Pharmacy Experience Questions!

[DownonthePharm]

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I think if you can find an independent pharmacy, or one where the pharmacist owns the business you will have more luck shadowing than a big chain like CVS or Walgreens. Some hospitals will let you volunteer, but that can be pretty hard to come by. I had a similar problem so I volunteered at a free clinic 1-2 nights a week, and they were more than happy to have my help and Ive learned a lot in the 6 months Ive been there.

Make sure all your friends and family know about your interest in pharmacy, Im sure someone you know knows someone who knows someone socially or professionally who is a pharmacist and might be able to help you out.

Has anyone noticed how easy comparatively it is to shadow a doctor but not for a pharmacist? I dont understand why that is. Both are bound by the same privacy codes. Is it because of access to medications? Or are pharmacists just less likely to want to be observed?

 

[RLK]

I got a job at Eckerd pretty easily last summer. CVS had a flyer up at my school about wanting pharmacy help. I also called a local hospital and they were gonna let me volunteer. You could call a hospital if you can't get a job at a pharmacy. Or do whichever is more interesting to you.

 

[Lo|a]

I suppose some pharmacists are afraid to let someone with no prior pharmacy experience or training to work in their pharmacy. Anyway, I heard that big chains like Walgreens and CVS have paid training for those interested in becoming a pharm tech. Any idea on the length of those training sessions?

 

[dreaminpharmd]

I suppose some pharmacists are afraid to let someone with no prior pharmacy experience or training to work in their pharmacy. Anyway, I heard that big chains like Walgreens and CVS have paid training for those interested in becoming a pharm tech. Any idea on the length of those training sessions?

When I inquired about working at Walgreens as a technician with my sister's friend, who is a pharmacist there, she said that you need to be licensed (or at least in California). I have met pharmacy technicians who have completed a 6 month training course that gave them some kind of certification, especially interning at a pharmacy to learn about drugs and so forth (required to intern for some # of hours). Newly hired technicians at my hospital are on probation for 6 months to see how well they can handle the workload....but they are trained on the job.

I volunteer at a hospital pharmacy...so I do the most minimal work...meaning pre-packaging, labeling, and checking expired meds. This allowed to gain access to the staff pharmacists, technicians, and pharmacy students...so I could ask them any questions. However, I didn't learn too much about all kinds of medication.

I also shadowed a clinical pharmacist...my sister helped me out since she works with him sometimes...You have to be lucky to know someone...and the pharmacist doesn't mind teaching you or letting you observe. Generally, clinical pharmacists don't like to have "outside" people observing because they have to teach the pharmacy students...

I guess you could go to the career service on your college campus to see if there are any volunteer services available. Contact them and ask if there are any pharmacists that are willing to let you shadow if their volunteer spots are filled. If you work in a research lab and have some medical doctors working there as well, you can ask if they know any clinical pharmacists willing to let you shadow them. Many people just become a pharmacy clerks if they don't bother getting pharmacy technician training.

 

[ginephre]

I have also had horrible luck finding a tech job, the first question they always asked was, "are you certified?" so, i bought a couple of books with study material and questions for the PTCB exam and passed it - the test isn't really all that hard, just a lot of memorization. being certified then helped me get a job and it looks good on the school applications!

 

[calrx]

I took someone's advice on SDN (sorry, don't remember who)... actually, wait, I think it was LittleMissB! Anyway, she suggested going through the phone book and calling all pharmacies in your local area. On the phone I mentioned that I have a BS degree and am hoping to achieve a PharmD degree. I found that most pharmacists I spoke with seemed interested in hiring me after learning that. (So definitely mention that you want to be a pharmacist!) Later that week I went and filled out applications at all of the pharmacies that said they were hiring. I ended up having a choice between Target, Eckerds, and 3 different Rite Aids. I'm sure with a little perseverance you will be able to get a job!

 

[Lo|a]

I have also had horrible luck finding a tech job, the first question they always asked was, "are you certified?" so, i bought a couple of books with study material and questions for the PTCB exam and passed it - the test isn't really all that hard, just a lot of memorization. being certified then helped me get a job and it looks good on the school applications!

I was doing some research online and found a few sites with a bunch of study materials, but I don't want to buy something that's not worth my money. Where did you purchase your study materials from? Or where would you recommend to look?

