Any Pharmacy Technicians around?

[My2Pixies]

I'm looking for some input from anyone who is or has recently worked as a Pharmacy Technician. I am thinking about taking a class that will prepare me to take the boards, but I need to know if it's a viable career choice. I've been a SAHM for the last seven years and my dh is retiring from the military in about two years and I would like to have a steady income before that happens. I know the job market is bad but I think I may be able to apply for jobs on base, I will have to check into that. Any advice one way or the other would be helpful.

 

[golfgal]

I am not one but some friend's son is a Pharmacy student and tried to get a job at a pharmacy this summer and had zero luck. He has 4 of his 5 years done on his pharmacy program at one of the top Pharmacy programs in the nation and couldn't get a job.

Also, keep in mind that the hours are not conducive to young children if that is a concern, they are basically retail hours. Our Pharmacy is open 7 days/week 9-9 M-F and 9-7 Sat/Sun.

 

[maelstrom]

I am a certified pharmacy technician... who hasn't been able to get a job doing it for two years, not even in a retail pharmacy. Also, you don't *have* to take a class to take the test... you can buy a couple of review books at Borders and turn out just as well.

 

[My2Pixies]

Thank you for the advice. If I decide to go for it I will definitely look into the study guides versus the class.

 

[horseshowmom]

I am a certified pharmacy technician... who hasn't been able to get a job doing it for two years, not even in a retail pharmacy. Also, you don't *have* to take a class to take the test... you can buy a couple of review books at Borders and turn out just as well.

Thank you for the advice. If I decide to go for it I will definitely look into the study guides versus the class.

I agree with the study guides.

My daughter is a pharmacist (just graduated) and worked as a pharm tech while she was in college. It seems like she mentioned not too long ago that our state is going to start requiring more than just the test though (can't remember what though, and she's at work).

Our area doesn't seem to have as much of a job shortage that the other areas mentioned on this thread have commented on. My daughter's best friend also worked as a pharm tech while she was in college (pays better than many part-time jobs). I also have a niece who did. I see job openings for hospitals and retail listed in the paper fairly regularly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, try a hospital, preferably a big one if there's one near you. Always a need and pharmacies operate 24/7. Techs deliver meds around the hospital and help with things in the pharmacy. Getting experience there will help you get a job elsewhere should you choose - or, you may just like it there!

 

[ashely612]

I am a pharmacist, and can telll you that it all depends on where you live. Our area has become pretty saturated with pharmacists, but trying to find good technicians is still a need. We happen to be in an area that has several pharmacy schools within a few hours drive. That is why the job market is tightening up. The job itself is a good one, if you can deal with the public. Like a pp said the job hours are not great when you have young children. If you are a reliable hard working person I would say that you should have no problem. Go for it, just because there may not be a job opening at the moment doesn't mean it will stay that way. Pharmacies are always lacking in good applicants.

 

[dejr_8]

I am a pharmacist, and can telll you that it all depends on where you live. Our area has become pretty saturated with pharmacists, but trying to find good technicians is still a need. We happen to be in an area that has several pharmacy schools within a few hours drive. That is why the job market is tightening up. The job itself is a good one, if you can deal with the public. Like a pp said the job hours are not great when you have young children. If you are a reliable hard working person I would say that you should have no problem. Go for it, just because there may not be a job opening at the moment doesn't mean it will stay that way. Pharmacies are always lacking in good applicants.

YES! This is an important consideration. My wife, who is Pharm Tech, complains about this all the time. Pharmacists and Techs deal with all the grief because most people will never challenge their Doctors.

For example: Doctor forgot to call in a script, scream at the pharmacist.

 

[Ephany]

Look at the laws for the state you live in to see what you need before taking that class. I used to be a technician and frankly everyone I know says those classes are a waste of money. I passed my exam by using a book and a study guide I bought from Amazon, think they cost around $50 total. One of my good friends is a pharmacist and if you're not PTCB certified and registered with the state (fingerprinting/background check is required here) already, your application gets passed over, there's just too many people looking for work (in this area at least).

