Question about pharmacy technician

[Copacetic52]

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If we just take the exam (PTCB) without taking the actual class, does that make us less competitive when looking for a pharmacy tech job? If it's relevant, i'm in the state of california. Also, does anyone know any pharmacy tech schools in the los angeles area preferrably close to ucla? Can you guys recommend some books to study for the PTCB?

 

[Lotus89]

If we just take the exam (PCTB) without taking the actual class, does that make us less competitive when looking for a pharmacy tech job? If it's relevant, i'm in the state of california. Also, does anyone know any pharmacy tech schools in the los angeles area preferrably close to ucla? Can you guys recommend some books to study for the PCTB?

Hey!
I am CA, and I too am going to take the PTCB exam (lol) in the next month. You can take the test w/o classes, which is what I am doing, and just study out of a book because the classes are expensive! The jobs I have seen want the cert or the cert and license or both and experience (which how do you get that w/o the cert or license?...?.lol) Anyway I just bought a book that had good reviews for the test. Its by Mosely, blue and yellow, I believe. Good Luck!

 

[Copacetic52]

fixed. didn't see that typo lol. i just sent you a message. not sure if it went through.

 

[kismet]

If we just take the exam (PTCB) without taking the actual class, does that make us less competitive when looking for a pharmacy tech job?

If you want a hospital job, yes.
If you want to work retail, no.

 

[Transformer]

If you want a hospital job, yes.
If you want to work retail, no.

The above is generally correct. (although I am the exception to the rule, because I was a volunteer turned pharmacy tech without going to a tech school)


Hospital Inpatient pharmacies prefer techs who attended a tech school, and received all the proper trainings on how to used IVs, etc..

Retail pharmacies prefer to hire techs with lots of experience and of course, are PTCB certified and licensed by the California state board of pharmacy.

 

[trailrider400]

I can't really speak for California because I don't live there but I would say don't take a class. And for books, I was given a free book through my job that was about 600 pages long. I didn't touch the thing and sold it on amazon.com. I'd try to get some work book to study from instead. My retail chain gave me a workbook and it prepared me just fine and was about 80 pages long with practice questions. The hospital I work at has the same thing. I don't know how you would acquire one but studying from that big book would give me nightmares especially since the tech cert test is not that difficult! As far as hospital vs. retail. Its harder to get a job in a hospital without experience regardless of whether or not you took a class vs. just took the test. CVS and Walgreens hire people without experience daily.

 

[Lotus89]

I agree, not everything is generalized, hospitals just are/seem picky because you have to do a little more (like IV's and stuff) than in retail...not saying that people working in retail don't do enough or anything...
everyone does their part and the only difference is where you work; you do the same general work but in different types, times, and places..

I can't really speak for California because I don't live there but I would say don't take a class. And for books, I was given a free book through my job that was about 600 pages long. I didn't touch the thing and sold it on amazon.com. I'd try to get some work book to study from instead. My retail chain gave me a workbook and it prepared me just fine and was about 80 pages long with practice questions. The hospital I work at has the same thing. I don't know how you would acquire one but studying from that big book would give me nightmares especially since the tech cert test is not that difficult! As far as hospital vs. retail. Its harder to get a job in a hospital without experience regardless of whether or not you took a class vs. just took the test. CVS and Walgreens hire people without experience daily.

 

[Haleyzx]

In my opinion, taking the PTCB does make you less competitive when compared with someone who took the class, mainly because that test is a joke. personally i passed the test with about 8 hours of studying. you don't even have to look at the drug section. just brush up on the laws and regulations and memorize some conversation units. The test is 50%+ simple math, so you don't really need to know anything about pharmacy to pass that test. whereas in classes, i heard you learn a lot about drugs and actual practices, and some classes even let you work at a pharmacy to gain experience.