 

[MuraRX]

I have also had horrible luck finding a tech job, the first question they always asked was, "are you certified?" so, i bought a couple of books with study material and questions for the PTCB exam and passed it - the test isn't really all that hard, just a lot of memorization. being certified then helped me get a job and it looks good on the school applications!

What types of questions are on the exam?

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

What types of questions are on the exam?

It depends but basic math calculations, sterile, iv drip rates, alligation, and a few other. You should also know the major families of drugs out there and a few examples of them including. Common brand and generic names is a must plus sigs.

 

[ginephre]

the math is a lot of conversions and dilution/reconstitution/percentage stuff, there are questions with the common abbreviations (the prescription reads sig blah blah, how many pills do you dispense?) brand name/generic questions, drug class questions, law questions.... it was a year ago, so it's all kinda fuzzy! i know different tests have different difficulty levels because there isn't a set score to pass, they look at each test form and determine the passing level for that particular test.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

For PTCB Cert. you need a scaled score of at least a 650. Here's some info from the PTCB website, "Candidates must obtain a scaled score of at least 650 to pass the PTCE. The passing score was established by a panel of content experts who used the modified-Angoff method. Using this method, each question is individually evaluated and rated by the panelists. Panelists estimate the percentage of qualified candidates who will answer each item correctly. The overall passing score is computed by averaging the panelists’ ratings. The PTCB Certification Council recommends the passing score to the Board of Governors...The passing score is not set as a specific raw score or number of questions answered correctly because some of these exam forms may be slightly easier or more difficult than other forms. Because of the variations in difficulty, the PTCE is equated. Once the test forms have been equated, the raw scores are converted to scaled scores, which are equivalent for all administrations of the PTCE. Thus, a given-scaled score reflects the same level of ability regardless of the form of the PTCE that was taken. The range of total scaled scores for the PTCE is 300-900." Hope that helps.

 

[Csillag]

Hey Lola,
Go to your local hospital! Yeah, they might make you do some really booooring stuff like put back credits, dock IV bags, and clean stuff but at least you get experience... it's how I started off when I was 14- we had to do community service for this one English class and write about it... here I am now with 8 years of pharmacy experience, getting paid 🙂 do it do it
-Csillag

It seems so diffcult (for me at least) to get any kind of pharmacy experience without a darn pharmacy tech degree. I work at a retail store and asked the pharmacist there if he'd let me work in the pharmacy. I got a polite "no." Any suggestions on how to gain some experience?

 

[genesis09]

For PTCE, you should make sure you use only recent review books because they just redid the exam. The new test just took effect in March 2006. The new outline is 63% assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients, 23% Medication distribution and inventory control systems, and 14% Participating in the administration and management of Pharmacy Practice.

 

[jiger104]

It definitely helps to know someone. My cousin is a doctor who knows alot of pharmacists and he just asked one of his friends if he had any open positions and I was able to get a job without any prior experience or certification.

Its at cvs and you do basic pharmacy things, but you learn about everything that a pharm tech would normally do. Pharmacy service associate they call it.

 

[Lo|a]

What types of questions are on the exam?

Go on to this website. It has the lastest information plus testing sites and dates.

http://www.ptcb.org/Exam/preparation.aspx

 

[TYoukhana]

i've been a tech for 3 years at walgreens, basically when i applied for the position i just mentioned that i wanted experience in the field before i start school so i can make sure that i liked it. I've been working there since and i'm the senior tech as of now, and with all the new hires, for arizona at least, to get licsensed is merely just getting a check from walgreens and going down to the board and they'll give you a license (in training) until you complete your certification test (which walgreens pays for also) if you don't know anything about the job at all, walgreens requires you to go to training courses before taking the certification test and they pay you for your time spent there. basically you'll learn everything you need to know before they throw you into the test.

 

[gimpsd]

It seems so diffcult (for me at least) to get any kind of pharmacy experience without a darn pharmacy tech degree. I work at a retail store and asked the pharmacist there if he'd let me work in the pharmacy. I got a polite "no." Any suggestions on how to gain some experience?

When I started looking for a pharmacy job, I was in the same exact position as you. No one was hiring. After looking around, I decided that I wanted to work at walgreens, so I hired on as a clerk at the front. Keep in mind that this is after I got my BS degree in Biochemistry. I rung up people on the front register for almost 4 months before a spot opened up in the pharmacy. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little to get what you want.

