their own called Prescription Solutions. I have also known cancer patients who have switched to marijuana(there goes a lot of other pills) - what a difference with no synthetic chemicals! And they are eating without vomiting! Maybe I should move to Illinois? Would they recognize my CA license through a reciprocity act? It can be tough being caucasian in Los Angeles trying to find a job as a tech.

Does attending an ASHP-approved program help finding a job?

Good Luck with anyone helping with jobs. I have paid for a service called "IHIREPHARMACY" their job listings are the same as Indeed or Simplyhired and really have not done much for me other than critique my resume. When I finished my tech program in LA in 2000 they had job placement - now with schools saturating the market it is called "job assistance". I went to American Career College and in my last 2 weeks they had me in an internship 2 miles from home and of course if you're lucky you might get offered a $9/hr job. The saturation in the pharmacy tech world has lowered the pay and you'll be lucky if you can get a job for $10/hr. In California, most training programs train as if you are going to be nationally certified. Some places may not want a nationally certified tech because that might mean more pay and every application that I have filled all they were looking for was a current state license with a clean record. Again, having held my license for 10 years does not mean much in California. There are retirement homes that are hiring "Med Techs" for $10/hr to recount the pills - no license required, because no dispensing - but you're still handling drugs - go figure. I would become nationally certified if it was a 100% guarantee for a foot in the door.

I recently graduated from a private school as a Pharmacy Technician.
Im registered, but not yet certified cause I tend to freak out about the test.
Im scared that Ill fail it or something.
I graduated in May 2011, should I still consider taking the exam or just go to another career?
also ... would walgreens aor cvs allow me to be a volunteer and work in the pharmacy as a registered pharmacy tech. until im ready to take the exam?

I don't know what the laws are in Florida regarding a state license or what is needed to work in a pharmacy - it's up to you, but in California you need a state license issued by the board of pharmacy.
I have almost never see companies looking for a nationally certified tech.
Most retail chain pharmacies do not want volunteers hanging around their pills.

Here is a link with some practice testing>>>
www.pharmacy-tech-study.com/practicetest.html

Do not waste your time and money enroll directly into PHARM D
AN HONEST ADVICE :)

Enroll directly into PHARM D,Honest advice

brown_dude35 in Brookline, Massachusetts said: In most cases “no formal education” is required at this time in order to become a pharmacy technician.

Becoming a certified technician fulfills the law that enables you to work in a hospital setting. You can become certified by passing the National Pharmacy Technician Exam at www.ptcb.org . Whatever you choose to do find a way to pass this test, it will open up a lot of other pharmaceutical opportunities and allow you to register with your state board of pharmacy in a fast way.

However, lacking hospital experience is a critical factor in getting hired as a hospital pharmacy technician. Furthermore, the only way you can get this critical hospital experience is to volunteer as a hospital pharmacy technician. Stay away from the retail pharmacy setting as it is injurious to your career as a freshman pharmacy technician.

There is too much gossip, high stress level, and low pay within the retail sector of pharmacy. It’s not worth the experience. Your learning opportunities working in retail pharmacy such as CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreen’s, Targets, etc, will be limited and not a rewarding experience. However, this is the route most freshman pharmacy technicians who are not certified/registered take in order to enter the field.

The state law requirements for pharmacy technicians can vary from state to state so you should read up on your state board of pharmacy laws. According, to what you posted it appears you live in Tennessee so go here for more info health.state.tn.us/boards/Pharmacy/index.shtml

-Good Luck

"No formal education" required BUT they'd rather have the experience. Here in California one year experience is required

I kind of wonder if Pharmacy Tech is just like all the other entry level jobs out there in that they'd RATHER you have years' of verifiable work experience than a degree or license in Pharmacy Tech or any of the life sciences that a while ago would lend themselves to a career sorting pills in a pharmacy. People with bachelor's of science's in Biology and other Biological sciences should try applying for entry level pharmacy tech jobs with no experience and see what happens. Until then I remain a substitute teacher in nasty-area districts that "will take anyone with a Bachelor's degree" because they're so remote that they can't be picky about verifiable references and all that BS.