You have to have good people skills, be fairly computer savvy, be able to work long periods on your feet (retail, not sure about hospitals), and be able to multi-task.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

After I got laid off from one job in South Carolina part of the unemployment offer was the option to go back to school at the local community college. They offered a pharmacy tech program. They offered a one year full time day time program or a two year part time evening program. I chose the evening to leave my options open for finding a day job.

I really enjoyed my classes even having found a full time day job that I ended up loving. But when it came time for clinicals (hands on). I worked at CVS and Walgreens for about 6 weeks each.

I ended up being glad that we moved because I did not like the job itself. I don't know what I thought I was expecting but I it was really boring standing around all day and counting to 30 over and over and over again.

Good luck with your future endeavors.

 

[clori]

I was a senior certified pharmacy tech at a retail job for a few years. I worked M-F 8:30 to 5. I haven't worked ina few years since my youngest was born but I have kept up my certification by doing free ce's and paying the every other year fee.

I passed the certification test back in 1998 a few months before I got married so things may have changed. I can't imagine the need for a 1 year training program to pass the test. I worked 3 days a week in the pharmacy and studies from two books before easily passing the certification exam after working in a pharmacy for 4 months. I found the on the job training which would vary by location to be much more valuable. For instance every company has its own computer system which is needed for the job that isn't part of the certification test. The other two days a week I worked in the regular store in order to get full time hours so that is one possibility. After 6 months the pharmacy student working two days left and I got full time in the pharmacy. Also depending on your area sometimes speaking a second language can help land a job.

I think the pharmacists you work with can help make the job much more interesting especially if they allow you to do more as allowed. I actually enjoyed doing things like helping with insurance issues that didn't involve drug interactions and the pharmacists didn't so I usually did that. However lots of times the job does involve counting, double counting etc. Working retail you also get many customers who are sick so not at their best and apt to take things out on whoever is handy in the pharmacy.

I am close to thinking about going back to work but not quite there yet. My state now requires registration for pharmacy techs but I'm not sure about the process. I only have retail experience but a few people have suggested that a hospital might be an easier place to find part time positions with hours matching either kids school hours or evenings based on dh's availibility to be home.

 

[pickles521]

I am a Certified Pharmacy Tech (CPhT) and have been since 1996. My career path is ... abnormal... for most of the other Pharmacy Techs I know, but I'm still going to offer an opinion.

Most states are currently requiring or are in the process of requiring national certification. That's the test that everyone is talking about. An actual college-like course program would have been a total waste of money for me. I had several years experience, but I could have passed the test by just reading a book. That's not to say it's an easy test, just that it was relatively easy for me. If you won't study on your own, have no pharmacy experience at all, struggle with math, and really need one on one attention to learn stuff, those courses may be worth the money. I would guess most people can probably pass it if they study. Just be honest with yourself about whether you'll study, and if not, find a class style that works for you. Passing the exam is only part of it, though. Because of the job market, many places require experience. In many places it's like anything else, you need experience to get the job, can't get experience without the job. States are also starting to require registration, but that seems to be a paper push more than anything - drug test, background check, etc.

Hospital Techs and retail techs can have very different jobs. I've never worked retail (though I did work outpatient in the military, similar but not the same). In the hospital there are many different roles - some facilities require that you do them all, some specialize so that if you're the delivery tech you'll never fill an automated drug cabinet or mix an IV. There are also a lot of less traditional roles for technicians - billing techs, clinical techs, IT/IS techs, coding, safety, insurance review... the list is endless.

I would agree that the job can be good if you have good people skills. I would caution you to evaluate if the expected salary is sufficient if you're looking at it long term. I would also expect continued regulation as the nation's focus on safe healthcare continues. I'd also consider if your desire to be part of the profession changes as the pharmacist shortage becomes less severe and potentially moves into not only enough pharmacists, but maybe too many. I still think there will always be an important need for technicians, but perhaps a different need.

Having said all that, I loved my time as an inpatient technician. I was good at it and loved the work - I was a great IV tech, and loved the night shift. However, as I became the primary breadwinner in my family, I realized I needed more, both for job growth and income. That's how I ended up here - eyeball deep in Pharmacy computer systems and Hospital system implementations. It certainly was not a "normal" pathway, and no where near what my initial plan was, but I've made it work for me. It truly is my niche and I belong here. I couldn't have done it without being a technician.