 

[MuraRX]

I was wondering if anyone knows if experience working in a pharmacy makes a big difference on applications. Does anyone know how much weight they put on this? Let's say your gpa and pcat are above average. Do they care if you have no direct pharmacy experience?

 

[UVaWahoo]

i have a 3.0, 98 pcat, and zeeeeeero pharmacy. i've been accepted at vcu & south, just interviewed at mercer. no word from auburn or florida. but i'm missing 4 auburn prereqs, so i'm not planning on getting an acceptance from them.
so, yeah. whatever all that means.

 

[Moxxie]

I was wondering if anyone knows if experience working in a pharmacy makes a big difference on applications. Does anyone know how much weight they put on this? Let's say your gpa and pcat are above average. Do they care if you have no direct pharmacy experience?

I really think that it depends on the school. I've met people that got into UT-Austin with no pharmacy experience (I don't know their GPA). I got into Idaho State with no retail experience and only ~50 hours of shadowing experience at a hospital. I asked the admissions committee at ISU about the weight of my experience, and they said that although previous pharmacy experience isn't required, they do assign extra points to students that have completed a certain number of hours.

I think the main thing that adcoms are looking for in regards to pharmacy experience is that you know what you're getting yourself into; that is, that you understand the pharmacy profession enough to know that this is the right choice for you.

 

[PharmD4Life]

UVWAhoo, 3.0 your overall gpa or your science gpa?

 

[patmcd]

It really depends on the school. I've been accepted to OSU w/o any experience. But when I interviewed at UW they didn't seem too pleased.

 

[erinlindsey]

I've been accepted to UW and have no pharmacy experience but I have experience in other areas (like research and teaching) that might have helped.

 

[MuraRX]

Has anyone been accepted to any California schools with zero pharmacy experience?

 

[starsweet]

I've gotten 4 interviews out of 6 and been accepted to one school so far (South) without any pharmacy experience. I do have a lot of work experience in engineering though and I shadowed a pharmacist. However, I am "on hold" at Mercer and I have a hunch that it's because of the lack of pharmacy experience... I agree that it probably depends on the school.

 

[MuraRX]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

 

[UTCPharm]

I only applied to UT Memphis and ETSU. I have been accepted to UT and I just received an invite to interview at ETSU, but I'm proabably not going b/c UT was my first choice. My stats are 3.8 GPA and 94 PCAT, but no pharm experience. I shadowed at two pharmacies, but that's it. I am a manager at a restaurant, I'm not sure if that helped at all or not. I told my interviewers it's been a good learning and growing experience for me to have that leadership role, but I'm not sure how important it was to them. Anyhow...hope this helps. 🙂

 

[UTCPharm]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

Are you waiting on decisions from any other schools? IF you do end up having to reapply, i think I would go for the pharmacy experience, if you can afford to take the pay cut. That alone would strengthen your application, plus like you said it would give you more time for school, to make sure you do well in whatever courses you take. If I hadn't gotten in this year, my definite plan was to find a pharm tech job, even though it would mean a pay cut for me. Good luck, and don't give up hope!

 

[dreaminpharmd]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

Hey MuraRX,

Being on the waitlist isn't too bad. You may still get in! Anyways, I wouldn't quit the research job if you enjoy it for a pharmacy tech position. Have you looked into volunteering at the UCSF pharmacy? The orientation only happens every so often, but if you think you want experience, that is the easiest way to go (it took me a couple months to get there though). I am currently volunteering at the Mt. Zion location (I think I am the only volunteer they have) which has given me the best experience and opportunity to communicate with the techs and pharmacists. The minimum commitment is three months and working is about 4hours (sometimes less...if they run out of stuff for you). I hear Parnassus location is more hectic and impersonable. But, you may run into some of the pharmacy students and techs who can give you heads up on the field.

Good luck!
(PS-If you want a more personable experience volunteering....work at Mt Zion Pharmacy).

 

[MuraRX]

Are you waiting on decisions from any other schools? IF you do end up having to reapply, i think I would go for the pharmacy experience, if you can afford to take the pay cut. That alone would strengthen your application, plus like you said it would give you more time for school, to make sure you do well in whatever courses you take. If I hadn't gotten in this year, my definite plan was to find a pharm tech job, even though it would mean a pay cut for me. Good luck, and don't give up hope!

yea, you're right. It's not only the paycut that has been holding me back though. I also feel like I'm learning so much at my current job and I have the big name of this famous hospital behind me--that it might be the wrong move. But you're right--it's not directly related and since pharmacy is my main goal, I should just do what I have to do to get there.

