How to get a Pharmacy technician job with no previous retail or hospital experience?

Short version, CEECEE - best of luck. And no, I'm not saying this to be snide - it's just the way it is.
I completed an ROP training program just under 1 year ago (I'm 49 y.o., BTW - with a B.S. in Computer Science and 25 years IT experience); spent the past YEAR looking for tech work & got 1 bite in Vancouver, WA. Nada in California. Tried to get into volunteer positions - no soap. Tried to get into paid positions - no soap. Basically because pharmacy tech is SO over-saturated (let's face it - in the time I've been looking the pharmacy tech program I took has kicked out probably 100-120 more techs, with another 40-60 warming up for licensing in a few weeks - and that's just ONE school) there's just not enough jobs for all the available techs.
Same thing with Pharm.D's, incidentally - worked with a newly minted pharmacist during my externship who said that he was the only grad in his class that managed to get work without relocating.
As for me - finally got a volunteer gig working in a hospice as a patient care volunteer about 6 months ago, and am scheduled to start CNA training through the Red Cross in a little over 3 weeks. My niece took a CNA class about the same time that I took the Pharmacy Tech training & was able to get a job with zero experience (other than being a mom several times over) in 4 weeks. Figure that training, plus Home Health Aide certification, plus Acute Care certification & my volunteer work should (knock on wood) get me in the door either in hospice or hopefully in a hospital setting. Pay's not as good initially, but there's just a LOT more potential (various levels of certification, plus working up the line to LVN/RN/NP/PA with more schooling) as compared to CPhT which gets you either that or (maybe) a Pharm.D with 5 years of study.
Believe me - I share your pain. My unemployment ran out in July, and I've been living on savings ever since. It's just real tough right now.

pharmtech in Fredericksburg, Virginia said: I have been a tech for over a year and no "classic schooling" just on the job training and I am having problems finding a job. Even with my exprience, with which lets be honest, puts me ahead of anyone who just jumps into it,jobs are scarce. i really want to work at a hospital or perhaps somewhere like neighborcare or hospice. Anywhere that is not retail, and for future referance, not CVS.

Yes unfortunately your experience does put you ahead of anyone with "just" a bachelor's degree and state and national certification, plus maybe on top of that an associates IN Pharmacy Tech or Pharmacology. People who went to school BECAUSE no one would hire them. That, my friends, is the problem with all these colleges and universities. The "real world" would rather have someone who managed to get hired in right out of high school and got real experience and didn't bother going to college. I'm not being sarcastic. It's the sad truth. For those of us out here who were told all through high school that at least in certain fields you HAD to have a college education; medical/pharmaceutical being two of those. Or so we thought.

So when those with work experience and no degree, can't get jobs, those of us out here WITH degrees and certificates who CAN'T get work experience because that's the whole reason we WENT to college in the first place - are really screwed.

CEECEE in Los Angeles, California said: I have a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business as well as a pharmacy technician license. I am over 50 and cannot find a job at all. I have no experience because I can't get any! So now what?

Well, it's worse in LA than the rest of California, or so I'm told. The problem is that most Californians don't want to live in the states where because there are way fewer people, there's less competition for each and every job opening. The biggest complaint from Californians about "those" states is that they're too cold in the winter, if you catch my drift of where I'm talking about. Then you'd have to deal with the fact that those other states, even if you were OK with the perpetual winter part, have their own licensing procedures so you'd have to get RE-certified. And you'd be the newbie in town with all the extra difficulties that presents in getting hired. I think San Francisco is the ONLY place I've ever gotten jobs "walking in off the street" as they say, and even here those days are long over.

Pharmacy Tech and Biotech are options for those of whose Bachelor's was in Bio or Biochem who didn't want to go into Med school because we can't stand the sight of blood or cutting into people or animals. Biotech: you'd have to have no less than a PhD just to get a lab tech job washing petri dishes; that's why I started looking at Pharm Tech.

Bottom line, though. Los Angeles is tough because of overpopulation and overcrowding and overcompetition for everything. Everything. Don't get me started as I used to live down there and still have family members down there; who are, of course, employed or retired but then they'd gotten their jobs fresh out of World War 2 back when there WERE still jobs in LA to be had, "fresh off the street" as they say.

