Pharmacy Technician Licensing in California

[CalBear12]

I was recently certified as a pharmacy technician (through the PTCB exam). I will be looking for pharmacy technician jobs soon and am trying to get licensed. From what I understand, you just fill out and send in the application, and after its reviewed, then you're licensed?

Also, do California pharmacies require licensing? Some specifically state that they are looking for licensed pharmacy technicians, while others are more vague. Is there anything I can do with just a PTCB certification?

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[ravingrabbid]

Yes, CA pharmacies require that you're a licensed tech if you'll be working as one, otherwise you can work as a cashier.
There's two ways of getting a tech license in CA:
1. go to tech school, get the extern hours and whatever else is required as I honestly don't know and didn't get my license that way a few years ago
2. pass the PTCB

It's all on the CA BOP website
http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/applicants/index.shtml#faq_tech

 

[manne02]

It is required that you have a license, but you already did the hard part of getting PTCB certified. You just have to fill out the application and mail it out. The application itself is a process, because you have to get transcripts, live scans, and get things notarized. The directions are very specific, and you want to make sure that you fill out correctly because if something is wrong you may not know for the whole 60 day wait period. Then you would have to fill out again and wait another 60 days to see if it went through. After you send in your application, you can keep checking online to see if you are licensed by checking if your information is verified.

Although you do need a license, some places will hire you before you actually receive it. I was hired at a pharmacy while I was in that 60 day period to hear back about my licensure. I did not actually get to fill prescriptions, but I did most of the the other duties of a technician until I got my license in the mail.

I would recommend just sending the application and just informing potential employers that you are in the process of getting licensed.