The job market for pharmacy technician in Los Angeles is ugly. I went to an interview at the UCLA hospital and the lady told me they have over 100 applicants for the job! Every place I go to also tells me they get a lot of calls about open positions. I think it is the trade schools promising rewarding futures and churning out techs when the market is already flooded; they run a lot of day time ads. Retail stores will definitely low ball you, as the first post mentioned, at around 9 to 11 an hour which isn't great pay in a high cost area of living like Los Angeles. Hospitals pay the best 14 and up, but the competition is fierce.

well their is a pharmacy tech program at my school for free and i am thinking of taking it since it pays more than a CNA or dentist assistant(other programs at school) so we would end up going to pharmacys everyday to get experience. So well i only want to work as a tech to help pay for college. Since i am in highschool so do you think its a good idea?

I have got this opportunity to share with u more experience ,tell me is it possible to stand the state test without going to a pharm tech shool,tell me more because I did Bpharm degree outside of USA .

grego91754@yahoo.com in Monterey Park, California said: I couldn't agree with you more on training and how some new techs do not realize how serious the meds are, then again when techs are paid like McDonald's wages after going to a school for 6 months - it's an employers market here in Los Angeles. My Neighbors daughter works at an In N Out hamburger chain & makes over 30,000 & works 30-35 hours a week slicing onions(had a 2 week training course.
And yes there are good & bad things in the pharmacy. I won't have anything to do with a prescription if I can't read the writing - what good is writing if you can't read it? I love being a tech - when I can find a place to work. I have had my license for 10 years and seems useless here - some employers might see too many years might equal to too much payroll. There is also a lot of mail order going on which insurance companies are in cahootz with drug companies - Like Unitedhealth has their own called Prescription Solutions. I have also known cancer patients who have switched to marijuana(there goes a lot of other pills) - what a difference with no synthetic chemicals! And they are eating without vomiting! Maybe I should move to Illinois? Would they recognize my CA license through a reciprocity act? It can be tough being caucasian in Los Angeles trying to find a job as a tech.

Well then come on up to Northern Central California where being Caucasian seems to be a REQUIREMENT after all the public is going to SEE you and they wouldn't trust anyone non-Caucasian to handle their medications now would they?! I'm Native American with dark skin and I think I'm only HALFWAY being sarcastic.......!

jean in Salt Lake City, Utah said: I have got this opportunity to share with u more experience ,tell me is it possible to stand the state test without going to a pharm tech shool,tell me more because I did Bpharm degree outside of USA .

Yes in California it technically IS but then I'd wonder if any place would HIRE you if you did it that way. No verifiable relevant experience and all that BS.

loria in Dallas, Texas said: well their is a pharmacy tech program at my school for free and i am thinking of taking it since it pays more than a CNA or dentist assistant(other programs at school) so we would end up going to pharmacys everyday to get experience. So well i only want to work as a tech to help pay for college. Since i am in highschool so do you think its a good idea?

As long as you CAN work in your state certified that way. And if you get an externship through the school do it for TWO WHOLE YEARS. Or three. Period. Even if they're treating you like dirt during it - all that matters these days is having two to three to five whole years' full time paid work experience under your belt even if you're like 16 or something. Stick them out!! Internships or externships of durations with the word "months" in them, will get you nowhere. No employer these days thinks that three months, as in a summer internship, is long enough to teach you anything, apparently.

I'm not saying these things to be mean, this is just what gets handed to ME on a regular basis. Employers these days seem to trust "experience" more than they trust the SCHOOL to teach you anything, or the State board of licensure of [insert field here] to check your background well enough to determine if you COULD do the job or are "safe" to be "allowed" around other people's medication (or children, if you're talking about teaching, or elderly if you're talking about that, and ya da ya da....)

