Pharmacy techs and CPT

[FickleBabs]

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It's me again, StartingLater girl, but I found that member name to have kind of negative conotations so I made a new one, not that that's important, just have to figure out how to delete the old one.

Anyway... anything anyone can tell me about their experience being a pharmacy tech or CPT would be great. I worked as a 'drug associate' as a teenager at Eckerds Drugs and loved it, now 7 years later I realize that being a pharmacist is my dream job. Wow, that took awhile.
Are any of you certified? Does this change your pay? Where did you get certified (I was thinking of signing up for an online course so when I move back to the States I'll have my feet wet already.)?

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

It's me again, StartingLater girl, but I found that member name to have kind of negative conotations so I made a new one, not that that's important, just have to figure out how to delete the old one.

Anyway... anything anyone can tell me about their experience being a pharmacy tech or CPT would be great. I worked as a 'drug associate' as a teenager at Eckerds Drugs and loved it, now 7 years later I realize that being a pharmacist is my dream job. Wow, that took awhile.
Are any of you certified? Does this change your pay? Where did you get certified (I was thinking of signing up for an online course so when I move back to the States I'll have my feet wet already.)?

My dream job is definitely not pharmacy but pharmacy is enjoyable and challenging none the less.

 

[danado]

I'm certified. My employer paid me to go to a company-sponsored course beforehand and paid for my test, then gave me a raise once I passed. I know that some vocational schools offer courses on it (my cousin took one and said it was pretty helpful) but I don't know about the online courses. It's definitely easier and cheaper if you get a job in a pharmacy first, then go for your certification. Also, some employers will allow you to attend that course and take the test on their dime even if you start out working somewhere else (i.e. cashier) at that store, as long as you prove to them that you really want to go into pharmacy.

 

[etspinner]

My employer reimbursed me for the cost of the exam (I think it was around $125 or so) and gave me a dollar raise which raises the maximum rate I can be paid by $1, also. Might want to look into where you can be hired so that they will foot the bill (and offer you more $$$).

 

[HmoobRX]

CVS will pay for your exam 1 time after 6 months of employment. Depending on where you live it may affect your pay. My boss kept bugging me to go get mine after 2 years and I told him I had no incentive to because, 1) more duties and 2) same pay. LOL. Also retail pay is horrible starting out and it seems like the more generous locations only give you an extra dollar. I've never worked in a hospital setting but I've heard that certification is worth it since pay is better. However, I'm not sure if they will pay for the exam. Check around.

 

[jyw003]

My dream job is definitely not pharmacy but pharmacy is enjoyable and challenging none the less.

thanks for answering the OP

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To OP, you may want to look into taking the PTCE~

 

[TTUMike]

Walgreens will pay for the exam when hired on. They will also send you to training courses if needed. But more importantly they will give you a $3 raise.

 

[hondagirl86]

Walgreens will pay for the exam when hired on. They will also send you to training courses if needed. But more importantly they will give you a $3 raise.

Dang, $3 raise? Where do you live? They're only giving $1 extra in our district once certified here in north Florida 🙁

 

[thephoenician88]

Dang, $3 raise? Where do you live? They're only giving $1 extra in our district once certified here in north Florida 🙁

because you make about 7-8 bucks as a tech if you're not certified :/

 

[jyw003]

In California, you must be licensed to work. I forgot, but if you search the threads, someone posted the 3 ways you can become a pharmacy tech in California.

 

[hondagirl86]

because you make about 7-8 bucks as a tech if you're not certified :/

I started last May with $10/hr...I think they recently made the minimum $10 for some reason? idk...

 

[TTUMike]

because you make about 7-8 bucks as a tech if you're not certified :/

You are right about that, they usually start you off around $8-$9 an hour and then bump you up to $11 an hour as soon as you pass the PTCB exam. I'm not sure how this compares to other markets or businesses.

 

[PharmD321]

In California, you must be licensed to work. I forgot, but if you search the threads, someone posted the 3 ways you can become a pharmacy tech in California.

LOL, was that me? I don't remember where I posted though, but...

I basically said:

Certification
Registration
Licensure

Of course, you need to take courses and amount of hours in order to get license.

I think this system is really good because it makes the pharmacies safer. Licensure could be a barrier for us, but there could be more jobs available if we practice this in every state.