How To Become a Pharmacy Technician

[phamjohnny11]

im taking pharmacy tech classes right now ...n i feel like dammmnnn did i jus made a wrong decision ...cause most of the comments are from pharmacy techs =/

[fluffyidk]

Having been a pharmacy technician myself for almost a year, I would say that it is definitely one of the worst jobs out there. The work is stressful and customers look down on you. Don't get me started on the pay.

It's better to suffer a bit through pharmacy school and be a full-blown pharmacist. You will get the respect and earn about seven times more (with benefits) than a technician. This isn't even an exaggeration.

Source: Experience, and advise from many pharmacists

[DaSolidAce]

@fluffyidk damn so do u still hate it

[MegaAstrodude]

@1:11,

This is probably inaccurate. The work that pharmacy technicians do now will likely be largely automated within 10 years. There will still be a lot of pharmacy technicians a decade from now, but they'll be doing completely different work.

[Man18Colts]

@rcmtguy-(cont) So,you have these national & local publications who have been saying that pharmacy techs have good long term job security prospects compared to other hard recession hit areas, because of aging baby boomers,especially here in Florida. Yet in reality,the pharmacists tell me there's a glut of unemployed former techs who jumped into this 5 yrs ago, when it was hot,with previous experience) looking for jobs. Meanwhile, I worry about too long of a job void in my resume,thoughts?

[Man18Colts]

@rcmtguy-(cont) programs are mostly cutting back hours for techs,and are in a hiring freeze here in southern Florida. I've tried Target,Walmart,Publix grocery chain in Fla,Winn Dixie another grocery chain,& Walgreens(who I was told laid off alot last year in Fla.when they went to like a centralized type thing in Orlando) They tell me things may change by Sept,or Oct when snowbirds return. Non chain pharmacies will not take anyone not registered,so as you can see I'm caught in circle (cont)

[Man18Colts]

@rcmtguy -I recently became unemployed in February,and have been trying to make a career change from sales to pharmacy tech. I started studying for an Excpt exam,I think it's called. However,after a couple of months of studying was told that it wasn't enough,that as of the start of 2011,Florida required a program through a board certified school or employer. Well,schools at the very least are $4,000 & 6-10 months,not real good when trying a career change. The retailers,with certified (cont)

[TheWorthlessOne1]

Can anyone please tell me what the minimum age is to work as a Pharmacy Tech? I live in Florida and I'll be 16 soon. I'm getting mixed answers. Some people say 16 and others say 18.

[TheWorthlessOne1]

Can anyone please tell me what the minimum age is to work as a Pharmacy Tech? I live in Florida and I'll be 16 soon. I'm getting mixed answers. Some people say 16 and others say 18.

[1991Combo3]

@rcmtguy

wats the best way to become a pharmacy tech?

[chattybox]

what do you think about becoming a pharmacy technician through Job Corps?

[ionflaoz]

do need to be smart to become pharmacy tech,coz im studying now and i pretty much didnt understand 70% of my math problems so yha....plzz someone inform me tnzzz

[pimpinballer510]

How much do u get payed if u work in the bay area? And ur barely starting

[JohnnyTheWolfLupino]

Wanted to become a pharmacist but dicked around and didn't get my A-levels, but hey I can work toward becoming a tech and hopefully might be able to attend Uni in the future.

[garyp2122]

go to school get a career what a joke! the pharmacist makes 5-10 times more then you do.if you are fine living on welfare just to say i have a career then do it.

[AWarlordsView]

@garyp2122

I don't even consider pharmacy tech a career but they do make up to 40k in CA.

I have my PTCB exam coming up tomorrow, and I just studied on my own because there is no way I am paying $5k-$10k just for a $15hr job, since I only want to work part time to go to med school eventually.

[southparkresident]

They don't get paid enough to take the risks they take.

[UnearthAlex]

i thought you didnt have to go to college to become a tech, i thought they trained you on the job and you take the test once the training is up, i start tomorrow an a tech traniee and i never went to school for it

[bettiep]

@UnearthAlex You can get on the job training through a pharmacy, and you can track down the study guides on your own, get certified, then apply for jobs. I'm going to go this route because these schools charge too much.

[TheStars201]

pharmacy technicians get paid SOOOOO LOWWW. i mean, i would be a pharmacy technician, but the pay is sooooooo low.

[MonarC87]

@TheStars201 How much do you think technicians should be paid? I've met very talented techs, but not every tech is made equal , and $14/hr was low for a beginning technician in my last pharmacy (compounding).

[TheStars201]

@MonarC87 They should get paid atleast $25+ and up....Like you actually have to go to college just to be one. I really don't like how the pay is SO low....

[MonarC87]

@TheStars201 Actually you do not need to go to college to become a technician. My uncle & aunt are pharmacists and I trained at their compounding pharmacy and here at our hospital--all you have to do is take a state test, though I would suggest to go for you national certification as well, it must be only matter of time before all will be required, though our state test was tougher than the national. Granted I already have a background in chemistry, biology and math.

[TheStars201]

@MonarC87 I live in Canada...and we do things differently here. First you have to go to university for 4 years, and then after you go to pharmacy school for another 4 years. So that 8 years of school to become an actual pharmacist. Some people go to a college first for 2 years then transfer to university for 4 years and then finally go to pharmacy school for another 4 years....