JOEY1296 in Salinas, California said: I HAVE TO DISAGRRE WITH ALOT OF PEOPLE'S NEGATIVITY TOWARDS THE PHARM TECH FIELD, I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T MAKE A CAREER OUT OF IT, BUT FOR A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT WORKING PART TIME, THE MONEY IS BETTER THAN MOST JOBS OFFERED TO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO NEED FLEXIBLE HOURS. AND AS FOR THE BEST PAYING PHARMACY CHAIN, WALGREENS PAYS THEIR TECHS REALLY WELL, I'M 22, NATIONALLY CERTIFIED, AND I MAKE $18.25 AN HOUR, AND I'VE ONLY BEEN WITH THE COMPANY SINCE '07, WHERE I STARTED OUT AT $11.50, BUT GOT BUMPED UP TO $13.75 ONCE I PASSED MY NATIONAL BOARD TEST. ALSO, THEY PAY FOR YOU TO TAKE THE NATIONAL BOARD TEST, THEY'LL PAY FOR UP TO 3 TRIES, AND THEY PAY FOR YOUR STATE LISCENCE RENEWAL, AND HAVE FREE CE'S (CONTINUING EDUCATION) FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED THE CREDITS FOR YOUR NATIONAL BOARD RENEWAL. AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE FREAKING OUT ABOUT THE NATIONAL BOARD TEST, THAT TEST IS SO SIMPLE IF YOU'VE TAKEN THE CLASS AND DONE SOME EXTERNSHIP HOURS. ALL YOU NEED IS A 650 AND THE GRADING SCALE IS 300-900, SO IN REALITY, YOU NEED TO GET 350 OUT OF A 600 POINT TEST, THATS 58%, THAT'S LESS THAN A "D" BY REGULAR STANDARDS. SERIOUSLY, ITS NOT A BIG DEAL.

If your bar is already set low its hard to be dissapointed.

Alamode in Denver, Colorado said: If your bar is already set low its hard to be dissapointed.

That's not necessarily true for all companies. CVS, Walmart and such don't pay that much unless you started years ago. Being nationally certified does not automatically bump a raise in alot of companies. Aside from that, you can get free CE's from a lot of legitimate sources. With the saturated pharm tech market, it really isn't that easy to get your foot in the door at the point. I've worked for a few companies and have seen managers throw out numerous applications without even glancing at them because there simply aren't job very many job openings. The situation with the current economy doesn't help. I don't recommend paying that much money to go through a whole program. I know plenty of people who couldn't find jobs afterwards (in California).

And really, the caps are unnecessary and rude. Please be a little more professional.

brown_dude_CPhT in Watertown, Massachusetts said: Unfortunately, your story is sad to read but I would recommend that most aspiring pharmacy technicians if they are interested in the medical field look into a biotechnology program,

I'm sorry, Biotechnology? You can't get even a laboratory assistant washing petri dishes and cleaning up after and feeding the lab animals job with less than a PhD in the Biotechnology field. I have a Bachelor's in Biology and have been applying like crazy to biotech lab tech positions all over the country, it feels like, and get NOTHING. Ignored. Squat. Crickets. And this is for the "entry level" ones which SAY that all that's required is either an Associates in one of the sciences or a high school diploma with some bio and chem classes.

I have an interview with CVS on Friday. Even if it doesn't pay much, it's a start. I didn't pay for any school, though. It's just that it is tough with my girlfriend bringing in the only income (she sells used cars). Plus, there are so many of us living in the trailer right now.

Squadfather in Ballwin, Missouri said: I have an interview with CVS on Friday. Even if it doesn't pay much, it's a start. I didn't pay for any school, though. It's just that it is tough with my girlfriend bringing in the only income (she sells used cars). Plus, there are so many of us living in the trailer right now.

Can you please share with me how you answered questions with your interviewer? I will start my course in the January. Studying is not a problem for me, but I'm not quick when it comes to interviewing. Thank you.

Nguyễn Khánh Minh in Oakland, California said: Can you please share with me how you answered questions with your interviewer? I will start my course in the January. Studying is not a problem for me, but I'm not quick when it comes to interviewing. Thank you.

