Pharmacy Technician Job

[fortunegookie]

I plan on taking my technician license exam next week. I heard alot of the companies are at a hiring freeze right now. But in general, how long does it take on average to get a pharmacy technician job? Are there alot of openings right now? Will I be able to find out the results right away after I finish the pharmacy technician exam? Thank you for all the feedback.

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[phathead]

This all very much depends on where you reside in the country.

 

[AntonFreeman]

In california, You should find out if you passed right away. But it takes few months to actually get your license. Finding a job might be difficult right now but you could still find jobs if you try hard enough.

 

[StanDizle4Shizl]

this all very much depends on where you reside in the country.

+1

 

[bottlecap1990]

Don't waste your money taking pharmacy technician classes and getting certified. Go to walgreens or CVS and apply. They will train and certify you. All at their costs.
I applied to CVS and was hired. Now I am getting paid to go to classes and getting certified.

 

[lauradiddle]

Don't waste your money taking pharmacy technician classes and getting certified. Go to walgreens or CVS and apply. They will train and certify you. All at their costs.
I applied to CVS and was hired. Now I am getting paid to go to classes and getting certified.

What worked for you won't necessarily work for the OP.

To the OP: If you can get a job at CVS or Walgreens, that's great. I wouldn't rely on waiting for them to certify you though. Go ahead and take the exam as you've planned, and once you see you've passed you won't be limited to a few retail companies and can apply everywhere. I think it'll be more to your benefit to already have the certification than to rely on a place to do it for you.

 

[phathead]

Don't waste your money taking pharmacy technician classes and getting certified. Go to walgreens or CVS and apply. They will train and certify you. All at their costs.
I applied to CVS and was hired. Now I am getting paid to go to classes and getting certified.

They don't certify you, the PTCB does

 

[MrAnon]

If you work for CVS you'll hate pharmacy. CVS spawned from Satan's anus and represents everything evil about corporate America.

 

[phathead]

If you work for CVS you'll hate pharmacy.

Depends on the store.

I have worked in 19 different pharmacies across 3 companies. Some of the stores were great, others were downright terrible. Just depends on several factors.

 

[MrAnon]

I plan on taking my technician license exam next week. I heard alot of the companies are at a hiring freeze right now. But in general, how long does it take on average to get a pharmacy technician job? Are there alot of openings right now? Will I be able to find out the results right away after I finish the pharmacy technician exam? Thank you for all the feedback.

1. Depends
2. Depends
3. You'll know if you pass right away but you will not get your scores for at least a month.

 

[schamj01]

Walgreens has a hiring freeze company-wide right now...so don't even bother looking there.

 

[bottlecap1990]

What worked for you won't necessarily work for the OP.

To the OP: If you can get a job at CVS or Walgreens, that's great. I wouldn't rely on waiting for them to certify you though. Go ahead and take the exam as you've planned, and once you see you've passed you won't be limited to a few retail companies and can apply everywhere. I think it'll be more to your benefit to already have the certification than to rely on a place to do it for you.

First of all, I was just giving him advice, I don't care if it works for him or not.

No one gives a crap if you are certified or not. It doesn't increase your chances of getting hired. You need EXPERIENCE and become a Cpht to get hired to stores other than CVS or Walgreens.

 

[lauradiddle]

First of all, I was just giving him advice, I don't care if it works for him or not.

No one gives a crap if you are certified or not. It doesn't increase your chances of getting hired. You need EXPERIENCE and become a Cpht to get hired to stores other than CVS or Walgreens.

Hey, I have a friend that went the same route as you via Walgreens, but had I done the same thing I wouldn't be working where I am now. I agree that it's not necessary to take a formal class, but I didn't think it was the best idea for you to tell the OP not to take an exam that they were already planning to take. Yes, some people can get jobs just going into Walgreens or CVS, but that's not the norm. Most of us got hired after getting our CPhT ourselves because, believe it or not, everywhere else does give a crap.

 

[delano2000]

First of all, I was just giving him advice, I don't care if it works for him or not.

No one gives a crap if you are certified or not. It doesn't increase your chances of getting hired. You need EXPERIENCE and become a Cpht to get hired to stores other than CVS or Walgreens.

Hey, I have a friend that went the same route as you via Walgreens, but had I done the same thing I wouldn't be working where I am now. I agree that it's not necessary to take a formal class, but I didn't think it was the best idea for you to tell the OP not to take an exam that they were already planning to take. Yes, some people can get jobs just going into Walgreens or CVS, but that's not the norm. Most of us got hired after getting our CPhT ourselves because, believe it or not, everywhere else does give a crap.

It really depends on the State that you are in. I believe lauradiddle commented that way because in the state if Texas, you have to be certified and registered with the BOP in order to perform technician duties in the pharmacy. It may be different in your state and even different in the OP's state. Eventually that is what it boils down to since the duties are regulated by the state's Board of Pharmacy.