 

[TheChemist]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

I also have no pharmacy experience, but like you I have a lot of research experience. UCSF didn't consider me for an interview, but I was accepted to UOP, Western, waitlisted at Touro and interviewed at USC (I havn't heard back them yet, the interview was a few weeks ago). It is possible but I think it's important to apply to multiple schools. Did you only apply to UCSF?

 

[MuraRX]

Hey MuraRX,

Being on the waitlist isn't too bad. You may still get in! Anyways, I wouldn't quit the research job if you enjoy it for a pharmacy tech position. Have you looked into volunteering at the UCSF pharmacy? The orientation only happens every so often, but if you think you want experience, that is the easiest way to go (it took me a couple months to get there though). I am currently volunteering at the Mt. Zion location (I think I am the only volunteer they have) which has given me the best experience and opportunity to communicate with the techs and pharmacists. The minimum commitment is three months and working is about 4hours (sometimes less...if they run out of stuff for you). I hear Parnassus location is more hectic and impersonable. But, you may run into some of the pharmacy students and techs who can give you heads up on the field.

Good luck!
(PS-If you want a more personable experience volunteering....work at Mt Zion Pharmacy).

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I live in NJ 🙁
I will look into volunteering experience though--that might be a good move instead of leaving this job.

 

[flor]

I know that for UCSF, they are looking for a well-rounded applicant. I worked for 6 months in retail as a cashier and volunteered in a local clinical pharmacy. Also to improve my chances, I work in a big biotech company and did some research internships. It's good that you have research experience and if you want to gain some pharmacy experience, you can always volunteer in a clinical pharmacy. It shows your commitment to the community and still it's considered pharm. experience. 🙂

 

[flor]

Hey MuraRX,

Being on the waitlist isn't too bad. You may still get in! Anyways, I wouldn't quit the research job if you enjoy it for a pharmacy tech position. Have you looked into volunteering at the UCSF pharmacy? The orientation only happens every so often, but if you think you want experience, that is the easiest way to go (it took me a couple months to get there though). I am currently volunteering at the Mt. Zion location (I think I am the only volunteer they have) which has given me the best experience and opportunity to communicate with the techs and pharmacists. The minimum commitment is three months and working is about 4hours (sometimes less...if they run out of stuff for you). I hear Parnassus location is more hectic and impersonable. But, you may run into some of the pharmacy students and techs who can give you heads up on the field.

Good luck!
(PS-If you want a more personable experience volunteering....work at Mt Zion Pharmacy).

Hey DreaminpharD!

How's the work in Mt Zion? My sister currently volunteer at Parnassus and she doesn't really like it because she gets some attitude from the doctors and she doesn't feel appreciated. All she does is take the medicine from the pharmacy to the floors; sometimes she uses the robots but most of the time she likes to walk around.
I ask this because I plan to volunteer in June (after I quit my job) and I'm not sure if I should go to Parnassus or Mt. Zion..
Thanks

 

[RoyalBean]

I was wondering if anyone knows if experience working in a pharmacy makes a big difference on applications. Does anyone know how much weight they put on this? Let's say your gpa and pcat are above average. Do they care if you have no direct pharmacy experience?

As every one said it varies by school, although I never heard of a school that didn't at least recommend it. Some schools basically require it, but don't say so, instead they require a letter from a pharmacist. I never spent an hour inside a pharmacy and I got accepted to UW (Wisconsin -- the real UW 😉 ) but I also had a BS in Bio with a lot of upper level Biochemistry classes to make up for my lack of experience. And I know I have said this before, but having a minor or certificate in a foreign language can make up for a lot of shortcomings, especially at schools like UW, where they seem to value "diversity" a lot (that is the single biggest emphasis for their admission requirements).

 

[sdn1977]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

Mura...I'm not clear...you said you might take some classes to strengthen your applications & make you eligible for more schools. Do you have a degree? I can't imagine you qualifying for UCSF & being waitlisted & not be eligible for other schools. I'm just wondering if your lack of experience is the only reason for being waitlisted...

