Now that Florida requires pharmacy tech school, how do I get pharm experience?

[TimeIsNow]

So yea in Florida you are now required to go through a formal program apparently to become a licensed pharmacy tech...I just had gotten this 50 dollar book too to take that Pearson exam. Well after considering what to do with my life I decided that pharmacy is probably still right for me, and I got more than enough time left (2-3 more years of undergrad depending on how many summer courses I take). Does anyone have any suggestions?

Overall at this point i may consider it not worth it to get the pharmacy experience, since I can't get a chemistry degree and go to pharmacy tech at the same time...or so I think.

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[Moni526]

Not all pharmacies in FL are requiring you to be certified. I work in an independent pharmacy and have been there almost two years, and I only had to get registered through the health department; no test.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

So yea in Florida you are now required to go through a formal program apparently to become a licensed pharmacy tech...I just had gotten this 50 dollar book too to take that Pearson exam. Well after considering what to do with my life I decided that pharmacy is probably still right for me, and I got more than enough time left (2-3 more years of undergrad depending on how many summer courses I take). Does anyone have any suggestions?

Overall at this point i may consider it not worth it to get the pharmacy experience, since I can't get a chemistry degree and go to pharmacy tech at the same time...or so I think.

You don't need to be certified. You just have to regiester with the Department of Health. It is 105 dollars, but your employer might pay you back for it. They just do a background check and make sure you haven't committed any serious drugs charges, or insurance fraud. It's not the actual CphT thing. I was just offered a job at Publix and I've never worked in a pharmacy besides volunteer in a hospital pharmacy. Once you are actually certified, OR have 1500 hours work experience you submit that to the state. You should hurry up and fill out the application though if you'e been offered a job because the confirmation email told me it could take up to a month before they review my application and approve everything. There is a big waiting list because they just opened up applications in October with the law becoming effective on New Year's day.

 

[Moni526]

I wish my boss had paid me back for this...cheap bastard! =P

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I wish my boss had paid me back for this...cheap bastard! =P

LOL It's probably rare for independents, but some of the big chains do it. I had to pay out of pocket with the possibility of getting paid back later on. I think if you were already working before the new law then the big chains would almost definitely pay for it... that's what they told me anyway.

 

[Moni526]

LOL It's probably rare for independents, but some of the big chains do it. I had to pay out of pocket with the possibility of getting paid back later on. I think if you were already working before the new law then the big chains would almost definitely pay for it... that's what they told me anyway.

Yes, the incentive for doing this was me getting a little raise...haven't seen that yet though. haha

 

[TimeIsNow]

Wait a minute...register with the department of health? What do you mean by that? I have not been offered a job. I asked the pharmcist at Publix about working as a pharm. tech and she said they were only hiring certified techs. Maybe it was just that Publix but I would like to know as much as possible. I asked another pharm tech. at CVS and he said all he did was apply for the job and that CVS gave him training or something. So you're saying all I have to do is actually apply for as many pharm tech. jobs as I can and register with department of health?

Am I supposed to register as a pharm. tech because I don't have any job offers, or is it just a generl registration?

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Wait a minute...register with the department of health? What do you mean by that? I have not been offered a job. I asked the pharmcist at Publix about working as a pharm. tech and she said they were only hiring certified techs. Maybe it was just that Publix but I would like to know as much as possible. I asked another pharm tech. at CVS and he said all he did was apply for the job and that CVS gave him training or something. So you're saying all I have to do is actually apply for as many pharm tech. jobs as I can and register with department of health?

Am I supposed to register as a pharm. tech because I don't have any job offers, or is it just a generl registration?

That was just the Publix you went to... you don't actually need to be certified to legally work there... it's up to the manager or store's discretion. You just need to find a place that will hire you without being certified (which is hard to do depending on where you live and if you don't have connections or know someone). You can always just sign up for the exam and take it without actually going to pharmacy tech classes, or you can buy the book to help study. The Department of Health thing needs to be done no matter what though. It's a new law and it went into effect January 1st... so you should apply for it now if you know you will eventually work in a pharmacy. The only people who don't need this are the pharmacy interns because they're already in pharmacy school.

 

[takins33613]

No pharm tech school necessary. I didn't go to a school to get certified, just study and take the exam. It's not bad at all.
I am also registered with the state. Just fill out the application, include the required copies (SS card and dr. license and pharm. tech certificate, I believe), and send the check as well. I waited about a month after I mailed in my application to receive my card/registration number telling me that I was officially registered with the state.

I went through all that trouble and am not even working with my tech license or the state registration. In fact not even working in a pharmacy right now. I used to though. Just keeping up to date with the certification, just in case I need to hop on a few shifts here and there

 

[TimeIsNow]

Hey thanks guys 😀 I am reading that pharm. tech book and its great and very interesting. I am gonna take the PTCB exam and then I am gonna ask around for pharm. tech jobs. If I can't get one, well, then I'll try and get some hospital pharmacy volunteering or something.

 

[PubPharm]

I currently work at Publix Pharmacy, and they are not making any technicians become certified. The Florida BOP (Board of Pharmacy) has the stipulation that anyone interested working in a pharmacy must not only be registered but Certified by 2011. This is what I have been told, so as long as you get certified before 2011, you will be fine.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I currently work at Publix Pharmacy, and they are not making any technicians become certified. The Florida BOP (Board of Pharmacy) has the stipulation that anyone interested working in a pharmacy must not only be registered but Certified by 2011. This is what I have been told, so as long as you get certified before 2011, you will be fine.

I think you can also avoid the certification if you have intern status by then... like you can still work in the pharmacy as an intern once you are in pharmacy school without tech certification.

 

[OCizzle]

I recently got hired at a CVS and I'm not certified.

 

[MuslimGator]

I just ordered the pharm tech book too and am hoping to self-study and take the test once I get my high school diploma. I'm also signing up to volunteer at a hospital pharmacy over the summer. Do you think anyone will higher someone just out of high school with only hospital volunteer experience, but certified?

 

[Valeriarobles93]

Hey, so I dont want to waste money to a pharm tech school
my plan is to take the test
and register with the Department of Health.

But I have no idea what book to get ???? any help please

 

[Valeriarobles93]

I just ordered the pharm tech book too and am hoping to self-study and take the test once I get my high school diploma. I'm also signing up to volunteer at a hospital pharmacy over the summer. Do you think anyone will higher someone just out of high school with only hospital volunteer experience, but certified?

what book did you buy ??

 

[Valeriarobles93]

what did you use to study for the exam ?