 

[lauradiddle]

It really depends on the State that you are in. I believe lauradiddle commented that way because in the state if Texas, you have to be certified and registered with the BOP in order to perform technician duties in the pharmacy. It may be different in your state and even different in the OP's state. Eventually that is what it boils down to since the duties are regulated by the state's Board of Pharmacy.

Touche. 👍

 

[daabc]

I plan on taking my technician license exam next week. I heard alot of the companies are at a hiring freeze right now. But in general, how long does it take on average to get a pharmacy technician job? Are there alot of openings right now? Will I be able to find out the results right away after I finish the pharmacy technician exam? Thank you for all the feedback.

I think CVS in SoCal has been in a hiring freeze for a while now. Is there any new techs working for CVS in socal that can confirm? When a person at my store quits, they just transfer people from other stores.

 

[bottlecap1990]

Depends on the store.

I have worked in 19 different pharmacies across 3 companies. Some of the stores were great, others were downright terrible. Just depends on several factors.

What factors? I am gonna start working this Monday. So far the people I have met are pretty cool. My pharmacy manager is also a nice person.

 

[phathead]

Walgreens has a hiring freeze company-wide right now...so don't even bother looking there.

They're always on a company-wide hiring freeze lol

Doesn't mean they're not looking for techs

No one gives a crap if you are certified or not. It doesn't increase your chances of getting hired. You need EXPERIENCE and become a Cpht to get hired to stores other than CVS or Walgreens.

You have very nominal experience, thus you shouldn't be doling out advice on something like this

What factors? I am gonna start working this Monday. So far the people I have met are pretty cool. My pharmacy manager is also a nice person.

The personality of the people working there is a big one. Everyone seems 'nice' at first. Some pharmacies will have very uptight people who don't talk, laugh or smile all day. Others will have power hungry employees who are always trying to prove that they are the best worker in the pharmacy.

Then there are the ones who like to start drama (which occurs in all workplaces). There are also pharmacies where virtually everyone is very understanding and working with them feels like a natural flow.

I've worked in pharmacies where filling 100 scripts in an eight hour day felt like pulling teeth. I have also worked in pharmacies where you can fill 600+ scripts in a day and not even realize it.

It all depends on who you're working with.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I didn't have experience and was hired at something other than CVS and Wag's.

Again Bottlecap with the terrible advice.

 

[rxlea]

Bottlecap, I am not sure if you would have been hired had you not taken our advice about what (not) to wear and what (not) to say. Actually, you probably had an advantage over some poor unfortunate soul who does not have access to/know about SDN 😉

 

[musicman123]

They're always on a company-wide hiring freeze lol

Doesn't mean they're not looking for techs



You have very nominal experience, thus you shouldn't be doling out advice on something like this




The personality of the people working there is a big one. Everyone seems 'nice' at first. Some pharmacies will have very uptight people who don't talk, laugh or smile all day. Others will have power hungry employees who are always trying to prove that they are the best worker in the pharmacy.

Then there are the ones who like to start drama (which occurs in all workplaces). There are also pharmacies where virtually everyone is very understanding and working with them feels like a natural flow.

I've worked in pharmacies where filling 100 scripts in an eight hour day felt like pulling teeth. I have also worked in pharmacies where you can fill 600+ scripts in a day and not even realize it.

It all depends on who you're working with.

👍

 

[musicman123]

Bottlecap, I am not sure if you would have been hired had you not taken our advice about what (not) to wear and what (not) to say. Actually, you probably had an advantage over some poor unfortunate soul who does not have access to/know about SDN 😉

Agreed.

 

[delano2000]

Bottlecap, I am not sure if you would have been hired had you not taken our advice about what (not) to wear and what (not) to say. Actually, you probably had an advantage over some poor unfortunate soul who does not have access to/know about SDN 😉

👍

 

[pharmgeek1990]

As a lot of people have already said, it depends on where you are. But I work at Kroger pharmacy in Louisville--I've been there over a year. I was hired on in the summer when interns and college students left, and I'm still there now and they are hiring yet again for techs because they continually lose people to pharmacy school and such. Kroger also hires without any type of certification, although we do have to be registered (it's on Kroger's dime though.) I recently got PTCB certified though, and I did get my results right away. I got a pretty good raise, so its a good thing to have and when you do finally get a job, hopefully you'll start out with better pay than I did. The only bad thing about working for Kroger was sucky pay--I started out at 7.25. I just keep telling myself the experience will pay off when im applying to pharmacy school lol

 

[bottlecap1990]

They're always on a company-wide hiring freeze lol

Doesn't mean they're not looking for techs



You have very nominal experience, thus you shouldn't be doling out advice on something like this




The personality of the people working there is a big one. Everyone seems 'nice' at first. Some pharmacies will have very uptight people who don't talk, laugh or smile all day. Others will have power hungry employees who are always trying to prove that they are the best worker in the pharmacy.