But...if I were in your shoes, and I really felt experience was the only thing that kept me back...no, I wouldn't give up your research job. Places like UCSF are very research oriented & will put a lot of weight on that. I'd try to see if I could add in technician or volunteer work on top of it. Do you have weekends or evenings free? If so, working for a temp agency as a tech will give you the opportunity to work as much as your schedule allows. I know this means lots of extra time committment, but the schools will see that & realize your desire is strong enough to do what you must to see it thru. Good luck!

 

[tomrocks]

Okay so here's my dilemma. I currently work at a reputable research institution as a clinical research assistant. I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). If I do not get called off the waitlist, would it be worth it to leave my current job for a pharmacy tech job, considering that it would mean a pay cut of about 50%? I am also considering the fact that if I must reapply to schools next year, I will also be taking more classes (such as biochem, molecular bio, statistics) to strengthen my applications and make me eligible for more schools . A job as a pharm tech would give me a more flexible schedule in order to take these courses.

What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

i had no pharmacy experience whatsoever and i got into ucsf. i had other extracurriculars (i coordinated a studen run health ethics class and also was a teaching assistant with some lab work and volunteer jobs here and there). they look for people who are well rounded and that have diverse backgrounds. if working at your current job is what you're passionate about, then stay there. if not, then find something you are passionate about. good luck.

tom

 

[dreaminpharmd]

Hey DreaminpharD!

How's the work in Mt Zion? My sister currently volunteer at Parnassus and she doesn't really like it because she gets some attitude from the doctors and she doesn't feel appreciated. All she does is take the medicine from the pharmacy to the floors; sometimes she uses the robots but most of the time she likes to walk around.
I ask this because I plan to volunteer in June (after I quit my job) and I'm not sure if I should go to Parnassus or Mt. Zion..
Thanks

I like it at Mt. Zion because it is convenient for me. The work is much less than what Parnassus would give you (I don't do deliveries for some reason). I basically label heparin vials and warfarin tablets, check expired meds, restock the iv room (if I can find the stuff), and other little jobs. I only volunteer once a week for 4 hrs or less....for the longest time, the staff has been pretty stable...so I got to know some of the techs and pharmacists well. But since they added the new shift, they've been sending a lot of different people. I am considering quitting after this month so I can just focus on finishing up my school work and enjoying the rest of my months off before I move...

Congrats on getting into UCSF!

 

[TrojanAnteater]

Has anyone been accepted to any California schools with zero pharmacy experience?

I had no work experience, and my extracurriculars were pretty much non existant (wasn't interested in joining clubs and stuff in undergrad). My honors and awards were good though.

All I had for pharmacy experience was a little shadowing.

 

[MuraRX]

Mura...I'm not clear...you said you might take some classes to strengthen your applications & make you eligible for more schools. Do you have a degree? I can't imagine you qualifying for UCSF & being waitlisted & not be eligible for other schools. I'm just wondering if your lack of experience is the only reason for being waitlisted...

But...if I were in your shoes, and I really felt experience was the only thing that kept me back...no, I wouldn't give up your research job. Places like UCSF are very research oriented & will put a lot of weight on that. I'd try to see if I could add in technician or volunteer work on top of it. Do you have weekends or evenings free? If so, working for a temp agency as a tech will give you the opportunity to work as much as your schedule allows. I know this means lots of extra time committment, but the schools will see that & realize your desire is strong enough to do what you must to see it thru. Good luck!

I do have a BA in Biology. However, I did not take Biochem, Molecular Bio or Statistics. Some schools require that as well. I had all pre-reqs for UCSF except for Anatomy & Phys II. Also, they want me to repeat Physics II because the one that I took was not Calculus-based. I'm taking both those classes over the summer. The temp agency idea is good! I'm going to look into that--Thanx!

As far as knowing the reason for being waitlisted--I actually called today and inquired into the reason. As I suspected, I was told that my weakness was lack of pharmacy experience. I think they basically want to be sure that applicants know enough about pharmacy so that they know exactly what they are getting themselves into. It makes sense i guess.

 

[fidelio]

I have been put on the waitlist at UCSF and am pretty sure it is due to lack of pharmacy experience (i have none). What should I do? I'm so frustrated. 🙁

Well, I had pharmacy experience and I was still waitlisted. My parents own an independent pharmacy and I volunteered at a Hospital Pharmacy.

