When is it a good time to get Pharm tech license??

[MizAmy]

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Hi! I am an incoming sophomore at a cal state and i was wondering when do most pharm students get their pharm tech license and start working to gain experience??

 

[pharm B]

Typically, the pre-pharmacy student (who wants to be a tech; not all do) will pursue a CPhT license some time before applying to schools. The idea being that they accrue some practical pharmacy experience before applying. Personally, I will have been a tech for a little over a year before submitting my applications this Spring.

In some states, the 1st year pharm student can be an intern as early as their first year in pharm school. For Texas, they can start their 2nd year.

 

[themulya]

The sooner the better. Just from my personal experience, I started working in my sophomore year and applied to school in my junior.

 

[Passion4Sci]

As soon as you feel like giving PTCB $129 plus whatever your state requires for your license... So basically, tomorrow if you wanted. (The cool, computerized PearsonVUE system can schedule you an exam in your area, assuming it isn't in BFE, within 24 hrs of registration).

 

[ktran411]

As soon as you feel like giving PTCB $129 plus whatever your state requires for your license... So basically, tomorrow if you wanted. (The cool, computerized PearsonVUE system can schedule you an exam in your area, assuming it isn't in BFE, within 24 hrs of registration).

Hypothetically, if we don't pass that exam, (which I read from the forums that it's not that bad), how many times can you retake the exam over within a year?

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Hi there,
Good to see a fellow Cal State-er. I'm actually a psych major alumnus. I got PTCB certified the summer after I graduated. I studied in August, took the PTCB exam and received my certification in September. and was licensed by the CA board by November just after that summer. I studied The Pharmacy Technician and its workbook for about a month and passed the PTCB exam with 800's (max score is 900 and 650 is passing). I received an e-mail from the PTCB not to long ago stating that the tests are given year round now so you don't have to wait for the testing window like I did.

Here are the amazon links to my former studying materials.

http://www.amazon.com/Pharmacy-Tech...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250049239&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Pharmacy-Tech...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250049239&sr=8-2

Good luck.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Hypothetically, if we don't pass that exam, (which I read from the forums that it's not that bad), how many times can you retake the exam over within a year?

If you're awake and have an IQ over 90, you'll pass. It's really easy. The hardest part of the whole thing is coughing up all the money PearsonVUE and the state want for their piece of pie. It is the easiest test you'll EVER take, which is saying a lot, since I hear the NAPLEX is ridiculously, stupidly easy.

IF the inevitable does occur and somehow you fail (Maybe the building catches on fire or something?), this is the line right from the horse's mouth:

What is PTCB's policy for retaking the exam after an unsuccessful attempt?

Candidates who fail the PTCB Examination can retake the examination three times. After three retakes, candidates will need to appeal to PTCB and requests will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. For the first two retakes, candidates are required to wait 60 days before taking the examination again. For the third retake, candidates are required to wait 6 months before taking the examination again.

For example, if a candidate fails the examination (for the first or second time) on May 1, 2009, the candidate can reapply immediately to retake the examination, but his/her 90-day eligibility period would not begin until July 1 (60 days after the failure date) and would extend through September 30, 2009. If a candidate fails the examination for the third time on May 1, the candidate's 90-day eligibility period would not begin until November 1 (6 months after the third failure date).

Candidates who pass the PTCB Examination are not eligible to retake the examination except in extraordinary circumstances.