Why did so many of you pay to go to pharmacy tech school? Its a complete waste of money. I bought a $30 study guide and studied for 3 days and got an 833 out of the possible 900 on the PTCB exam. I am certified and work in a pharmacy as a tech. I'm applying to pharmacy school and just did this to increase my chances of getting in. It disgusts me any time I see commercials on TV involving "for profit" colleges like Virginia College. They are completely worthless and scam people out of money that will take forever to repay. Also are any of you applying in person or just applying online? Applying in person with license and resume in hand will greatly increase your chances of getting hired.

Why did so many of you pay to go to pharmacy tech school? Its a complete waste of money. I bought a $30 study guide and studied for 3 days and got an 833 out of the possible 900 on the PTCB exam. I am certified and work in a pharmacy as a tech. I'm applying to pharmacy school and just did this to increase my chances of getting in. It disgusts me any time I see commercials on TV involving "for profit" colleges like Virginia College. They are completely worthless and scam people out of money that will take forever to repay. Also are any of you applying in person or just applying online? Applying in person with license and resume in hand will greatly increase your chances of getting hired.

brown_dude34 in Charlestown, Massachusetts said: This is simple but you will have to volunteer in a hospital for 2 years. If a retail pharmacy such as Walgreens or CVS won't hire you. Retail pharmacy is the worst place to work in the field of pharmacy.

CVS and Walgreens have stupid customer kiss arse test they use to find out if you would make a good arse kisser. You have to take that test to qualify. If the pharmacist looked you up and down, they were trying to see if you would make a

I am certified/registered Pharmacy technician who went through Hell at a Massachusetts CVS/Pharmacy. This profession seriously needs a union. Certified/registered technician should make $15.00 to start.

They do have a union in California. The healthcare workers union... And I did an externship at cvs. Never will work there! They lie! Experience is a stickler. Even walgreens out here wants a years experience. My Sam's club Pharmacist told me I could volunteer at a retail rx for experience. There's no hospitals nearby that have openings for pharmacy volunteers. I spent 2 years at loma Linda university medical ctr trying to get into the pharmacy to volunteer and trying to deactivate the program bc jco shut it down bc they were letting volunteers do too much... Help! Suggestions?

Heys guys, I got certified last summer and am trying to find a job. I completed an online application for CVS and Walgreens pharmacy, how long do they take to call you back? Is it better to just walk in and ask for the pharmacy manager...? (I don't have a resume because this is my first real job..) ALSO, is being LICENSED better than simply being certified?

In California, it is REQUIRED by the State Board of Pharmacy to be licensed. Every state has their own rules. In most other states, passing the PTCE is sufficient but in CA it's not required. Being PTCB certified enables you to be qualified to work in any other state other than Cali and in Cali it means you really should qualify for a little bit more pay bc that test is HARD! It's like ur final exam on steroids! So state licensed in Cali required PTCE not but accepted in all other states in place of a license at least most of them. I think Texas is pretty strict too. Have no idea about walking in. I've walked in so many times and they tell me the same thing... Please go to our website at www. Blah blah blah and apply and if we have an opening we'll interview you if you qualify... Wonderful huh?

There are jobs,lots of them for pharm techs. They only want techs who already have experience. I earned my license in september and I have applied to positions all over southern california. It's the old "Catch 22, can't get a job without experience,butyou can't get the experience without a job".

It's so hard to find a tech position in LA. I received my state license in 2006 and my PTCB in 2009. I worked at CVS (AWFUL) for 13 months then left to an independent pharmacy that paid me accordingly but some circumstances arose and I had to quit. This was all the way back in 2008. I tried looking for a tech position with no luck, so I got a job in banking in 2009 while I still looked. I worked in banking for 2.5 years and the whole time, I looked for a pharm tech job and had absolutely no luck. Now, I'm worried no one would want to hire me because I've been out of pharmacy for so long even though I still know all my stuff. It sucks.

NickW28 in Columbia, South Carolina said: Why did so many of you pay to go to pharmacy tech school? Its a complete waste of money. I bought a $30 study guide and studied for 3 days and got an 833 out of the possible 900 on the PTCB exam. I am certified and work in a pharmacy as a tech. I'm applying to pharmacy school and just did this to increase my chances of getting in. It disgusts me any time I see commercials on TV involving "for profit" colleges like Virginia College. They are completely worthless and scam people out of money that will take forever to repay. Also are any of you applying in person or just applying online? Applying in person with license and resume in hand will greatly increase your chances of getting hired.

