Pharmacy Technician Certification

[Moni526]

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Hey all I just found an ad on Craigslist advertising a website that allows one to complete the certification in 16 weeks online. My question is this: I am already working in a pharmacy uncertified, but I heard starting next year anyone working in a pharmacy must be certified. I plan on entering pharmacy school in fall 2010, so would it be worth it to obtain this license? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! 🙂

 

[Passion4Sci]

Hey all I just found an ad on Craigslist advertising a website that allows one to complete the certification in 16 weeks online. My question is this: I am already working in a pharmacy uncertified, but I heard starting next year anyone working in a pharmacy must be certified. I plan on entering pharmacy school in fall 2010, so would it be worth it to obtain this license? Any feedback would be greatly apreciated! 🙂

Yeah, it's "worth it" to get, definitely.

Go to ptcb.org, schedule a test, and take the test. It's really easy and if you have actual pharmacy experience when you take it, you're going to fly right through it, trust me.

Don't pay for a stupid class, ESPECIALLY since you're already employed!

 

[delano2000]

Like P4Sci said, don't waste your money on the course. I will be taking mine next month and I wont start studying (mainly because I haven't worked in a pharmacy for 2 yrs) until at most a week before the test.

 

[Moni526]

Yeah, it's "worth it" to get, definitely.

Go to ptcb.org, schedule a test, and take the test. It's really easy and if you have actual pharmacy experience when you take it, you're going to fly right through it, trust me.

Don't pay for a stupid class, ESPECIALLY since you're already employed!

Thank you! I will definitely look into this once classes get started and I am settled in to my new schedule. Also I am trying to get my pharmCAS essay completed tonight so that is not something else I have to worry about!

 

[delano2000]

Thank you! I will definitely look into this once classes get started and I am settled in to my new schedule. Also I am trying to get my pharmCAS essay completed tonight so that is not something else I have to worry about!

Oh gosh...I haven't even started on PharmCAS yet.

 

[pharmerinthedel]

Many pharmacy schools require that their incoming students become PTCB certified and be licensed as a pharmacy tech - if licensure is an option in a particular school's state.

Do not waste your money on an online course. Pick up a pharm tech certification review book that contains a practice exam and you will do just fine. If you are now working in a community pharmacy, probably the only thing that will be new to you are the formulas for making LVPs and SVPs. There are also some questions regarding asceptic technique while working in the hood.

 

[busyizzy]

Many pharmacy schools require that their incoming students become PTCB certified and be licensed as a pharmacy tech - if licensure is an option in a particular school's state.

Whaaaat? Many schools? I am sorry, I haven't heard about this one yet. What schools require their incoming students to be PTCB certified? Is this before you apply/while you apply, or something you have to get done before you start attending school, or something that happens while you're attending school?

 

[Passion4Sci]

I also haven't heard about a pharmacy school requiring PTCB certification.

 

[Moni526]

Oh gosh...I haven't even started on PharmCAS yet.

Oh man! I am trying to get the application portion done so I can focus my time and energy on studying for the October PCAT.

 

[delano2000]

Oh man! I am trying to get the application portion done so I can focus my time and energy on studying for the October PCAT.

And I am the complete opposite. I am focusing on studying for the PCAT first. I will start with PharmCAS in September.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I had to do PharmCAS so much earlier than you guys =/ Damn rolling admissions!

 

[pharmerinthedel]

It's one of those things they tell you after you've been accepted - along with immunizations and CPR certification. You need to be licensed in order to do your practicals and most states now (or will in the next year or two) require certification in order to be licensed.

 

[Passion4Sci]

It's one of those things they tell you after you've been accepted - along with immunizations and CPR certification. You need to be licensed in order to do your practicals and most states now (or will in the next year or two) require certification in order to be licensed.

Why wouldn't the Pharmacist Intern License cover that? I mean, what's so special about PTCB certification? I had never set foot in a pharmacy, and had only studied for a matter of a couple of weeks, and I destroyed the PTCE.

In California, the Intern License supersedes the CPhT, or in other words, makes it useless.

I guess I just can't see the point. Not like it matters. It's $129 to PearsonVUE and about 45 minutes of your time in a stuffy room being watched by a camera happy dude/girl, no big thang. Easy questions, no hard distractors, only a few things that only someone who had real-world experience in a pharmacy would know (Which of the following will be found in the pharmacy's refrigerated area: ABCD) and that's not even CLOSE to dropping you below 650 to fail the test.

 

[pharmerinthedel]

Not all states have a pharmacist intern license. For instance, Illinois only issues licenses for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Not all states have a pharmacist intern license. For instance, Illinois only issues licenses for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

I guess that'd make sense. The way you were talking, it sounded like you had read somewhere that this was going to be a national deal, which would be stupid, LOL.