So I don't know if it would make much of a difference.

Maybe you have higher stats than me. I have a 3.6 gpa.

 

[ethyl]

Without any pharmacy experience, I received interview offers from all 7 schools I applied to... I was accepted to the one school I interviewed at and UF too. So personally, I think importance in descending order goes like this: GPA, PCAT, interview, personal statement, and extra currics tied with pharmacy experience. So long as you demonstrate that you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll have a great chance. 👍

 

[doublehh03]

or things of that nature in your application?

will schools want documentation? or how would they confirm it?

I want to ask to see if i should go back to some places i quit a year earlier and get them. thanks

 

[aya01]

or things of that nature in your application?

will schools want documentation? or how would they confirm it?

I want to ask to see if i should go back to some places i quit a year earlier and get them. thanks

I never had to provide documentation for my volunteer work even when applying to college for regular undergrad work. Unless the school you're applying to is extremely small, I don't believe pharmacy school expects documentation either (at least, it was never required when I applied). With all of the supplementals and the number of applicants they get each year, I think it would be added work for them to actually check for verification. Honesty's just the best policy in this case 👍

 

[karariki]

they don't have to ask for documentation. during the interview, they'll ask a couple of questions about ur volunteer exp. based on ur answers, they can tell whether u really volunteered or not and how much u've learned from it & how much u contributed.
only actual experience can help u provide detail answers to their ques.
🙂

 

[attia]

I went to the pharmacys and they said we dont do volenteer work until you are in pharmacy school and they only hire ppl
i dont want a job cause i need to be studing
i wanted valanteer work..... so i can go when i have time
where should i apply?

 

[imprecious]

I went to the pharmacys and they said we dont do volenteer work until you are in pharmacy school and they only hire ppl
i dont want a job cause i need to be studing
i wanted valanteer work..... so i can go when i have time
where should i apply?

I tried to find volunteer work in the past as well and couldn't find any due to the liability pharmacists would have of taking in volunteers who are not very familiar about the pharmacy laws. Pharmacists told me that if I wanted to gain exposure to the profession, the best thing I could do was to obtain a pharmacy technician certificate. If you don't have time to go through the pharm tech course or if you can't find volunteer work as well, I think you should ask pharmacists if you can shadow them for a day or something, so you can get some perspective about this profession.

 

[UTCPharm]

I went to the pharmacys and they said we dont do volenteer work until you are in pharmacy school and they only hire ppl
i dont want a job cause i need to be studing
i wanted valanteer work..... so i can go when i have time
where should i apply?

What type of pharmacy did you go to? I have heard that hospital pharmacies are more likely to take on volunteers, so you could try that. Also, I haven't done any volunteer work in a pharmacy, but I did shadow at a couple of pharmacies. One thing I noticed was that the privately owned pharmacies seemed much more willing/able to help me. The big retail chains always needed to talk to someone else, or directed me to the district manager, etc. Anyhow, you might also try one of these private pharmacies, if you havent already.

 

[DownonthePharm]

Some hospitals accept pharmacy volunteers, most free and low cost clinics with a pharmacy on site accept pharmacy help. Contact your schools pre-pharmacy or health science advisor, other students in your classes, etc. and see if they have any suggestions.

 

[JustTiff]

I went to the pharmacys and they said we dont do volenteer work until you are in pharmacy school and they only hire ppl
i dont want a job cause i need to be studing
i wanted valanteer work..... so i can go when i have time
where should i apply?

OK, I'm happy, happy, happy because I just got a shadowing opportunity from a local pharmacist. He owns what used to be The Medicine Shoppe in the town I live in. They do retail pharmacy but also alot of other services for customers. It's not at all like a CVS or Walgreens. I'm excited about learning from him and the other pharmacists working there. I called him up yesterday and he told me to come in today to talk to him about it. We sat in an office and he asked me about school and why I wanted to go into pharmacy. We talked and I was honest. He said he has other students who come in doing their externships. I think I am the only one who is still doing prepharm school work. I look forward to meeting some of the other students as well. This was my first attempt at shadowing and so far so good. I start on Friday at noon.
Good luck and try a more "mom and pop" (so to speak) type of pharmacy where they can pretty much do what they want to do and maybe you'll have a good experience. They should work with your hours. This pharmacist pretty much left it up to me as to when I could come in. 🙂