work as a tech part time during pharm school

[kaydee]

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hey guys. so i am going to be starting pharmacy school in july and i am currently taking a pharmacy tech certification course. i didnt think that i would get into pharm school this year so thats why i started the course in february. since i did get in, i was thinking about starting work once i take the PTCB in May and then cutting down on hours once i start school. im going to be in a 3 year program which goes year round and they suggest we dont work but i need the money. what do you guys think about this? is this possible or should i not work during school? i dont want my grades to slip or lose TOO many hrs of sleep hah. anyone have experience with this? what is the minimum # of hrs per week that you are allowed to hold as a tech?

 

[ShadowRX]

hey guys. so i am going to be starting pharmacy school in july and i am currently taking a pharmacy tech certification course. i didnt think that i would get into pharm school this year so thats why i started the course in february. since i did get in, i was thinking about starting work once i take the PTCB in May and then cutting down on hours once i start school. im going to be in a 3 year program which goes year round and they suggest we dont work but i need the money. what do you guys think about this? is this possible or should i not work during school? i dont want my grades to slip or lose TOO many hrs of sleep hah. anyone have experience with this? what is the minimum # of hrs per week that you are allowed to hold as a tech?

3 year programs are too tough to handle working. You're not going to be the only one without pharmacy experience, so I wouldn't worry about working. I see you don't want to waste getting the certification, but it's pretty much "useless".

If you do decide to get a job, good luck. There's no minimum set; it's all based on what the store you work at, especially to keep being active.

 

[crazybob]

hey guys. so i am going to be starting pharmacy school in july and i am currently taking a pharmacy tech certification course. i didnt think that i would get into pharm school this year so thats why i started the course in february. since i did get in, i was thinking about starting work once i take the PTCB in May and then cutting down on hours once i start school. im going to be in a 3 year program which goes year round and they suggest we dont work but i need the money. what do you guys think about this? is this possible or should i not work during school? i dont want my grades to slip or lose TOO many hrs of sleep hah. anyone have experience with this? what is the minimum # of hrs per week that you are allowed to hold as a tech?

Minimum number of hours depends on the company and the store and probably also your manager.

I'd recommend figuring out how much you can handle and not doing more than that. School work comes first and then your work hours should come second.

 

[R2pharmD2]

hey guys. so i am going to be starting pharmacy school in july and i am currently taking a pharmacy tech certification course. i didnt think that i would get into pharm school this year so thats why i started the course in february. since i did get in, i was thinking about starting work once i take the PTCB in May and then cutting down on hours once i start school. im going to be in a 3 year program which goes year round and they suggest we dont work but i need the money. what do you guys think about this? is this possible or should i not work during school? i dont want my grades to slip or lose TOO many hrs of sleep hah. anyone have experience with this? what is the minimum # of hrs per week that you are allowed to hold as a tech?

The students in 3 year programs that I know don't work more than 1 day per week, and this one day is typically a 4 or 5 hour shift. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I wouldn't plan on working much if I were you. If you need money, that's what student loans and living like a hobo are for

 

[kaydee]

thanks guys! yea i didnt think itd be a good idea, i just wanted some opinions! and yes, living like a hobo is definitely something you must do during the college years haha

 

[RxKngToBe]

I will also be starting a 3 yr accelerated program in July as well, and its definitely NOT worth working as a tech while enduring such a rigorous program. I've been a pharm tech for yrs now and i'm actually working 50+ hrs/wk now here at home till end of May once I leave for pharmacy school, just to save up a little extra $$ for myself once I start.
But like the previous student posted, thats why there's loans/scholarships out there. The meager salary that one makes as a tech isn't worth the risk of hurting your grades/GPA in pharm school.

 

[confettiflyer]

I don't know the laws in your state, but won't your pharmacy intern license effectively supersede your technician's license/PTCB certification status?

 

[ShadowRX]

There's an advantage to having both.

 

[Trankuil]

There's an advantage to having both.

What advantage is that? An intern lisence allows you to do everything and more that a tech can do. And if your just getting a tech lisence but also getting the intern one as well, i see no benefit.

 

[kaydee]

I don't know the laws in your state, but won't your pharmacy intern license effectively supersede your technician's license/PTCB certification status?

yea it will be pretty much useless once i get it, but theres no point in dropping the class now. im learning a lot about pharmacy and laws so im just looking at it as a beginning class for pharm school!

 

[kaydee]

so would it be a dumb idea for me to work for only one month as a tech and then quit when i start school? im thinking i should just do some odd jobs for a little pocket money and not even start as a tech.

 

[ShadowRX]

What advantage is that? An intern lisence allows you to do everything and more that a tech can do. And if your just getting a tech lisence but also getting the intern one as well, i see no benefit.

You can't be an intern at more than 1 place or for more than 1 home store. You can't be a tech at more than 1 place or for more than 1 home store. You CAN be a tech at your home store and an intern elsewhere, at least in Texas (don't ask me about any other states' laws).

I am still employed as a tech, and I renewed my license before I was reminded you don't need it, necessarily. However, I want to stay employed at the store and location I'm at, unless I get a more lucrative offer from another company. While I'm doing IPPEs as an intern, I can't have a status of "Intern" at my home store, but I can have a status of "Tech" at my home store.

 

[30Percent]

so would it be a dumb idea for me to work for only one month as a tech and then quit when i start school? im thinking i should just do some odd jobs for a little pocket money and not even start as a tech.

The problem with that is most pharmacy managers won't hire you if you only work 1 month before starting pharmacy school. You will lose a potential network if you withhold information that you're going to pharmacy school and just leave after a month. Then if you tell them that you're accepted and will be leaving after a month the pharmacy manager more than likely won't hire you.

Its going to be hard finding a tech job unless you already have connections and know the pharmacy manager before hand. It might just be better to wait and try to secure a pharmacy intern position when you're in pharmacy school.

 

[owlegrad]

You can't be an intern at more than 1 place or for more than 1 home store. You can't be a tech at more than 1 place or for more than 1 home store. You CAN be a tech at your home store and an intern elsewhere, at least in Texas (don't ask me about any other states' laws).

Does anyone know how common this is? I thought anything I did in any pharmacy was considered as an intern, because that is what I am. You are saying you can't have two intern jobs simultaneously, at least in Texas? I hope it's not like that in FL.

 

[Trankuil]

Does anyone know how common this is? I thought anything I did in any pharmacy was considered as an intern, because that is what I am. You are saying you can't have two intern jobs simultaneously, at least in Texas? I hope it's not like that in FL.

I dont think that law applies in UT. Id have to look into it more though.