Pharmacy Tech THREAD (AMA Thread)

[SirReginald]

The course takes 2 months or what?
Weren't you working with Messicans getting treated like shyt?

:duck

That was the summer of last year breh. The class itself was three months, but it was shyt before that I had to do. Like an intake class and keytrain.

Who's that in your avi?

Princess Nokia

What region do you live in (if not too invasive)
And how much does it pay?

How long did it take to get your certification and how much did it cost?

I'm on the East Coast (Hampton Roads). Some jobs start 12 and 13 dollars an hour. I'm looking to work two jobs after I take the PTCB exam in a week's time.

 

[SirReginald]

how old r u and what state r u in?

23 (24 next month and in Virginia).

 

[mannyrs13]

I passed the class and on my way to taking the PTCB which is free for me (taking it in a week and a half). I'm applying for jobs, but I want to do retail pharmacy. However, I'll take your advice on Wal-Mart.

Don't stay in retail too long. I was in retail for like 13 years. Not all in pharmacy tho, got my license in 2016. But from what I seen, it's not easy, and my store wasn't even that bad. Plus I wasn't an official tech so I didn't really work back there full time. I just helped them out. But dealing with the general public sucks. Better to not have to deal with that. I'm at a call center now and while it's not like I'm making much more, I don't gotta see no angry customers, I don't have to fill any prescriptions, and I sit on my ass all day chilling. It's the slow season in the summer so it's not as many calls coming in, plus it's easy as hell. I don't have my ptcb or clinical knowledge. I couldn't even tell you some brand/generics unless it's s common one. It's an easy job. Even the hospital will get you a bit more knowledge and better opportunities. Use retail as a stepping stone. Learn the basics on the way the industry works and try to move on. You can't advance in retail at all. Not unless you have a pharmacy degree tho. But I see you taking some other certs so that's good. Let me know how you're ptcb goes. I gotta finish up my ce credits sometime this summer, been slacking.

 

[SirReginald]

Don't stay in retail too long. I was in retail for like 13 years. Not all in pharmacy tho, got my license in 2016. But from what I seen, it's not easy, and my store wasn't even that bad. Plus I wasn't an official tech so I didn't really work back there full time. I just helped them out. But dealing with the general public sucks. Better to not have to deal with that. I'm at a call center now and while it's not like I'm making much more, I don't gotta see no angry customers, I don't have to fill any prescriptions, and I sit on my ass all day chilling. It's the slow season in the summer so it's not as many calls coming in, plus it's easy as hell. I don't have my ptcb or clinical knowledge. I couldn't even tell you some brand/generics unless it's s common one. It's an easy job. Even the hospital will get you a bit more knowledge and better opportunities. Use retail as a stepping stone. Learn the basics on the way the industry works and try to move on. You can't advance in retail at all. Not unless you have a pharmacy degree tho. But I see you taking some other certs so that's good. Let me know how you're ptcb goes. I gotta finish up my ce credits sometime this summer, been slacking.

I worked in retail before though (regular store), so this isn't new to me. Yeah, I am taking up other certs because I want to freelance. Also, I always loved computers and health. Told my family that I may get into Nursing in my mid 30's (I live Nursing Informatics and Holistic Nursing). I'm just trying to take this one step at a time.

 

[Cadillac]

Congrats

 

[The5thLetter]

How much u got in savings?
Besides the courses u took how else have u been improving ur situation?

 

[Arithmetic]

I worked in retail before though (regular store), so this isn't new to me. Yeah, I am taking up other certs because I want to freelance. Also, I always loved computers and health. Told my family that I may get into Nursing in my mid 30's (I live Nursing Informatics and Holistic Nursing). I'm just trying to take this one step at a time.

I know a dude who was a pharm tech while going to nursing school. I suggest you don't get comfortable since there's only so much you can make as a pharm tech. The experience you will get is a great foundation though.

 

[SirReginald]

How much u got in savings?
Besides the courses u took how else have u been improving ur situation?

Um

Second part: I've been taking initiative to try to do things for myself and have been working side hustles that pay.

 

[Arithmetic]

On some real shyt skip the A+ cert

That shyt is useless

And a low wage earner

I would never recommend skipping a basic cert to someone who can't ace the test without studying. A basic cert is more than the cert itself.

 

[SirReginald]

I know a dude who was a pharm tech while going to nursing school. I suggest you don't get comfortable since there's only so much you can make as a pharm tech. The experience you will get is a great foundation though.

I agree and like I told my parents, "Pharmacy tech is a great way to get into Nursing or other medical fields". Because you learn a foundation with the medicines and pharmaceutical medications.

 

[Kyle C. Barker]

The booch is back


I know you got a million things you wanna do but use your time to determine if you wanna be pharmacist.

 

[Boogie]

ASK ME ANYTHING

Spoiler

I PASSED my final exam on Monday and we had a potluck However, I am going to take the PTCB in a week and a half. So, I will be studying with my classmates (it was four of them and all girls). Wish me luck. I passed every quiz in that bytch and never missed a day.


P.S. I took this shyt because I needed a job. Still have plans to take my A+ Cert and start freelancing in two years. Might cop my PT cert or massage therapy. I'm trying to learn how to code now because I want to designs sites and shyt.

Can you hook a nikka up with some drank & percs?

 

[SirReginald]

Can you hook a nikka up with some drank & percs?

No officer

 

[How Sway?]

Congrats and welcome to the pharmacy world. I been a RPH for about 6 years since my residency.

1. Are you working in hospital or retail setting?

*FREE ADVICE*
IF you can TRY to get into a hospital. You learn a LOT more and you can really put your skills to use as it relates to compounding, IV, and things of that nature.

In my humble opinion, retail is HELL, The shyt you have to put up with..SMH, no way could I be a retail pharmacist. Its too much, drive thru package pick up, cashier, counsel, supervise the techs, etc..... It's a headache.

But again, if you're not already in a hospital, try to get into one. Also walmart is one of the better pharmacies because its required that you have to take a break. They shut down everyday. At cvs & walgreens and others you may not get one if there is no coverage or if you guys are busy.

Also mail order is ok. Let me know if you have any questions.

say breh, how hard was it to get into pharmacy school. Like what credentials do schools generally look for?

asking for a friend

 

[heart]

say breh, how hard was it to get into pharmacy school. Like what credentials do schools generally look for?

asking for a friend

It wasn't that hard at the time, 4 years of undergrad, 2 years of pharmacy school and a 1 year residency. The 4 years of undergrad were the hardest because I was a new dad, really had no money saved and things of that nature, from a school standpoint the residency was the hardest because I did intern at different types of pharmacies. CVS was by far the HARDEST

I had this old man offer me the fade because he wanted to renew his "wifes" prescription for norco before the 30 day window cycle was over. So like I was telling OP, in retail you have a lot of people trying to finesse you to steal for them rather you're a tech or pharmacist, hospital or retail. Gotta remember it's YOUR license....

Furthermore the field is changing, especially in big cites like the one I'm in. They are opening up a LOT of pharmacy schools which in turn has a lot of new grads that are getting paid what they accept versus what they are worth. I've worked at the same hospital for six years, started out at as just a regular pharmacist, now I'm straight clinical interventions, etc, 7on7off overnight...

So depending on the city you're in, after school you may want to relocate to a smaller city to make the big bucks. Also the student loans are pain in the ass.. But the payoff is rewarding.