I was wondering if anyone here knows how you can become a pharmacy technician. [This message has been edited by Pathologist (edited March 21, 2001).]
The only thing that is really required is passing the certified pharmacy technician exam. Apply for it on this website. Next exam is July 14 and the application deadline is May 18. http://www.ptcb.org You can call places and see if they will hire you as a pharmacy technician trainee. New legislation was just passed and, blah, blah, blah. The main point is, you have to be certified to be considered a technician. You do not have to take the class. As long as you take the exam and pass, you can be a tech. I speak from experience because I never took the class, just the exam. Note: For the exam, most of it is just math. However, study up on pharmacy law and trade names/generic names, as you will not pass the exam simply on the math. Hope that helps.
I've had friends that have gotten jobs as a pharm. tech. just by going to places like Rite Aid and applying. They will train you there. Don't know if this is the norm, though. I believe some CC's have programs in this that you can do at night during a summer, also... You might want to take a look at these books as well: Comprehensive Pharmacy Review -- Leon, Ph.D. Shargel(Editor), et al The Pharmacy Tech : Basic Pharmacology & Calculations -- Robert Reilly [This message has been edited by ppdka (edited March 21, 2001).]
I was a pharm tech for a year at Osco Drugs. Getting your license depends on what state you live in. SocialistMD says you have to take an exam, but that is probably in his state. I live in Illinois and did not have to take any exam at all - the only requirement was that I was a high school graduate. The training varies as well (sometimes even within an individual store itself - I was trained on the job, most other techs in my pharmacy were sent to a training location). If you go with a major chain, they will usually pay for your license and fill out the necessary paperwork for you. My best advice is to call a local pharmacy in your state - unless we know where you live, it is anyone's guess how your particular state licensing works. Since techs come and go VERY rapidly, pharmacies are usually very eager to give you information.
The certification exam is nationwide. However, The manditory licensing may just be in Texas. I was just under the assumption that it was a nationwide mandate. The law was just passed this year, so the information rxfudd has may be a bid outdated. Still, I could be wrong. Most places will train you in house, but this is called pharmacy technician trainee. The courses ppdka talked about are not necessary provided you take the exam. However, the books suggested would be great study guides. [This message has been edited by SocialistMD (edited March 21, 2001).]
I do not know that it impresses them, but it probably will be brought up, especially if it is in a hospital pharmacy setting. The main thing is, it confirms for you that this is what you want to do. I worked in a pharmacy sattelite in a neonatal intensive care unit, and I realized more and more each day that this is the field for me. To me, this was more important than how good it looked for admissions committees.
See above. I applied at the hospital, interviewed and convinced them that with my B.S. in biochemistry I would be able to handle the exam. When I was hired, this law to which I keep referring was not in place. Now, you would be hired on as a pharmacy tech trainee. You have to pass the certification exam in order to become a "certified" pharmacy technician. Again, the exam is not that difficult. Just make sure you know laws (i.e. what techs are allowed and not allowed to do, narcotic control regulations, etc.) and the brand names/generic names of many commonly used drugs (i.e. lasix=furosemide). If you can learn that and can calculate doses (how many pills should be given if it is take two pills q6h for 10 days or how many total mg should be given to a patient 86kg on a dose of 4mg/kg) it will be no problem.
I called Rite Aid and asked for a job. Now I am a Pharmacy Technician. I don't know if it will be that easy for everyone, but you should give it a try. Peace ------------------ Joshua Paul Hazelton [email protected] University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (2002)
You can get a job at any local pharmacy as a trainee then take your exam to get licensed. I know this because I was a trainee in my last two years of high school. As to whether med schools are impressed, I just told my interviewer that it just intensified my interest in medicine and showed me that I didn't want to be a pharmacist.