Then there are the ones who like to start drama (which occurs in all workplaces). There are also pharmacies where virtually everyone is very understanding and working with them feels like a natural flow.

I've worked in pharmacies where filling 100 scripts in an eight hour day felt like pulling teeth. I have also worked in pharmacies where you can fill 600+ scripts in a day and not even realize it.

It all depends on who you're working with.

I DON'T need any experience to know that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that doesn't have a training program.

 

[bottlecap1990]

Bottlecap, I am not sure if you would have been hired had you not taken our advice about what (not) to wear and what (not) to say. Actually, you probably had an advantage over some poor unfortunate soul who does not have access to/know about SDN 😉

Yes but I had to go through a bunch of bullcrap (not from you) before I was being helped.😡

 

[bottlecap1990]

I didn't have experience and was hired at something other than CVS and Wag's.

Again Bottlecap with the terrible advice.

What I was trying to say is that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that does NOT have a training program if you don't have ANY experience.

I don't think my advice was terrible. I just don't know if there is any pharmacy other than walgreens and CVS that offer training.

you can calm down old man.

 

[bottlecap1990]

As a lot of people have already said, it depends on where you are. But I work at Kroger pharmacy in Louisville--I've been there over a year. I was hired on in the summer when interns and college students left, and I'm still there now and they are hiring yet again for techs because they continually lose people to pharmacy school and such. Kroger also hires without any type of certification, although we do have to be registered (it's on Kroger's dime though.) I recently got PTCB certified though, and I did get my results right away. I got a pretty good raise, so its a good thing to have and when you do finally get a job, hopefully you'll start out with better pay than I did. The only bad thing about working for Kroger was sucky pay--I started out at 7.25. I just keep telling myself the experience will pay off when im applying to pharmacy school lol

Yes. I was told by my pharmacy trainer that the reason that I (and the other people that were training with me) are here is because many interns are going back to school. I start at 8.50 here at CVS in jersey. I don't really care much about the pay. I have told my manager since the day of the interview I only need to gain experience. And Ironically, she wants me to work everyday for the next 5 days.

 

[delano2000]

I DON'T need any experience to know that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that doesn't have a training program.

The first pharmacy I worked at did not have a training program, but I was at least certified (have to in Texas) and got the position.

 

[delano2000]

Yes but I had to go through a bunch of bullcrap (not from you) before I was being helped.😡

I am assuming that you now know why that was.😉

What I was trying to say is that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that does NOT have a training program if you don't have ANY experience.

I don't think my advice was terrible. I just don't know if there is any pharmacy other than walgreens and CVS that offer training.

you can calm down old man.

I did not have any experience when I was hired but I was certified though. I wouldn't flat out call your advice terrible. Maybe just a little misguided since you did not take into account that the state laws in the OP's state may be a lot different from the ones in yours.

 

[musicman123]

What I was trying to say is that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that does NOT have a training program if you don't have ANY experience.

I don't think my advice was terrible. I just don't know if there is any pharmacy other than walgreens and CVS that offer training.

you can calm down old man.

I didn't have any prior experience when I was first hired by a pharmacy that didn't have a training program. Everything that you've said thus far seems to be generalized as the truth for everyone.

 

[musicman123]

Yes but I had to go through a bunch of bullcrap (not from you) before I was being helped.😡

I just hope you don't express this type of attitude towards your patients.

What I was trying to say is that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that does NOT have a training program if you don't have ANY experience.

I don't think my advice was terrible. I just don't know if there is any pharmacy other than walgreens and CVS that offer training.

you can calm down old man.

Respect your elders.

 

[phathead]

What I was trying to say is that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that does NOT have a training program if you don't have ANY experience.

I don't think my advice was terrible. I just don't know if there is any pharmacy other than walgreens and CVS that offer training.

you can calm down old man.

We had eight pharmacies and didn't have a specific training program. We hired people with no experience all the time, I would just personally take them under my wing and show them the ropes.

And if 24 is being an old man... well you just ticked off a ton of people on this board lol

 

[delano2000]

We had eight pharmacies and didn't have a specific training program. We hired people with no experience all the time, I would just personally take them under my wing and show them the ropes.

And if 24 is being an old man... well you just ticked off a ton of people on this board lol

I guess I would only be like 2 years away from retirement.

 

[Liberty2010]

I DON'T need any experience to know that you will NOT get hired by a pharmacy that doesn't have a training program.

BS! I got hired by walmart with absolutely no experience. I was PTCB certified though, and I'm sure that helped me edge out others who were applying without it.