I've applied to CVS several times, I have my AS Degree in Pharmacy Technology,certified and I still have not got a call back. What's really going on? Do you know someone that works at CVS, or do you have previous experience?

sarah mrxi in Franklin Park, Illinois said: This is a comment for Lakeland in Ohio. I am actually working with Lakeland right now with their pharmacy technician program. They actually might be offering a second class in the future and I am looking to hire an instructor for it. I can hire a pharmacist, a student in their last year of pharmacy school, or a certified pharmacy tech. Let me know if anyone in the Cleveland area is interested in teaching. The pay for a certified tech is $20-28/hour depending on experience. And for a pharmacist $45-47 hour. You can email me your resume at sarah@mrxicorp.com

$20-$28/hour?...Wow!...What a difference location makes...In Texas the pay for CPhTs is $14-$18/hour (even worse in Oklahoma) for hospital techs, and $9-$12 for retail techs...I'd say if you're considering becoming a pharm tech, RECONSIDER...Try Radiologic Technology, or Medical Technology instead.

I'm curious as to which pharmacies will hire you if you only have a ExCPT over a PTCB. Both give you the same title of C.PhT but I hear the PTCB is highly regarded. I can only take the ExCPT, but if Walgreens, CVS, Kmart or other retailers won't hire because I wouldn't have a PTCB than I don't think I'm going to waste any time on pursuing this field. Does anyone know for sure which pharmacies in IL (seeing as IL does credit ExCPT) will hire someone like me?

My name is Kristen I live in Bristol TN. I'm 19 and in college. I've been taking a class at ETSU in Johnson City TN to prepare me for the pharmacy tech exam. I think this class has been very helpful. It was 400 and provides your book. You have 19 classes every tuesday and thursday from 6-8 pm for about 2 months. this class is by far the quickest and cheapest way in my area to prepare for the exam. The local buisness school charges 1100 to take the same class and is a whole semester. I would recommend this class to any who who want to become a certified pharmacy tech, or anyone who is interested in becoming a pharmasist.

Being a pharmacy tech is just like any other job, it's what you make it. Retail exposes you to the stress of dealing with the public, understaffed pharmacies, and the pharmacist in charge can make the job rewarding or hellish. However, you can get certified in compounding, chemo and hazardous drugs, and aseptic techniques. Many hospital pharmacists like seeing those additional certifications but don't necessarily want you to have experience because they would prefer to teach you the way they like to have things done. Also, if you do have to start in retail, look at the local independent pharmacies. Independent pharmacies have more flexibility with regards to pay and my experience is that they tend to pay higher starting salaries and can give performance raises more often than the mega-chains. It's an ever-evolving industry and although it has its shortcomings, it can be very rewarding. Rich you won't be, but challenged you will. Good luck to all those looking...

Pharmacy Technicians can also work in hospitals and generally those Techs start at $15 an hour with no experience(in California).
(I know this because I've worked at a hospital) Also Hospital generally offer great benefits, better pay, and weekend incentives. The hospital I worked for paid their Techs $2 more an hour on the weekends on top of the time and a half for working a normal 10 hour shift. You can also find jobs at pharmacy call center starting at about $13-$14 an hour. Tasking in call centers include general clerical work, answering patient questions about insurance and solving patient insurance needs all while sitting on your butt with a headset in front of a computer. Yes, when working in retail you make $9-$10 without a license(You have no schooling for this position and it is entry level so what do you expect?) As a licensed Tech Walgreens will start at $13.25 (in California, lower if you live in states with a lower cost of living). Technically, there is also room for advancement in the field as well. You can become a lead Tech and make as much as $20-$22(in California). Of course you will need experience for lead. Pharmacy Technician training is also generally less expensive than most medical careers and it only takes about a year. It provides a great gateway into medical for future career expansion. Don't complain about the wages because this is a stable job that does pay decent. If you want to make a lot of money go to a 2 or 4 year school, pay out thousands and earn a degree. Or become a pharmacy tech, earn above minimum and return to school for your medical degree. Also if you complain like the original poster about sick patients (not customers)and high stress you should NEVER be a pharm tech. We work with sick people, of course their grumpy. They are sick or they have someone they care about who is sick. We do our job to help the community and try to be understanding, not complain about standing and grumpy ill patients.

brown_dude34 in Roslindale, Massachusetts said: The biggest grip I have with the pharmacy technician field is that its so misleading to people. Most people are sold a bill of goods about this field thinking that once they complete a pharmacy technician training program or course they will have a real rewarding career. However this is not the case. I will tell you why ?