Hello can you please let me know where you got the $30 guide from and afterwards go about taking the exam. I was going to pay $800 for a training course but would like your help. Thanks.. Tara

But where do you volunteer?! I already volunteer for 2 years at a major hospital but the pharmacy volunteer program was closed because joint commission violations and no one else has volunteer opportunities. Walgreens and rite aid as well as Sam's do not offer volunteer opportunities. I'm up for license renewal in May and certification renewal the following March '13. I don't have the pharmacy experience they desire but at the time I graduated and got my certification I was pregnant and a year after the birth of my daughter I got my license. Now what? I would even take an ancillary position at this point. Any advice would help! - Julie E. CA RPhT, CPhT

Not to be rude but every state has different governing requirements. I'm glad you're so fortunate as to live in a state where things are not as stringent. Regulations are much harder in California and Texas for example. I'm glad you got such a high score. But u are en route to something more- something many techs don't want- to be a pharmacist. So you will study your butt off in pharmacology and go thru 3-4 years of pharmacy school in addition to your bachelors degree. Don't forget to dabble in compounding which by the way you can't experience in a study guide. The true art of compounding is fun fantastic and interesting. If you like chemistry or cooking you will have a blast... But please don't judge us for taking tge classroom route. I actually only paid $150 plus the PTCE fee plus the licensing and Doj FBI lifescan fees and now the same program is about 2k. Every state is different :)

NickW28 in Columbia, South Carolina said: Why did so many of you pay to go to pharmacy tech school? Its a complete waste of money. I bought a $30 study guide and studied for 3 days and got an 833 out of the possible 900 on the PTCB exam. I am certified and work in a pharmacy as a tech. I'm applying to pharmacy school and just did this to increase my chances of getting in. It disgusts me any time I see commercials on TV involving "for profit" colleges like Virginia College. They are completely worthless and scam people out of money that will take forever to repay. Also are any of you applying in person or just applying online? Applying in person with license and resume in hand will greatly increase your chances of getting hired.

Hello.

I previously had no experience in retail whatsoever. The only experience that I had is customer service. I was fortunate enough to get hired by Target Pharmacy. The hiring process was pretty simple. As long as you show them that you're willing to learn, they're more likely to hire you. After 9 months, you must take the exam, which is paid by Target as well. I applied for Safeway and CVS, never got a call. With Safeway, you need to be certified, in which i wasn't. With CVS, the pay is low and somehow I guess it was competitive, so that's why I didn't get a call back.

I am an undergrad in college and my friend told me that i didn't need anything to become a pharm tech is that true? Because every pharmacy I've gone to said that i have to have a license.

I THINK BEST WAY TO GET A JOB AS A PHARMACY TECH JUST APPLY AT A RETAIL STORE YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE I SEE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT TO SCHOOL TO GET CERTIFIED FIRST DON'T REALLY GET THE JOB. WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE THAT IS ALREADY CERTIFIED THEY GOTTA PAY YOU MORE, TEACH YOU HOW TO WORK THEIR SYSTEM AND STUFF BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAD EXPERIENCE IN PHARMACY SO TO THEM I THINK THEY RATHER SOMEONE THAT DON'T HAVE CERTIFICATION, TRAIN THEM AND PAY THEM LESS THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS CERTIFIED AND NEVER WORKED AT A PHARMACY BEFORE IT'S THE SAME THING AND THEIR PAYING YOU MORE WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO THAT'S WHY MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE CERTIFIED HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IN. I SUGGEST JUST APPLY THAT'S WHAT I DID AND I GOT IN AND NOW I WORK FOR THEM LEARNING NEW THINGS AND I GOTTA WORK TO GET UP TO 500 HRS AND THAN GET CERTIFIED FOR THEIR STORE AND THAN AS LONG AS I WORK SIX MONTHS OR MORE THEY WILL PAY FOR ME TO TAKE THE NATIONAL TEST BUT OBVIOUSLY I GOTTA STUDY MYSELF AND THEY GIVE ME THE BOOKS THAT I NEED TO STUDY IN ORDER TO PASS THE TEST AND OH YEA I FORGOT TO MENTION I WORK AT CVS I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHAT THEY WRITE MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT'S THE WORST JOB EVER I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BAD IT'S RATHER THEY CAN'T HANDLE STRESS OR THEY JUST WORK WITH CRAPPY PEOPLE. I LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH AND THE CUSTOMER ISN'T THAT BAD I MEAN ALL JOBS GONNA BE STRESSFUL IN THEIR OWN WAY U JUST GOTTA LEARN TO JUST LET IT NOT BOTHER U. I DON'T THINK THIS JOB IS EVEN THAT BAD MY OLD JOB CO WORKERS WERE THE ONES THAT STRESS EACH OTHER OUT RAT ON YOU AND TRY TO GET YOU IN TROUBLE AND THROW STUFF ON YOUR FACE AND BELITTLE YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL STUPID I RATHER GET BITCHY CUSTOMERS ONCE IN A WHILE THAN WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL EVERY DAY BUT YEA I DON'T THINK THE CVS WHERE I WORK IS BAD AT ALL COMPARE TO MY OLD JOB AND IT'S NOTHING RELATED TO PHARMACY