Alright, glad that's cleared up.

 

[themulya]

Why wouldn't the Pharmacist Intern License cover that? I mean, what's so special about PTCB certification? I had never set foot in a pharmacy, and had only studied for a matter of a couple of weeks, and I destroyed the PTCE.

In California, the Intern License supersedes the CPhT, or in other words, makes it useless.

Same here in Texas. First thing I had to do in pharmacy school was register with the board for my intern license. I can let my technician license expire now because my intern license lets me do everything my tech license did plus a whole lot more.

 

[themulya]

Not all states have a pharmacist intern license. For instance, Illinois only issues licenses for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

well, thats just odd. Illinois' board of pharmacy doesn't even have it's own site. It's just lumped in with all the other state licenses

 

[glory4england]

Same here in Texas. First thing I had to do in pharmacy school was register with the board for my intern license. I can let my technician license expire now because my intern license lets me do everything my tech license did plus a whole lot more.

Can you register and work as an intern before your first year is over? I thought in Texas you need to finish 30 hrs of pharm school before you can work as an intern.

^^

 

[themulya]

Can you register and work as an intern before your first year is over? I thought in Texas you need to finish 30 hrs of pharm school before you can work as an intern.

^^

no you do, but my license expires in march next year and I wont be working till next summer anyways when I'll have more than 30 hours under my belt. Should have pointed that out, but I was just working on some CE a few weeks ago and I realized, wait I dont need to do this.

 

[busyizzy]

And I am the complete opposite. I am focusing on studying for the PCAT first. I will start with PharmCAS in September.

You guys are smart. I am doing both my PharmCas and my PCAT studying right now on top of a full time job - and it's soooooo stressful. I have to finish a decent draft of my personal statement by the first week of September so I can give it to my LOR people - but I am also taking the Oct exam so I need to study for that. Serves me right for flying to Korea and Hawaii for 2 months after graduation....

 

[delano2000]

You guys are smart. I am doing both my PharmCas and my PCAT studying right now on top of a full time job - and it's soooooo stressful. I have to finish a decent draft of my personal statement by the first week of September so I can give it to my LOR people - but I am also taking the Oct exam so I need to study for that. Serves me right for flying to Korea and Hawaii for 2 months after graduation....

Hey, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (I am sure that was not the dude's name). I would have loved to take a break this summer. It's gonna be hard but I am quitting my job this week and focus on studying for the PCAT, PTCE and getting PharmCAS started.

 

[Pharma Spia]

Today I went to get my PTCB certificate notarized and when I called the UPS store on the phone the guy just told me make sure I bring the certificate and copy that I need notarized as a true copy, Driver's License, and $10.

So I get there, and the guy told me I need to write a statement that says this is a true copy of my Pharmacy Technician Certificate and include the Certificate Number on it. Then he fills out this California Jurat with Affiant Statement form that just has the box "See Attached Document (Notary to cross out lines 1-6 below)" checked, the Notary Stamp, and the Title or Description of the statement I wrote with the included certificate number on that form. He did not put a stamp on my statement or on the copy of the certificate. Do I need a stamp on the statement or just on that form he filled out?

I'm just worried that I did not get it notarized properly. He just kept saying how he cant notarize the copy of my certificate, he can only notarize my statement with me saying it is a true copy. I really dont want to pay for another set of fingerprints if this does not go through. If anyone is familiar with this process please let me know if this was correct. If its not than I'd rather pay another $10 to get it notarized properly, and not pay $71 for fingerprints.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Maybe I had it notarized incorrectly, LOL.

I took mine to a mailbox etc. type place and the notary public there took my copy, stamped "TRUE COPY" on it, used her stamp, and signed it.

I don't think there'd be a problem with the "see attached doc" statement,but I certainly do understand not wanting to LiveScan again that's for sure.

She didn't even bat an eyelash to my request of having her sign the copy and stamp it, and obviously CA was happy with mine, since I have my license.

HTH.

 

[Lo|a]

DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON THE CLASS!!!!!!!! Do what I did...I bought a book from Barnes and Noble for like $40.00 then study for a week and took the test and passed on my first try with absolutely no previous Pharmacy experience. I got a job right after I passed the test. It is really easy and if you already work in a Pharmacy you should be able to pass it. I'm not sure about your pharmacy, but the one I work at will buy study books for uncertified technicians to become certified. Ask you manager.

 

[drjmariesegars]

I had to do PharmCAS so much earlier than you guys =/ Damn rolling admissions!

What Pharmacy school has rolling admissions???
I'm not calling your bluff, I was just operating under the assumption that all pharmacy schools have a cycle as opposed to rolling admission...

