PT certification and schools

[PAN(acea)]

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Hi, I'm an undergrad bio major hoping to eventually go to pharmacy school. I would like to have experience as a pharm tech and read on these forums that it's possible to study for the certification exam on ones own. So, I purchased a few books that were recommended here. I also found some online courses, such as pharmacytech.org, would a program like this help? Does anyone have experience with online classes, and if so, which ones would you recommend?

I also had another question. I am currently taking my pre-req classes at a CC (which saves me alot of money, already having graduated from another college and still paying off loans), would my chances of acceptance into a pharmacy school be significantly better if I transferred to a 4-year college (like Cal State LA) and took my classes there instead?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[ladynuca]

I am applying to pharmacy school right now, and am looking into taking a pharm tech certification course. The course is 170 hours of classroom instruction and 120 hours of pharmacy internship. I asked one pharmacist about this who said that it would be a waste of time, but I'm not convinced. My school schedule probably won't allow me to work as a cashier, and everyone knows it's nearly impossible to get an internship on your own. Any feedback?

 

[PAN(acea)]

*bump* please help!

 

[Poland]

Hey guys. I am a certified technician. As for campus programs for pharmacy tech certification, schooling does not matter in most states. A technician can usually become certified without having had taken a course, or maybe even without working in a pharmacy at all.

It all comes down to how you learn. For instance, in college many students can take internet math courses. However, many students could never do this and would more than benefit from an instructor. Either way is acceptable. So apply this to pharmacy certification. If you do much better with "hands-on" learning then pharmacy classes would be perfect for you. If you are able to learn at home in your own time then you may be able to find someone who can help where it's needed. For instance, I thought that pharmacy tech classes would be a great help and give me confidence for the exam. That may have been the case but I couldn't afford it. So I studied for months off and on and also sought some help from a teacher at college and a certified tech at work.

So anyway, we can't dismiss that these classes help many people. It all depends on your learning style and your finances. My idea was that if I didn't pass the test I would either get more learning experience or come up with the tuition and do both.

 

[Wordsworth301]

Just got my results today for the test I took in July and I passed by studying off of a book, so yes it can be done by studying on your own. I used the Comprehensive Exam Review for Pharmacy Techinicians by Moini. I really didn't think I would pass given the amount of studying I did but I guess my math background helped me a lot, although I was totally guessing on most of the questions on drugs.

 

[TennisBoy78]

I've been a pharmacy tech for about 5 months, and just became certified. The certification test is offered every 2-3 months, I would have taken it earlier than my July test if it would not have interfered with my Organic Chemistry and other class schedules as it did.

If you get a job as a uncertified pharmacy tech, on-the-job experience will allow you to hardly study for this test and pass it. Honestly, I learned so much from just talking to my pharmacists that I would work with. In working at a pharmacy, BANG, you will automatically learn about drugs and their classes. Like a pest, I would ask not only about what drugs were used for, but why some patients were prescribed a certain medication over another one. And the math questions come primarily from either reading sigs or doing ratio-type amoxicillin questions. If you study these two things (drug names and math), you will be certified without any problems. NO CLASS NEEDED!

I'm not a genius, but you have to understand that my goal and your goal is not to be a pharmacy tech for a career. The pharmacy tech courses are designed for the high school dropout that never did well in school. I expect that since you want to go to pharmacy school, you are a good student and dont need to be spoonfed towards certification.

Try to get a job with chain pharmacies or hospitals. If this doesnt work, move on to the Mom and Pop (independent) pharmacies. Through this, you will (a) decide if you even like the job and (b) learn so much about the pharmacy tech's duties.