i have been trying to get a pharmacy technician job since Feburary of 2011 and here Iam still looking, applying and no results. Even when CVS and Rite Aid claim that they hiring for a pharmacy Technician position. I go and apply meet with the pharmacist fill out their application call back every week and I get not even a chance to get an interview. UGH! I feel that it either Im not certified or not enough experience. But no one is willing to give me chance then it would happen to get " 2 yrs experience" as they require.

I have been certified since 2005 and been looking for jobs on and off. I lost hope for a long long time there but just here recently I kept applying and applying EVERYWHERE! If my resume/application was kept on file for 60-90 days, i would reapply after that. I was not going to give up this time. I finally landed an interview which led to a second interview and I studied for them. I went through each question as to what could be asked and had my answers ready. They did ask me questions I wasn't prepared for but I expected that. I kept a smile on my face and only positive words came out of my mouth. I finally got a job. The pay isnt quite what i was wanting but i wasnt going to turn it down cause i finally got my foot in the door. I guess what im trying to say is dont ever give up! I asked what they liked about me in my interview and it was my personality they liked. I was up against 4 others and 2 of the have had prior experience. Luck? Maybe...but now that I know how determined I can be, im definitely going to keep up with it. I truly hope the best for ya.

I recently got hired as a pharmacy tech at Walmart. I don't have my certification because Michigan doesn't require it. I didn't go through school and have no experience in working at a pharmacy. I have a lot of experience in customer service in both an office and retail environment. How I was able to get hired in, was I started off as a regular sales associate and did everything all my managers asked of me, was extremely flexible and helped out whenever any department needed an extra hand. I never complained and didn't bring any drama to work with me. When my three month review came up, my manager was well aware of my hard work and asked where I saw myself in the future. I told him I wanted to be a pharmacy tech because that was something that I always could see myself doing. Flash forward one week and interview later and I got the job. Anyone who wants to become a pharmacy tech but is having trouble getting hired directly to a pharmacy can always try and get into a retail store that has a pharmacy and work your way towards that goal. It might take some time and patience and hard work, but retail places (like Walmart for example) will always hire from within the company FIRST before they look at outside applications. My experience may not be typical but it's worth a shot. Good luck to everyone!

desperatetimesineedajob in Moreno Valley, California said: I studied on my own and received a pharm tech license through ptcb and i've been looking for a job ever since. i also just finished school with a bio degree. i've been volunteering at a hospital for over a year now at a pharmacy and it hasn't given me a job anywhere. it's tough nowadays especially with the economy. i've pretty much widened my range of job fields to get whatever i can. it sucks....a lot

I wonder if you'll see this even after two years, but did you ever find anything in moval?

desperatetimesineedajob in Moreno Valley, California said: I studied on my own and received a pharm tech license through ptcb and i've been looking for a job ever since. i also just finished school with a bio degree. i've been volunteering at a hospital for over a year now at a pharmacy and it hasn't given me a job anywhere. it's tough nowadays especially with the economy. i've pretty much widened my range of job fields to get whatever i can. it sucks....a lot

I wonder if you'll see this even after two years, but did you ever find anything in moval?

desperatetimesineedajob in Moreno Valley, California said: I studied on my own and received a pharm tech license through ptcb and i've been looking for a job ever since. i also just finished school with a bio degree. i've been volunteering at a hospital for over a year now at a pharmacy and it hasn't given me a job anywhere. it's tough nowadays especially with the economy. i've pretty much widened my range of job fields to get whatever i can. it sucks....a lot

I wonder if you'll see this even after two years, but did you ever find anything in moval?

