Pharmacy Technicians in California

[PygmalionEffect]

Sorry if this annoys people. I've tried using the search function for this, but the majority of info seems to be pretty vague or outdated.

I just wanted to make sure I have this correct... So you can study, register, and take the PTCB exam in Cali without having to go through any program/schooling, and if you pass, you automatically become certified after filling out the required paperwork/fingerprints and sending it to the state?


I also wanted to know if anybody knows if any retail pharmacy companies can train you in this state to become a certified tech?

I've tried calling various stores and even the regional district managers and such, and they were all no help. Most of them were conveniently "out to lunch," "in a meeting," or "unavailable." 🙄 Whenever I did get to speak to someone, they would rush to get off the phone as quickly as possible and I didn't get all my questions answered.

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[luuserface]

I just wanted to make sure I have this correct... So you can study, register, and take the PTCB exam in Cali without having to go through any program/schooling, and if you pass, you automatically become certified after filling out the required paperwork/fingerprints and sending it to the state?

You are correct. After certified, you fill out more paperwork and stuff to get your license.

 

[PygmalionEffect]

You are correct. After certified, you fill out more paperwork and stuff to get your license.

Thanks a lot.

Once you become certified, how do you let companies or hospitals know that you are certified and get your foot in the door for jobs? Do you just tell them and add it to your resume?

 

[shinystar]

Thanks a lot.

Once you become certified, how do you let companies or hospitals know that you are certified and get your foot in the door for jobs? Do you just tell them and add it to in your resume?

well you will get a certificate indicating tht you are a certified pharm tech with the certification number, however, it seems like if you want to work as a pharm tech, you also need your CA licence..which requires additional paperwork and/or an exam. I dont know much about it, but that is what i seems like from my experience. As i only have a certification and i am having extremely hard time finding a job.

 

[Dave4468]

Just a warning.. unless you can speak Spanish, it is going to be really hard to find a pharmacy tech job right now in California. At least around the LA area.

 

[bruin0289]

Most pharmacies require you to have your pharmacy technician license. I went around asking simply to VOLUNTEER at a pharmacy, and they all required me to have my technician license, even though I already had my certificate.

All you have to do is take the test to get your pharmacy technician certificate (I just self studied using some books I bought off of Amazon). To get your license, you just need to mail a certified copy of your certificate to the CA State Board of Pharmacy, pay more money, and get fingerprinted (you can find all this on the Board of Pharmacy website).

Once you get your certificate, APPLY FOR YOUR LICENSE IMMEDIATELY because it can take them several months to process everything. Even though it's really just a matter of paperwork, most pharmacies will not let you work/volunteer unless you physically have your Pharmacy Technician License, even if you have applied for it (trust me, I tried).

I would take the PTCB test as soon as possible because I heard that they may be changing the procedures (requiring some experience/classes to get your certificate/license).

Hope that was helpful! 🙂

 

[jkong]

pharmacy.ca.gov

Applicants > Technician
http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/forms/app_forms.shtml

Submit the necessary forms and you'll get a CA Pharmacy Tecnician license to work in Cali.


p.s. I didn't go through any schooling or anything. I studied for the PTCB test using a book from techlectures.com. I heard schooling likes thousands of dollars. I only spent $60 for the book and passed my first time. I studied for a week and reviewed 3 days before the test.

Goodluck! 😀

 

[xswtxstinax]

yeh same as all of the above once you get certified you need to get licensed. working in california means you HAVE to be licensed. they can care less if youre certified or not cause in other states being certified is enough. but being certified is one of the ways you can qualify to apply for the license. but getting a job would be extremely hard, even if you have your license, if you have no experience. a lot of the companies know how easy it is to get your license nowadays so having a license doesnt mean much unless you have experience to back it up. i was working as a clerk before i got certified and licensed. then one of the techs left the company and a spot opened up for me and i was able to move up. so your best bet is to be a clerk job first while youre in the process of getting certified and licensed.

 

[PygmalionEffect]

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate the help.

Btw, how hard was the test? Would you recommend any specific book to study from, or all they all pretty much the same?

I've been searching around the forums and some say some books go into too much detail that isn't needed (like drug names, etc), and that the test is mainly on pharmacy law and basic math like conversion, calculation, and what not. Have things changed at all?

 

[ohgeez]

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate the help.

Btw, how hard was the test? Would you recommend any specific book to study from, or all they all pretty much the same?

I've been searching around the forums and some say some books go into too much detail that isn't needed (like drug names, etc), and that the test is mainly on pharmacy law and basic math like conversion, calculation, and what not. Have things changed at all?

I used Mosby's review and I thought they presented enough information for me to pass the exam 🙂 O'course I had worked at a pharmacy as a clerk and everything seemed to be just a review. But I would say that if you know what's in that book, you're set to go.
The thing about memorizing the drug classes, especially if you don't have prior exposure to hundreds of meds, is very daunting. It's important to know general categories but not the specifics you see even in the review book. focus on the laws and calculations (big majority) and you'll probably pass even without the experience at a pharmacy. Good luck 🙂👍

 

[jkong]

I was a pharmacy volunteer when I took my PTCB (now I'm a clerk, woot woot for moving up).

The test is in three parts:
- Pharmacy law
- fraction/percentage; BASIC MATH
- drug info

I studied law and math and skipped the hell of drugs and passed.

You'll learn drugs as you gain more experience.