how does one become a pharmacy technician?

[GATOR Girl]

---

Members don't see this ad.

What does it take to become a certified pharmacy technician? Do you have to take a course to become certified, or can you study on your own and take the exam when you are ready?

Thanx a bunch! 🙂

 

[futurerxguy]

Personally, I am taking an on-line course. After completing it, I will be taking the certification exam this summer. You do NOT, to my knowledge, have to take a course to take the exam though. You can order study materials and simply use them as well.

Hope this helps!

FutureRxGuy

 

[GATOR Girl]

Personally, I am taking an on-line course. After completing it, I will be taking the certification exam this summer. You do NOT, to my knowledge, have to take a course to take the exam though. You can order study materials and simply use them as well.

Hope this helps!

FutureRxGuy

Thank you so much! What online course are you taking? Do you suggest ordering study materials in addition to the online coures? Thank you again and good luck!

 

[futurerxguy]

The online course for me is good just because it gives me a good background of everything. It is through Penn Foster Career School. They will give me a certificate after I complete it, and then I will take the actual certification exam. I do not think that you have to do that to pass it, though.

Go to this website, it may be a place where you can check the dates of the certifcation exam in addition to purchasing studying materials.

http://www.ptcb.org/

Sincerely,
Shawn

 

[GATOR Girl]

The online course for me is good just because it gives me a good background of everything. It is through Penn Foster Career School. They will give me a certificate after I complete it, and then I will take the actual certification exam. I do not think that you have to do that to pass it, though.

Go to this website, it may be a place where you can check the dates of the certifcation exam in addition to purchasing studying materials.

http://www.ptcb.org/

Sincerely,
Shawn

Great website! You have been so helpful. Thank you very much!

Take care,
Jenny

 

[futurerxguy]

Jenny,

Your very welcome! Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Have a GREAT evening 🙂

You take care, too!

Shawn

 

[Tarutaru]

It used to be that in CA, you could be "grandfathered" into becoming a pharmacy technician, or even be licensed to be a pharmacy tech if you have a bachelor's degree in science. Things have changed and you cannot be a technician by neither of these methods now. The only two methods I know that will allow you to become a technician is by enrolling in a program and doing a number of training hours or by PTCB examination. The best and sure way is enrolling in a program because you will definitely be hired upon finishing the program. You are less likely to be hired as a technician if you just take the exam. In fact, some places will only hire you as a clerk and THEN think about training you to become a technician. It is very difficult to get a job as a technician with no experience. Enrolling in a program and doing your hours will give you that experience employers are looking for.

 

[LearnerSharer]

In California, many of my friends became California Licensed Technician this way (other state might have similar way):

1. Buy a Pharmacy Technician book (online or at community college): $30
1.5. Apply at www.ptcb.org: pay for your seat in the exam room: $140.
2. Read: depending on how you absorb: I have known 2 friends reading 10 hours and passed, others: 1 week and passed.
3. Take exam at the center of PTCB (gas and parking: $30).
4. All my friends passed on the first try (all pre-pharmacy students!), but, you can always retake the exam until you pass, $140 every exam, 4 exams a year.
5. Get Certificate that you passed PTCB (valid for any state in the whole country.)
6. For California: for Fingerprint Service, Notary Service, License Fee: $100.

Got my California License, worked.

In summary:

1. Get Training (valid in any state): 1 week of study, $200.
2. Get License (valid within 1 state): 1 month of waiting, $100.

You do not have to go to any school. You can self-study. I have never known about this fact even with pharmacists in the house!

The information I shared is valid as of 01-2008, please double check again.

Good luck to you...Heard that, Got it, Shared to you...

 

[simplyv001]

I didn't have the money to pay for classes so I just did self study. Got the book Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Review by Delmar studied off and on for a month (was still in school so not that much time) and bought a few practice tests off ebay. Went in feeling so unprepared but a week later found out I got 90+% on it.

Most of my friends went this route too and they got jobs at target, cvs, etc... so if you don't want to shell out the cash this is the best route 🙂

 

[laimyours]

I would just take the PTCB exam. People who went to tech school don't have an edge in getting a job. Usually you are hired based on your interview. The tech classes are a waste of money, the people that come straight out of tech school don't seem to know anything more than a person who took the test.

 

[wanttorx]

Do they offer test dates other than in the summer?

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Check PTCB.org as they're the "official" pharmacy technician website. Also you may want to check your state BOP to see if they have different requirements for technicians such as registrations, etc.

 

[TTUMike]

I am going to have to agree with LearnerSharer. You should just buy a book and study on your own for the test, rather than spend your money on online courses. I studied for two weeks with the book and did well.