Questions about Pharmacy Tech Exam

[VeilofMaya]

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My friend said she started out at $18.50 as a Pharmacy Tech according to my mom who got it from her mom. I looked up the median salaries/wages for a Pharmacy Tech, however, and found it to be much lower than what she hers. However, my area does seem to pay in the top 10 percentile for Pharmacy Techs.

Everyone on SDN seems to think taking courses is a waste of time and you'd be better off just taking the test. My question is what books are helpful for this exam and how often is the test given out? I'd really like to hear from people who have taken the PTCE. Also what do they mean by apply for the exam? How would I get rejected?

 

[PharmD321]

My friend said she started out at $18.50 as a Pharmacy Tech according to my mom who got it from her mom. I looked up the median salaries/wages for a Pharmacy Tech, however, and found it to be much lower than what she hers. However, my area does seem to pay in the top 10 percentile for Pharmacy Techs.

Everyone on SDN seems to think taking courses is a waste of time and you'd be better off just taking the test. My question is what books are helpful for this exam and how often is the test given out? I'd really like to hear from people who have taken the PTCE. Also what do they mean by apply for the exam? How would I get rejected?

I took courses and passed the PTCE first try. I don't think it was a waste of time because I was taught by a retired navy pharmacist. So I learned a lot in that class. But it is your choice on how much effort, time, and money you want to put on this exam. If you want to spend some money then take some courses in a private pharmacy tech school or a Community College. If you have a budget, then get the books like Tech Lectures from Joe Medina (the teacher that taught me). Go look in my blogs for more info on the books.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[nateandjenny]

I personally don't the classes are worth taking money wise. Yes you might get some valuable information but most of the classes are really expensive. Where do you live? In Oklahoma you can just get a job in a pharmacy and after 3 months take a tech test at your job. That's what I did. I also know people who spent $10,000 on tech classes!!! Not worth how much you get paid to take a class like that.

 

[tlarson]

I would try taking the test without classes first and see how you do. I was given a review book that I found pretty useful, but overall I found the test pretty easy. If you don't pass the test I would consider getting a review book.

 

[AMDubbs]

If I were you I'd try to get a job with a company like Walgreens that acknowledges certified technicans. I did this a few years back because not only do they pay for you to take the PTCB exam, but also have classes in your area with books and flashcards, so you go to a couple paid classes and take the exam and get a raise. Hope this helps🙂. I'm not really sure about other ways of getting the books ad whatnot but I'd assume its relatively expensive. Especially considering the exam is like 150 bucks a pop. I didn't think it was hard, I'd ust recommend working in a pharmacy first because you'll gain most of the knowledge.

 

[4thelove]

My friend said she started out at $18.50 as a Pharmacy Tech according to my mom who got it from her mom. I looked up the median salaries/wages for a Pharmacy Tech, however, and found it to be much lower than what she hers. However, my area does seem to pay in the top 10 percentile for Pharmacy Techs.

Everyone on SDN seems to think taking courses is a waste of time and you'd be better off just taking the test. My question is what books are helpful for this exam and how often is the test given out? I'd really like to hear from people who have taken the PTCE. Also what do they mean by apply for the exam? How would I get rejected?

i'd recently taken the test and passed. i have experience working in a pharmacy so it was breeze and for those that don't--just study the tech books that you can get on amazon. my friend studied for about 3 days and passed so there's plenty of hope and NO need to take classes. if you go on ptcb.org, you can find out when the test are given out and all other information that you would need. if i remember correctly, you would just have to pay a fee of $140.

all from memory: there are about 3 different sections and each section, you must recieve a certain passing score that they determine.

as for pay, around my area, the average is about $13-14 starting.

hope this helps.😀

 

[LinaBeana]

the test is really easy, i passed it on the first try without really that much studying. its just a bunch of conversions, ethical questions, and like 2-3 drug names (so don't waste your time studying those).

it was about $100, but Target paid for it for me since starting in March everyone working behind the pharmacy has to be certified and be registered with the state board of pharmacy.

I would just go to Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. and find the allied health section (near where the SAT prep books are) and they have a few PTCE books. I got mine from people that worked in the pharmacy that had already passed the exam, so that was helpful..

I would say the test is offered about 3-4 times a year. They have different windows for registration for the test and actual sign up times. The test is offered in blocks that are about a month long, so you can sign up for a date that corresponds to your schedule.

Don't stress out about it too much!

 

[Okie7123]

If you're already in a science major planning to go into pharmacy you should already have the math skills necessary for the conversions on the test (about half of the questions). Take the practice exam on the website to learn about somethings you may not know and look up some generic names of common drugs and what they do. In all.....3-4 hours of total study time will give you an easy pass to the test without having to take all those classes

 

[Sparda29]

Ugh, there is no reason to take a course for the pharmacy technicians exam, this isn't the PCAT, it is much easier.

Just get a job at a pharmacy, work as an uncertified tech for a few months, and that should prepare you well enough for the test.

 

[azrk]

If you know your math and conversions you should do fine on the pharm tech test. I knew almost nothing about drugs and I passed with a 783 i think? I will probably look for a job after I take the Pcat and if i think i did well

 

[ILoveOrange]

I agree with the two posts above me....

If by the small chance that you fail (which I really don't think will happen) then I would get a review book and take the pratice test before I take the exam again.

 

[RAMPHARMD]

DUDE! This may seem totally irrelevant, but I love your name! Veil of Maya is a killer band and the Cynic song of the same name is also fantastic!

And... uh... Don't waste your money on the courses! The test is ridiculously easy.

 

[HaleyRX]

working and a couple of hours studying any basic practice exam should be fine. 🙂 i've known some pretty not-so-bright people who've passed the exam.
CVS paid for mine. most pharmacies will pay for it.
and $18 sounds pretty high, but I guess it depends on location. In Baton Rouge, a certified tech would start at about $9.50 (retail) whereas in Tyler, TX (current location) certified techs start at $11.50-$13 (retail) the chain and location play a large part. 24 hour stores that demand night shifts usually pay a bit more from what I've seen.

Good luck!

 

[Markovnikov]

Does your friend work in retail or hospital?

I work in retail and the pay ranges from $8.50-14. (You earn a $1 raise for passing the Giant Eagle Pharmacy Exam) and $0.15-0.50 each year raise. P1 interns at Giant Eagle Pharmacy make $12 and each year and an automatic raise of $2, ($14/hour for P2, $16/hour for P3, $18/hour for P4)

I know someone who works in a hospital pharmacy as a tech and they said they make even more than $14/hour (although they did not say exactly how much).

(I live in Ohio)

I talked to a person from Wisconsin at a pharmacy school interview and he said he is a tech at Wal-greens and makes $18/hour.

 

[Farmercyst]

Moved to licensure and exams