First, let's start off with the definition of a pharmacy technician. I will translate this title so it's easily understood. Pharmacy technician = Pharmacy aide/assistant/slave to the pharmacist on duty, by this I mean you will end up doing the grunt work of a pharmacist.

For example, counting pills, anwsering phones, entering prescription data into the computer, performing drive thru service, stocking the pharmacy with bottles, caps, bags,etc and ringing of the register.

I just outlined the main job duties associated with this field along with standing on your feet for 6 -8 hours a day.

You will deal with sick/angry/rude customers, let me translate another keyword. The word fast-paced environment means high stress, just so you are aware of that catch phrase.

Secondly, lets talk about the salary, thats right the measly salary they want to pay you for all this gruntwork end quote

I was in the army, that's real "gruntwork" dipwad, having to do what someone with an I.Q. of 80 is telling you, you have to do or you will loose money, by the way they only get paid (from the bottom end) around 20,000 a year salerey so think befor you speak dipwad.

I could see where this position would be difficult and frustrating for you. I mean, you can't even spell basic words.

I've been looking for work as a licensed Pharm tech or Pharmacy service representative/assistant for almost a year and haven't even been able to land an interview. I have a BA in Psych and no criminal record and a few years experience in retail. I'm seriously considering just giving up looking. The job market is like a dry desolate desert. I apply everywhere I can online which is like a desert cause there are practically no openings where you can even apply. Most places just say 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 openings under that position for every location in a 30mile radius. And all I hear is how much this job sucks and how they "can't tell you how many times someone went on their lunch break and never came back". Well if the job sucks and so many people quit then why is it that whenever I walk in anywhere to apply I turn into a psychic cause I already know what they're going to say, "no we don't have any openings but you can leave your resume". So if this job sucks so bad why do so many directionless losers want to do it? Is it because they're so dumb that they're so easily brainwashed by commercials? Also why do people say their co-workers quit left and right yet there's never any openings? I've been wanting to work in a Pharmacy ever since I was hanging out with drug dealers as a teen (since I thought it was so cool) but why do others want to do it? Hopefully more people (who just work there cause it's just a job and have no interest in medicine) will have enough sense to leave and go elsewhere so that people who really are interested in the field and would appreciate the job, no matter how many sick miserable people they have to deal with (cause that's part of the fun), can take their ungrateful place.

I've been looking for work as a licensed Pharm tech or Pharmacy service representative/assistant for almost a year and haven't even been able to land an interview. I have a BA in Psych and no criminal record and a few years experience in retail. I'm seriously considering just giving up looking. The job market is like a dry desolate desert. I apply everywhere I can online which is like a desert cause there are practically no openings where you can even apply. Most places just say 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 openings under that position for every location in a 30mile radius. And all I hear is how much this job sucks and how they "can't tell you how many times someone went on their lunch break and never came back". Well if this job is so miserable and so many people quit then why is it that whenever I walk in anywhere to apply I turn into a psychic cause I already know what they're going to say, "no we don't have any openings but you can leave your resume". So if this job sucks so bad why do so many directionless losers want to do it? Is it because they're so dumb that they're so easily brainwashed by commercials? Also why do people say their co-workers quit left and right yet there's never any openings? I've been wanting to work in a Pharmacy ever since I was hanging out with drug dealers as a teen (since I thought it was so cool) but why do others want to do it? Hopefully more people (who just work there cause it's just a job and have no interest in medicine) will have enough sense to leave and go elsewhere so that people who really are interested in the field and would appreciate the job, no matter how many sick miserable people they have to deal with (cause that's part of the fun), can take their ungrateful place.

For some reason my reply didn't post so I hit back on my browser and hit reply again which is why you see duplicates of my rant. I guess this forum doesn't have a delete comment option.