Good luck if this is where you decide to go. Also - check out PTCB.org. You might find some helpful information. They're on facebook, too, with some interesting conversations.

 

[Aisling]

In my area it's easier to find a pharm tech job than a pharmacist job. My retail place has one pharmacist and three techs per shift. That ratio is the same in hospitals, too 3:1. With budget cuts everywhere, it costs them less to hire techs to assist the pharmacists than to hire a bunch of pharmacists.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am not one but some friend's son is a Pharmacy student and tried to get a job at a pharmacy this summer and had zero luck. He has 4 of his 5 years done on his pharmacy program at one of the top Pharmacy programs in the nation and couldn't get a job.

There could be a few reasons for this.

For one, as we mentioned below, most want experience.

But also, to an employer, your friend is going to be a pharmacist soon. Companies pay an awful lot of money to train people, they don't want to lose him in a year. Perhaps they're looking more for long term tech help.

Also, you'd think maybe they'd just keep him on as a pharmacist, but it could be that they're saturated with pharmacists but need techs. This could be a trend (and one I've heard of happening) - ie hiring less pharmacists but more techs.

Which brings me to why there's a need for national certifications and such. Medication is amazingly regulated. Again, amazingly. So if pharmacies are going to be hiring less pharmacists and more techs, presumably to do jobs that were traditionally done by pharmacists, then there needs to be some formal training. Look at the medical mistakes reported with pharmacists (and in fairness, nurses, doctors and other health professionals, all of whom have taken huge steps in the last decade or so to prevent them from happening). When something happens with a tech, who's working under a pharmacist's license, it's a big problem. Having techs certified, they'll have their own training and, at least to a degree, ie within their job description, they'll be working under their own certification.

I'm sure there's a lot more to it but further thoughts will have to come from pharmacists. ETA this one's from Canada, but an example of thoughts from pharmacists on their roles and techs'. http://site.cpacbc.ca/Services.html

BTW, many hospital pharmacists who oversee operations are practicing at the PharmD (doctorate) level, at least where I work. So things have been changing in the pharmacy world, and with good reason. We all want to have our medications given to us safely.

 

[CPT Tripss]

For OP, the comments about retail hours and being on your feet were right on. Retail pharmacies around here are more likely to hire part-timers than are hospitals. The working conditions and pharmacy practices (how varied or set and specific the work is) can really vary. Regardless of that, it helps to have a little OCD, or at least attention to detail.

Responding to GolfGal and Pea-n-Me . . .

DD Started working in the summer as a tech in retail as soon as she finished her first year of Pharm school - third year of college. The tech part of the job was OJT, that's how all new techs get started in her company whether or not they are experienced. In retail, the number of pharmacists on duty and the ratio of tech to pharm is dependent on the number of Rx filled. The exact numbers vary from company to company and in some cases it's Bottom line is that techs are expected to pull their weigh quickly whether or not they are pharm students too.

Her school required two years of college classes with a major focus on science and math (Chem, Bio and calc one year. Org Chem, microbio, and physics the next) with minimal additional required and elective classes. Then third year the Pharm curriculum kicked in - six semesters class work and three semesters of rotations in various pharm settings - for a total of six years. Another local school only accepts students that already had a BA/BS and then provided the four year pharm curriculum, so in that case it's eight years of schooling. Every school she knows of has either the six year combined program or a four year program that requires a BA/BS.

The store (national retail chain) kept her on as a part-timer through the school year and she got lots of extra hours when on breaks. Summers she was full-time. They had a special pay rate for Pharm students, offered tuition assitance and had a matching 401(k) plan once an employee worked a set number of hours.

Most of her classmate friends had similar arrangements with hospitals or retail pharms. The ones who lived a distance away tended not to work part time during the school year. All of them got good full-time jobs on graduation. About half, including DD, where they worked during school. The advantage to that is that the time they worked counted towards seniority and benefits. Also the 401(k) kept rolling.

 

[PHARMBOY]

I am a certified pharmacy technician... who hasn't been able to get a job doing it for two years, not even in a retail pharmacy. Also, you don't *have* to take a class to take the test... you can buy a couple of review books at Borders and turn out just as well.

Still looking? May have something upper east side manhattan