 

[Passion4Sci]

What Pharmacy school has rolling admissions???
I'm not calling your bluff, I was just operating under the assumption that all pharmacy schools have a cycle as opposed to rolling admission...

Uh... what?

USC and UoP are on strict rolling admissions.

UoP, in fact, issues "Tiers". If you have your paperwork postmarked/rec'd by August 1st, for example, you're in the 1st tier - That is, you're at a higher priority than other applicants who do it later.

USC does not publish this data but IS on rolling admissions.

For example:

From http://www.usc.edu/schools/pharmacy/pharmd/admission/faqs.html

Do you have rolling admission?
Yes. It is advisable to submit your application as early as possible.

 

[drjmariesegars]

Uh... what?

USC and UoP are on strict rolling admissions.

UoP, in fact, issues "Tiers". If you have your paperwork postmarked/rec'd by August 1st, for example, you're in the 1st tier - That is, you're at a higher priority than other applicants who do it later.

USC does not publish this data but IS on rolling admissions.

For example:

From http://www.usc.edu/schools/pharmacy/pharmd/admission/faqs.html

Do you have rolling admission?
Yes. It is advisable to submit your application as early as possible.

See I live in Michigan, so the three schools that are here have a cycle. So you have to wait a whole year. USC is definitely going on my list of schools to look at now! I've never ever heard of that

 

[Passion4Sci]

See I live in Michigan, so the three schools that are here have a cycle. So you have to wait a whole year. USC is definitely going on my list of schools to look at now! I've never ever heard of that

It makes the whole process a lot easier, but a lot faster too. I like it because it rewards anti-procrastinators, like me, and punishes people who do things slowly. 😀

 

[delano2000]

It makes the whole process a lot easier, but a lot faster too. I like it because it rewards anti-procrastinators, like me, and punishes people who do things slowly. 😀

 

[lavanCPhT]

Hi Any ideas on how to prepare for the PTCB Certification Exam?

 

[Passion4Sci]

Hi Any ideas on how to prepare for the PTCB Certification Exam?

Yeah - Grab a Mosby's book on the cheap from Amazon (ANY edition will do... some are available for as little as $9.99 used, LOL) and brush up on your basic Algebra skills so you're quick at proportions and conversion factors like mL--->Oz and back, tbsp--->mL, etc. Add in some basic drug knowledge like what might be used to treat fatsomyalgia or dieuhbeetuhz and where C-IIs might be kept or how many refills are allowed on Accutane, how to verify a DEA #, etc.

And voila, >650 on the PTCE.

Not even kidding.

 

[dnguyen401]

I didn't get my certificate notarized and I already sent the apps in. My friend told me to just make a copy! What do you guys suggest I do? Please get back to me asap.

 

[PharmD321]

Hey all I just found an ad on Craigslist advertising a website that allows one to complete the certification in 16 weeks online. My question is this: I am already working in a pharmacy uncertified, but I heard starting next year anyone working in a pharmacy must be certified. I plan on entering pharmacy school in fall 2010, so would it be worth it to obtain this license? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! 🙂

Sorry guys but I would have to disagree with a lot of people on this one....

No matter what, online will suck. Don't take it online.

Although, please do get certified/licensed. Take the course anyways even though you have a job. The person that is teaching you must have a lot of pharmacy experience (as a pharmacist). I learned so much about pharmacy from him and it made me the person I am today....a pre-pharmacy student. It will also look good on your application to pharmacy school and it can even be a good thing to talk about during the interview when you talk about yourself and why you think pharmacy is your career choice.

 

[PharmD321]

Hi Any ideas on how to prepare for the PTCB Certification Exam?

Then take a look at my blogs....

🙂

 

[kpham001]

Maybe I had it notarized incorrectly, LOL.

I took mine to a mailbox etc. type place and the notary public there took my copy, stamped "TRUE COPY" on it, used her stamp, and signed it.

I don't think there'd be a problem with the "see attached doc" statement,but I certainly do understand not wanting to LiveScan again that's for sure.

She didn't even bat an eyelash to my request of having her sign the copy and stamp it, and obviously CA was happy with mine, since I have my license.

HTH.

CRAP! I went to this photocopy place and got the guy there to make a photocopy of my certificate stamp his "notary stamp" thingy on the copy of my certificate. He didn't stamp the "TRUE COPY" on it though. Now I am really afraid that it will get rejected. God I don't to pay for the live scan or do it all over again.

 

[Z Pharmacy]

Does anyone suggest any certain books or study materials that i should use to study for the test. And how much in advance do you think i should start studying? All the review books are around 30 to 50 dollars, i think thats kinda much for an exam that seems to be pretty easy.

 

[mimi7329]

Then take a look at my blogs....

🙂

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