I have been a CPhT since '09 and still have yet to get a position as a Pharm Tech. I just got recertified and I am still looking. GL.

At the job you are voluntering for do you see openings coming up? Do they appreciate your work at the place you are voluntering?

Hi
This is hetal from carrollton. can anyone tell me that how to get a pharmacy technician job without experience?

Can you tell me what and how to do interview for getting a job of pharmacy technician?

Hi
This is hetal from carrollton. can anyone tell me that how to get a pharmacy technician job without experience in texas?

Can you tell me what and how to do interview for getting a job of pharmacy technician?

I haven't been able to find a reliable pharmacy tech job. I've had two pharmacy tech jobs that I was getting less than 10 hours a week and they do not accept the PTCB Cert. Each job I was making minimum wage...CVS/Rite aid. Both places are horrible and hospitals look down to both of those companies. I havent been working since March and living off my damn credit card. I've seriously had it. They promise you a good career and nothing good has happened. I had a degree and 3 pharmacy certifications and none of it is helping at all. I'm at my breaking point... :-/

Try to call independent pharmacies in your neiborhough, keep asking them if they need a pharmacy technician. That's how i got my job. I Took my yellowpages and started to call independent pharmacies. I'm a CPhT with no experience. Best of luck.

YOu can advance your career to the PTCB exam and then get paid as much as $21 an hour and then move on to the Real Pharmacology World = Becoming a Pharmacist

michelle in Sacramento, California said: i have tried walgreens since i got my license. i also did my externship at a walgreens but there was 5 students including me and they only hired 1 of my fellow classmate. i've tried time and time again, online on walgreens website but to no avail. i'm starting to think that i should apply out of state and move if i get a tech job. i'm desperate now. :(

im feeling about the same way. ive been bugging both cvs an walgreens an all the hospitals around trying to get my job started... its horrilble. 6 applications a day an no responses other than denials an sales in insurance....\

For those of you that live on the east coast, I recommend Wegmans as a starting point. I started off as a Cashier, moved around to different departments and then landed in Pharmacy. I now have 4 years exp. as a Pharmacy Technician and just landed a job in a hospital as a Pharmacy Tech. Best part is, the hospital is going to pay to get me certified.

mami in Chicago, Illinois said: And also there is no room to growth as a pharmacy tech. you will never going to get pay as a pharmacist. i know a lady who has been working in the field for 12 years and she still aking about $14. that definatly a waste of time. i will suggest to everyone to give up that S... and leave that job to the pharmacist since the making all the money they will be able to handle it.

That is not true at all. I was a pharmacy technician in a hospital for 2 years and then was promoted to an application specialist. I was in charge of adding medications to the formulary, maintaining NDC numbers and worked on order sets with physicians and I made about $22/hr with a certified pharmacy technician license. There IS room for growth, you just have to work at it.

Also I wanted to add that I did an externship at a hospital and was hired on after my externship hours were complete. Even if you are just working part time stick with it because eventually they will need someone to fill a full time slot.

If your school doesn't do externships, ask to volunteer in the Pharmacy of a hospital. They are always looking for people to put back medications brought back from the units, rotate meds by expiration, run stat medications, etc.

I can't find the comment in this very long feed, but there was a comment that came to my inbox from "Mami" in Chicago, IL. The standards say to be polite and so I'm going to say this as tactfully as possible. 1) it shows a very low standard of professionalism if you use profanity, even if you're not spelling it out and alluding to it. 2) I found 3 or 4 spelling/ grammatical errors and if you or anyone else is that uneducated perhaps staying at the same paygrade is a wake up call or warning your company is giving. If you don't show more potential why would they want to reward you by giving you a pay raise? And if you're at the same company x amount of years and you're working diligently without a single raise perhaps something is wrong with the company and in such case perhaps you are at fault for staying and not looking for better opportunities with a company who will praise you by increasing your pay. Pharmacy is a tough business and I'm proud to call myself a CPhT/RPhT. Today I received my renewed licensed from the California BOP. My ex husband's sister followed in my path, went to ROP, externed, graduated, and volunteered at Kaiser for a year. After a year they hired her on making $19/hr. I may not like her very much, but I salute her efforts and am proud of what she did- worked hard and diligent.