Pharm Tech? How?

[Lotus89]

Ok...I am confused, I am trying to get a job as a pharamcy tech. OK well every job I have seen wants a license or certified. How do you become cert or licensed? I mean do you have to log in hours or do you just go take the test..
Maybe I am slow, but could someone help me out on this matter.
Thanks

 

[Rx10]

To get a license all you need to do is to fill out a form and pay a minimal fee to the state board of pharmacy. You can Google your states's state of pharmacy to get to their website. Ex:"California board of pharamcy". On the website you should be able to find the necessary forms and information to get a license. Certification is something that not all states require. Usually you take a national certification exam called the PTCB. You can find books online to study out of. The test covers material that a technician should know. Do not worry you will be able to pass the exam after studying for it especially if you know nothing about pharmacy. Usually it is all about brand-generics, common calculations done in pharamcy etc. Hope this helps

 

[bh09]

So all you really need to become a pharmacy tech is to study and take the test. So if your able to be a pharmacy tech and go to school is it a good thing for experience and possibly getting a good LOR while getting hands on experience for pharmacy work?

 

[Lotus89]

So all you really need to become a pharmacy tech is to study and take the test. So if your able to be a pharmacy tech and go to school is it a good thing for experience and possibly getting a good LOR while getting hands on experience for pharmacy work?

That is my plan!!!!!!!!!!!
But the job isn't only for experience and LOR's, it is for you to figure out whether it pharmacy is your REAL desire [not saying you or I or anyone's desire is false or anything] but its just good to know what you are getting into.
Lotus

 

[BenUstudent]

That is my plan!!!!!!!!!!!
But the job isn't only for experience and LOR's, it is for you to figure out whether it pharmacy is your REAL desire [not saying you or I or anyone's desire is false or anything] but its just good to know what you are getting into.
Lotus

I feel like I am in the same boat Lotus89. In the meanwhile I became certified tonight. In illinois it turns out that alls what you need to get a license is a soul and $43! Best of luck to you and all SDN-ers😀 The link for those in illinois is https://www.idfpr.com/applications/onlinelicensing/ and just go from there.

 

[Lotus89]

I feel like I am in the same boat Lotus89. In the meanwhile I became certified tonight. In illinois it turns alls what you need to get a license is a soul and $43! Best of luck to you and all SDN-ers😀

Aw thanks!
Best of Luck to you too!!!!
We are in the same boat ...basically repeating each others thread....lol
Anyway where is the CA place where you get a temp license? Now all WE need to do is find job that hires us licensed, but have 0 experience...LOL

 

[BenUstudent]

Aw thanks!
Best of Luck to you too!!!!
We are in the same boat ...basically repeating each others thread....lol
Anyway where is the CA place where you get a temp license? Now all WE need to do is find job that hires us licensed, but have 0 experience...LOL

Amen to that!
I have good news the california website is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/applicants/apply_for_a_license.shtml and the actual pdf.doc is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/forms/tch_app_pkt.pdf. How ever the bad news is it not as easy as mine (U get fingerprints.ooooohhhh!ahhhh 😱). Hope that helps!

 

[Lotus89]

Amen to that!
I have good news the california website is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/applicants/apply_for_a_license.shtml and the actual pdf.doc is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/forms/tch_app_pkt.pdf. How ever the bad news is it not as easy as mine (U do fingerprint 😱). Hope that helps!

Fingerprints Schfingerprints. that is the least of the worries. My day job is working at dept. of homeland security, they had fingerprints done and background check (i mean they acutally had agents to meet with fam, friends, neighbors and classmates) so fingerprints arent a big deal...

 

[Lotus89]

Amen to that!
I have good news the california website is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/applicants/apply_for_a_license.shtml and the actual pdf.doc is http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/forms/tch_app_pkt.pdf. How ever the bad news is it not as easy as mine (U get fingerprints.ooooohhhh!ahhhh 😱). Hope that helps!

oh and for your state. does your state have any requirements? mine says stuff about graduating from a pharmacy school or training that is done specifically somewhere that the board cert? I am soooooooooo lost
How come everyone elses state is easy and my state has to be a pain in the a**

 

[kismet]

All states have different laws. In CA, you are required to have a license.

There are two ways to get a license:
1) Take a class.
2) Pass the PTCB and get certified. (Then, you file for your license with the state board. License and certification are two different things.)

A lot of places (Kaiser, Rite Aid, Longs) will hire you as a cashier and then send you to classes to get your tech license (I think you get paid to do the classes too.)

I took a class; I liked doing this because it placed me in an internship which gave me experience before I went to go find a job (and the internship turned into a job, which was super easy). A lot of people prefer just taking the PTCB. It's up to you. If you just want to experience pharmacy, working as a cashier will probably be enough and you can see if you want to continue on to be a technician.

 

[Lotus89]

All states have different laws. In CA, you are required to have a license.

There are two ways to get a license:
1) Take a class.
2) Pass the PTCB and get certified. (Then, you file for your license with the state board. License and certification are two different things.)

A lot of places (Kaiser, Rite Aid, Longs) will hire you as a cashier and then send you to classes to get your tech license (I think you get paid to do the classes too.)

I took a class; I liked doing this because it placed me in an internship which gave me experience before I went to go find a job (and the internship turned into a job, which was super easy). A lot of people prefer just taking the PTCB. It's up to you. If you just want to experience pharmacy, working as a cashier will probably be enough and you can see if you want to continue on to be a technician.

Yeah. I researched it right after I made that post and I think I am going to just take the exam, it can't kill me, all you do is study for a lil while and then take the test then apply for the license once you get cert. I mean the reason I asked this question is because every job I have seen (ex Walgreens) won't hire you unless you are cert and a license will make you looked perferred. Once I saw that you can't get the license until you take classes or what not, I was like "I am already working full-time and doing my undergrad fulltime, why would I take on ADDITIONAL classes just to get this job"
But once I found out you can just take the test by studying and paying a b.s. fee. I said "ok, where is the closest b & n" lol😳

 

[BenUstudent]

oh and for your state. does your state have any requirements? mine says stuff about graduating from a pharmacy school or training that is done specifically somewhere that the board cert? I am soooooooooo lost
How come everyone elses state is easy and my state has to be a pain in the a**

My state dose not require any classes/training to become certified. I don't know why they are all diffrent. So now I have to wait around and hope a manager calls me soon!!!

 

[babiisweetii]

I live in Miami,Florida. I got hired at CVS pharmacy back in 2007 without a license or experience. Basically, they train you and if you pass 6 months, you can opt to take the tech certified test and they pay for it.

 

[stybbs]

Lotus89, If you want a pharm tech job just to see if pharmacy is "right" for you, you can just be a clerk at the pharmacy and save the hassle, time, and money of taking the tech exam. Just a thought.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Lotus89, If you want a pharm tech job just to see if pharmacy is "right" for you, you can just be a clerk at the pharmacy and save the hassle, time, and money of taking the tech exam. Just a thought.

Lots of chains don't have "clerks" anymore in this economy.

A solid alternative to actually working in a pharmacy is volunteering at a Red Cross or hospital in your area.

 

[jasonbourne]

Ok...I am confused, I am trying to get a job as a pharamcy tech. OK well every job I have seen wants a license or certified. How do you become cert or licensed? I mean do you have to log in hours or do you just go take the test..
Maybe I am slow, but could someone help me out on this matter.
Thanks

All you need to do is take the test. You would be trained at the pharmacy where you apply. If you plan on going to pharm school, this would be helpful.