In a predicament..

[Insomniac12]

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I'm a 17 year old in South Carolina and I found out that to work in a cvs or walgreens, etc pharmacy I have to be 18+

also, I went on a site for it and it says something about getting certified, you can check it out for yourself here.
http://www.rxtechschool.com/ptcb_requirement/south_carolina_ptcb_requirement.cfm

so I'm pretty much screwed since I don't turn 18 till July,
one of the nice ladies at the Publix Pharmacy told me to try some Independent places and..well..no luck.

I called the pharmacy of at least 3 hospitals and the persons that handle this weren't available so I had to leave a message and I haven't got anything back yet.

I'm not giving up though at the hospital pharmacy, but with my present circumstances, would a hospital pharmacy allow me to work there
or if I can't, can I ask them if I could volunteer there..?

heck I'll even work mopping the floor(if that's not what pharmacy techs do already) as long as I can get into that darn pharmacy =D

 

[Farmerer]

I am sure you can find at least a volunteer job at hospital pharmacy. When I was doing voluteering at nursing home hospital, there were a few teenagers(under 18) also voluteered there. So go for it, it absolutely helps. Good luck.

 

[Insomniac12]

Thanks, mang, I might just have to do that. though it would be nice to get some money on the side.

 

[Insomniac12]

I just called a hospital pharmacy up, here's how the convo went (serves more for entertainment purposes).
*ring ring*

pharmacist-hello, hospital pharmacy
me-yeah hi, I want some information on how to be a pharmacy technician there
pharmacist-what?
me-yeah I want to know how to be a pharmacy technician at the hospital pharmacy
pharmacist-I'm sorry, I can't hear a thing you're saying.
me-I WANT TO WORK AT YOUR [STINKIN'] PHARMACY!!!
pharmacist-ok hold on, let me connect you

*ring ring*
(I could barely make out what this guy was saying, geez we're all having hearing problems today, aren't we. also he kept on mumbling)
another pharmacist-[guys name] this is the pharmacy
me-I want to know about how to be a pharmacy tech there
him-you want to be pharmacy tech?
me-YES
him-Do you have any experience?
me-no, I'm only a high school student
him-you must be certified to work here.
me-oh ok, can I volunteer there?
him-no you need to be educated
me-educated?
him-yes, let me get you the # for the person that handles this.
me-okay...*I jot down the number*..thanks.

*end of convo*


now I wont have much time to get "educated" to VOLUNTEER at a pharmacy, since school is starting in a couple of days.



I swear these people...I can't get anywhere in this state.

 

[Sunfeet]

I was wondering, for those who know.. how long does it usually take to become a certified Pharmacy tech?

 

[Falokis]

That's crazy. There is a 14 and a 17 year old volunteering in the ER at my hospital. Try other areas for any medical experience then move to the pharmacy once you turn 18 or get experience.

 

[Insomniac12]

I was wondering, for those who know.. how long does it usually take to become a certified Pharmacy tech?

Yeah that would be nice to know, I heard that community colleges offered it.

 

[Insomniac12]

That's crazy. There is a 14 and a 17 year old volunteering in the ER at my hospital. Try other areas for any medical experience then move to the pharmacy once you turn 18 or get experience.

whoa, yeah if I can't find anything than I'll most definitely do volunteering at the hospital.

 

[Insomniac12]

so currently I have 2 more hospitals I can try, I left voicemails for the pharmacy directors at both hospitals.

but I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Sunfeet]

Yeah that would be nice to know, I heard that community colleges offered it.

I just searched at my local community colleges/schools and there's one that offers a 9-month program. I was hoping for something like.. 9 hours.. haha, kidding.

 

[506INF]

Try your local Regional Occupational Program (ROP). You can look online for your local ROP location and contact number. ROP offers vocational courses to high school students at no charge and to adults at very low cost. You can even earn credits for your HS (~15 HS credits) while enrolling in the program (5 days a week, 3 hours/day for 4 and 1/2 months). You can register for the course through your HS counselor. The program will train you in a classroom, provide you a place (retail, hospital) to work and eventually graduate you as a certified pharmacy technician, again, at no cost to you. ROP program may vary from region to region, but this is the info in general. I hope ROP program is available at your location. It is available here where i live (ca) and that's how i know. Good luck to you.

 

[bsps_2007]

to be a certified tech you only need a high school diploma and a passing score on the ptcb exam. exam takes 2-3 hrs.

 

[Sunfeet]

to be a certified tech you only need a high school diploma and a passing score on the ptcb exam. exam takes 2-3 hrs.

Are there classes necessary before being eligible to take the PTCB exam?

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Nope, no classes are required. If you've worked in a pharmacy and have a fair idea about what's going on you'll be set. I would recommend just getting a self-study book and going over the material in there; especially pharmaceutical calculations.

 

[StargirlRx]

So, the test should be easy if you have experience already? I don't have anyone to talk to about the test, since everyone I work with is already certified. I am taking my test this summer....

 

[All4MyDaughter]

So, the test should be easy if you have experience already? I don't have anyone to talk to about the test, since everyone I work with is already certified. I am taking my test this summer....

I've never taken the exam but many of my co-workers are certified. With their on the job training plus some type of study guide (available at your bookstore or at amazon.com) none of them had any trouble passing. DO NOT pay for any of those extremely expensive 9 month programs that tech schools offer. Not worth it.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

If everyone you work with is already certified that's great for you!!! Ask them what they did to prepare for the exam; I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help you out!!!

Best of luck!

So, the test should be easy if you have experience already? I don't have anyone to talk to about the test, since everyone I work with is already certified. I am taking my test this summer....