CVS Pharmacies

[cf89]

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Do CVS pharmacies actually train you before you work for them as a tech?

 

[RAA4PharmD]

Do CVS pharmacies actually train you before you work for them as a tech?

My sis is an intern at CVS & I know several people that have worked there. CVS does not pay techs for training (unless things have changed in the last few months).
I work at Walgreens & they pay not only for your PTCB test but for your training as well. Walgreens is where its at!

 

[Pharm OU]

I work at CVS as a tech..you do get paid for training (although the money is not that great). At least where I am you do. However, you basically go through training while you are working and all it is, is a bunch of CD's. The training I received was from working a bunch and doing it on my own!

 

[masterdix]

They pretty much torture you before they let you work as a tech. If you have no experience you would most likely start as a clerk and be a slave to the drive through and someone new to yell at for the customers. Eventually, if you stick it out they might let you start counting pills and learn even more about the fabulous computer system.

 

[aLex yO]

From my experience, CVS only gave me a book to practice for the PharmTech exam. The book was suppose to come with a complimentary practice problems packet but I never received that. Passed my test though, I think that the experience you receive working there is instrumental for the test.

 

[qtnatty]

I am a slave to the cash register at CVS right now. They gave me some training modules to read and I do get paid for it, but have yet to count a pill!

 

[Pharmboy922]

I'm a Lead Tech at a CVS and am responsible for the majority of training at our location. I am required to have each tech complete a series of CD's which are not very helpful but provide a base for training. After that, I pretty much have to work with each new tech, but since we are kept at such a limited staff, it isn't really possible much of the time. In the end, it becomes the responsibility of each new tech to take the initiative to learn the system. Repitition usually leads to success.

 

[UBCmicrobi]

Just thought I'd add a Canadian perspective, if anyone's wondering what it's like North of the border...totally different from the US!!!

(background: I have a Bsc and want to study pharmacy)

I was hired as a pharmacy tech (or "pharmacy assistant" as they call it) at one of the major pharmacy chains in Western Canada, with no previous pharmacy training/experience. Most of the training is on-the-job, plus some online training with written tests. Obviously the regulations are quite different in Canada (or at least my province); no certification is required. I do pretty much everything except type scripts/take verbal scripts and counsel/recommend OTC. So yes, I count pills (not that many though, thank goodness for machines!) and do the cashier thing too. So far I really like it, and it has definitely made me want to pursue pharmacy that much more! (and hopefully better my chances of getting in)

PS Drive-Thrus?!! that sounds horrible (for sooo many reasons), makes me glad to live in Canada
PP S I get paid crap (above min wage though...)

 

[Girl7]

I work at Walgreens and i think whoever is going for pharmacy should apply to walgreens because they do give a lot of opportunities to employee. i had no experience in pharmacy and now i know almost everything that a senior tech can could. plus i got $4 raise in 2 years....(ps: got certified within 6 months of hiring)

 

[Pharm OU]

They pretty much torture you before they let you work as a tech. If you have no experience you would most likely start as a clerk and be a slave to the drive through and someone new to yell at for the customers. Eventually, if you stick it out they might let you start counting pills and learn even more about the fabulous computer system.

Haha! This is pretty much the case, especially about the drive-thru. That lasts the entire time you are employed, I am currently still having customers yell at me through glass! In my case though, I went from being a PSA (clerk) to being a tech really quickly because they were desperate. Wonder why? Everyone quit!!!!

 

[BillLy120]

Wow everyone seems to have it bad for CVS...I personally don't really care about the company but I love the people i work with. I started as a clerk at CVS about a month after hte conversion from Sav-ons and we have no drive through which is great.

Personally I really think it depends on the people. My pharmacy manager the first week told me to just sit in the back and learn to read prescriptions (which was grab old packets of prescriptions and try to decipher them) then they would teach me the clerk side of things. He also put me on weekends so that I can start typing since its not as busy (this is a 24 hour store so its busy on weekdays). The techs are helpful and showed me around the ropes and hte pharmacist are very understanding when i made mistakes in the beginning. Now I was offered to become a tech but I stayed a clerk because I just got into Pharmacy school and will have my intern license in a couple of months.

Now as a clerk I can pretty much do everything and I am surprised when I go to other CVS stores and the clerks do not know anything about drop off or insurance problems and have been working longer than I have. So i think its really the people.

My store was a Savons so its all the Sav-ons people and that could be the difference.