How do I become a Pharm-Tech quick?

Started by Toothguy80
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Toothguy80

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Hi, I am going to begin volunteering in a hospital pharmacy this week, but I also wanted to see how I could become a Pharm-Tech so I could make some money later rather than volunteering.

Where do I have to do, what do I have to study?

Let me know
 
Hey toothguy80,

easiest way to become a pharm tech is to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). check out www.ptcb.org for info.

i took the PTCE at Los Angeles convention center. it's easy if you can do basic math calculations and have some common sense.

i ordered two pharm tech books from amazon (light purple on the cover - can't remember the author). studied the night before.

since you live in california, all you have to do is pass the PTCE and then apply for a tech license with the state (look on state of CA website for application). when you pass the PTCE, just send your original certificate in with your application (as you won't need it, and it's easier than getting a notarized copy).

hope this helps 🙂
 
If you're good at math, have decent common sense, and can memorize some conversion factors the PTCB exam will be a piece of cake. I think I got the same two books beanpie did, I barely read them, but I did use them to learn all the acronyms, abbreviations, and conversions. I got a 776 on the exam on my first try. There were retail techs taking it at the same time as me who were practically in tears complaining that the math was too hard and that it wasn't fair, lol. Its nothing more than dimensional analysis, fractions, percents, and basic math.
 
Hey, how much did you pay?
How long did the whole process take?

are you employed now?

When is the next date for the exam, do you think I can pass it without studying..I just took the DAT and did fairly well, above average.

I will try to go on the website a bit later but would really appreciate it if you could tell me these things...Im in a hurry to get my license.
 
Toothguy80 said:
Hey, how much did you pay?
How long did the whole process take?

are you employed now?

When is the next date for the exam, do you think I can pass it without studying..I just took the DAT and did fairly well, above average.

I will try to go on the website a bit later but would really appreciate it if you could tell me these things...Im in a hurry to get my license.
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i can't remember how much it was (check the website). The exam is a couple of hours.

i work in a very small independent pharmacy, which i worked at as a clerk for 8 months before taking the tech exam.

if you have not worked in a pharmacy, you may want to review some of the drugs (brand/generic), although i did not get a lot of questions on drugs. It was mostly basic math. the books will have all the stuff you need, and you might want to review them for a week or so before the exam.

uuuhhhh, and as far as being in a hurry things take time. you need to register for the exam, take it, wait for scores, get your picture taken, mail off forms, wait for state approval of application, etc...

...and as far as a 3 year program, what's the rush?? money isn't everything! don't be in a hurry and make the wrong decision. it took me 36 years and several careers (and a HUGE pay cut) later, a marriage, and a baby to decide i want to be a pharmacist, so what's another 4 years? i'm just grateful to get into pharm school 😀
 
Toothguy - do you ever do your own research? I don't mean to be demeaning, but you've been asking endless questions without trying to seek out ways to find your own answers.

If you want to get on in any of the professions - pharmacy, dentistry, optometry..whatever - you need to start doing some reasearch on your own.

You may get an answer here, but it might not be complete, specific to your situation or particularly beneficial. Remember - this is a public forum of opinion - some is fact, some is fact with a bit of alteration.

Check the info out for yourself - start with the state board of pharmacy. All 50 states have their info online. That way you won't get misinformation.

Good luck!
 
sdn1977 said:
Toothguy - do you ever do your own research? I don't mean to be demeaning, but you've been asking endless questions without trying to seek out ways to find your own answers.

If you want to get on in any of the professions - pharmacy, dentistry, optometry..whatever - you need to start doing some reasearch on your own.

You may get an answer here, but it might not be complete, specific to your situation or particularly beneficial. Remember - this is a public forum of opinion - some is fact, some is fact with a bit of alteration.

Check the info out for yourself - start with the state board of pharmacy. All 50 states have their info online. That way you won't get misinformation.

Good luck!
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AHHHHHHHH! Thanks you SDN1977. I wanted to say something but didn't want to sound mean. Another place you can ask a million questions is a pre-health advisor. Even if you are an alumni from your "prestigious school" I'm sure they will still offer their advising services to you.

Or just do a search or perhaps go to the specific school's website or just google something.
 
hey

I borrowed the pharm tech study materials from my friend and self studied for that. I studied for a few days, took the exam and passed.

i am curently looking for a pharm tech job right now.
 
First of all you can't become anythng quick. The pharm tech registrations takes between 1-2 month. You must register with State board of pharmacy which requires you do live scan. The PTCE exam results take about 4-6 weeks to receive for the paper test... I believe they now have computer test which is faster i hear.... Also all these prosesses are costly as well... The exam is also offered only in specific times of the year, when i took it.

another thing about PTCE is it's very hard to find jobs without experience. most people are hired as they are doing internships from their vocational schools like American Career College, etc.
 
steveysmith54 said:
First of all you can't become anythng quick. The pharm tech registrations takes between 1-2 month. You must register with State board of pharmacy which requires you do live scan. The PTCE exam results take about 4-6 weeks to receive for the paper test... I believe they now have computer test which is faster i hear.... Also all these prosesses are costly as well... The exam is also offered only in specific times of the year, when i took it.

another thing about PTCE is it's very hard to find jobs without experience. most people are hired as they are doing internships from their vocational schools like American Career College, etc.
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You're looking at no less than 14 weeks start to finish and that's if everything goes your way (which it probably won't) 4 weeks in advance to sign up for PTCE, 3 weeks to get your scores back, 7-8 weeks (or more) to get your license after you submit your application to the BOP.

You can also take courses at a CC, but that takes 2 semesters (not quite the timeframe you're looking for) or you can go through ACC or some other for profit institution, or maybe the local ROP. I know the Redlands-Yucaipa ROP program has Pharm tech as one of their courses.
 
It is faster and cheaper to just study on your own. even is you can't find a paying job maybe being certified will open up some volunteering position.
 
so you can take the test w/o school in california?

im looking thru the website and i loooked at the application instruction

there's a part about the school, it has 2 options i see, 1 was whcih school you went, and the other was if w/o formal training, which on the job training hire you....

so i wasn't sure about that part of the application
 
binghamkid said:
You can take the PTCE in any state without school as long as you have graduated from high school or have a GED and no felonies/misdemeanors.
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You just have to be careful because PTCE is recognized by ~2/3 of the US (I believe 34 states was the number I read, but that could be off a little bit.) So being PTCE certified doesn't guarantee you can get licensed in every state.
 
jayce00 said:
so you can take the test w/o school in california?

im looking thru the website and i loooked at the application instruction

there's a part about the school, it has 2 options i see, 1 was whcih school you went, and the other was if w/o formal training, which on the job training hire you....

so i wasn't sure about that part of the application
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As late as this April there were 3 options to become licensed as a Pharm Tech in CA.

1. Go to CC take coursework, and get internship hours through school.
2. Work for the Military/DoD as a CPhT.
3. Pass PTCE and apply.

I started classes at CC, but couldn't complete the series because it conflicted with my coursework for my BS. So I just took PTCE 2/9, passed 2/23, mailed my application/LiveScan 4/9 and got my license 6/1.

I'm not sure if the private Pharm Tech schools fall under option one where internship hours are required, or option 3 where no experience is required.
 
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