In high school you need to have an english, math, biology and chemistry credits to even get in a university or college

[MonarC87]

@TheStars201 Well the issue of pharmacist is an entirely different one, of course they will, and should spend years within the university, and it is something I am considering after my MA in Literature, and pharmacists do well enough--the "[m]edian annual wages of wage and salary pharmacists in May 2008 were $106,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $92,670 and $121,310 a year."

[5977560]

i know a young lady who has a pharmacy technician site with ptcb guide its called pharmacy rx by crystal zamudio

[Rob120541]

They advertise that you can become a Pharmacy Technician in Utah. i.e. Tv, Radio, BUT there seems to be really no such thing as a Pharmacy Technician JOB out here because they never need anybody. Others that I went to school with gave up a long time ago. I've had my license for over 5 years and still trying. Its like I pay for a P.T. license and will need to pay for this program again by starting all over again because of knowledge.

[fhnyuiko]

I'm already in a tech college to do this. :D (Heritage college)

[KreSSine]

I thought only the Pharmacy Tech in developing countries have low pay !! In Malaysia, we do dispensing, too. Basically, pharmacies in public health clinics and hospitals still can run without any pharmacist. We just follow the books and experience when we're working.

Wow, you're so lucky that the program there only 9 months to become one when compare to ours, 3 years. Lucky you !!!

[WhiteRhinoPhantom]

Is there a way to find out what herbs you can mix? Or what are the cheapest herbs?

[jaxzurr]

@WhiteRhinoPhantom

I would start with somone who is into botanist! The deals with such plants.

Best of all would be to find a Doctor of Chinese or Arya Veda Medicine(Indian medicine) Herbs are one of the major components in Eastern medicinial practices.

[R3146C]

you should not pay excessive money to train in this career, find a school or programs that offer it at no cost or a minimum. My school doesn't charge me a dime.

[nicklinkzelda]

My mom is a pharmacy technician and has never made very much. She and my dad raised me and my other 2 siblings with financial difficulties so I will tell any and everyone considering to be trained to be a phar. technician to not go for it. The pay is just too low and there are no opportunities to advance and get a higher salary.

[MacPr0xnxx0]

is the program hard? do you need a lot of math?

[yaiduno13]

i really hope not b/c i freakin suck at math , u have to take a class called pharmacy math??? hope that means know how to count pills : )

[0633767jerishowrulez]

the math is very basic. its easy it just wastes your time, which sucks. most the stuff you learn in school you dont use much on the job until you get really advanced and are doing computer work.

[HoneiiDiiva]

@yaiduno13 Math isn't hard, it's challenging. You can overcome it by working hard and wanting it. But only Pharmacist deal with the tough math, such as calculus.

[MacPr0xnxx0]

@0633767jerishowrulez i see i live in California have any idea how long the program is 2 years?

[0633767jerishowrulez]

the program is only 9 months. but alot of technicians will get not even need that before being hired. see i didnt get hired for 12 months so i kept getting my education. it was not needed though to be a pharmacy tech. in fact they only care if you are certified or not. so the extra year wont help you any more than the first year

[TGeiger85]

@MacPr0xnxx0

No, i don't think so. I'm a pharmacy tech and All I have is a high school education. You just have to pay attention to detail. I did however get lucky in a way though. Meaning with the training I was lucky enough to get a job that provided me with the training. It's not easy but its not all that hard you know? Money isn't great...but it's not horrible. I work with some people who make over 15 an hour i don't make that much yet but one day...hopefully. has alot to do with time.

[TheStars201]

@TGeiger85 how much do you make? i bet its not a lot

[davemayhem]

I'm a pharmacy tech in england and we can get £25,00 - £35,000 per year for being an accredited checking tech.also it looks like a completly different job in america from the video.

[kobidobidog]

These are the real drug pushers. Drugs are drugs no matter which way you slice it. Go to upcspine, find an upper cervical specific practitioner. All ages should be evaluated for internal imbalances; many of the imbalances are externally evident. Traumatic birth can be the beginning of a problem developing that need not develop at all. Thespecific is a good site too. Sherman College is good.

Dont go to anyone who practices cavitation, these would be full spine, and diversified chiropractors.

[Edu411]

according to payscale/com the average salary is roughly C$29-39k.

[TheStars201]

@Edu411 thats not right

[AZstarwatcher]

@Edu411 In AZ, I worked overtime at a mail order pharmacy and only made $30K and it's too risky a job because of the potential for errors. Most techs wind up at retail. I would recommend medical assisting.

[farinjan]

Im curious how much a pharmacist Techniciangets paid in canada ontario ? . If someone can answer that for me

[Edu411]

The largest national certification exams in the United States are given by the Institute of Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

More info? Do a search on Wikipedia for "Pharmacy Technician"

[imablonde20]

I am being trained on the job with CVS.

[maxhardc]

Where do you find info on the national exam?

[DoDaDaMnThAnG69]

you don't need to go to school to be a pharmacy tech, it's a waste of money and it's not worth it. just review for the national exam and pass it, then apply as a pharmacy aide to get some experience...

[XDMProduction]

that is true to a point...all i did was studied for the test and got my certification. No college education is really required but will/may do you good. But i do not find that going to school to at least learn some knowledge of medicine would be a real waist of time and money if you truly love what you are doing, or wish to peruse, plus it will give a much more stronger foundation in pharmacy practice.

[googooly68]

could you please tell me which book I need to purchase? I agree that taking classes is a waste of time and money. I went on ptcb website to get info about pharm tech books, but the problem is that they had a big list of them and I didn't know which one to choose from. I would truly appreciate it if you could tell me what book you or your friends studied that prepared you for the test.