Sanity Check - New Career

[Guest guest]

First of all, Hello to the group. I've been reading over some of

the posts and this looks like a great place for like minded people.

I hope I learn and can also share some of my experiences.

My question to the group would be what the best approach for a

neophyte to secure a job as a pharmacy tech. I've recently retired

from a 30 year stint in the IT industry and would very much like to

look into working as a pharmacy technician. I've got another 10-12

years before I 'formally' retire. As you might guess, I have no

previous experience in the healthcare field and am not sure how best

to go about getting the experience necessary to obtain a job. My

game plan thus far is to sign up for an Internet class that prepares

one for the PTCB exam, study and take the exam and then look for a

job once I'm qualified. I think that this approach is possible but

not sure if it's practical. Would it be an oddity for an individual

to obtain certification with no practical experience? Could it be

that it would be unlikely that one could even pass the exam without

some experience?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

Hi -

First, let me welcome you to the group. Depending on your IT

experience there are lots of opportunities in the healthcare fields.

Tech requirements vary from state to state. Some states recognize

national certification, others require a state license, some have no

requirements at all. Check with your state's Board of Pharmacy---

many let you download applications.

To the chagrin of many an educated and experienced tech, people can

and do obtain national certification without ever having stepped

foot in a pharmacy. PTCB requires only a high school education (GED).

Even a felony conviction is not an " absolute bar " from attaining

CPhT status as convictions are viewed on a case by case basis.

If you have the resources and opportunity, I urge you to attend a

formal(traditional)tech program where you will get " hands on "

experience and at least one internship at an actual pharmacy. You

WILL be a better technician because of it--please trust me on this

one.

I know others will add more, so I'm keeping this short.

Good luck with your career change

Sincerely,

Dora

>

> First of all, Hello to the group. I've been reading over some of

> the posts and this looks like a great place for like minded

people.

> I hope I learn and can also share some of my experiences.

>

> My question to the group would be what the best approach for a

> neophyte to secure a job as a pharmacy tech. I've recently retired

> from a 30 year stint in the IT industry and would very much like

to

> look into working as a pharmacy technician. I've got another 10-12

> years before I 'formally' retire. As you might guess, I have no

> previous experience in the healthcare field and am not sure how

best

> to go about getting the experience necessary to obtain a job. My

> game plan thus far is to sign up for an Internet class that

prepares

> one for the PTCB exam, study and take the exam and then look for a

> job once I'm qualified. I think that this approach is possible

but

> not sure if it's practical. Would it be an oddity for an

individual

> to obtain certification with no practical experience? Could it be

> that it would be unlikely that one could even pass the exam

without

> some experience?

>

> Any thoughts appreciated.

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank god, at least someone else is leaving IT. I've been in it for 7 years now

and am bored to death. I've just switched from sysadmin to software QA testing

and at least I have something to do than babysit servers all day. Still, I tend

to think about other more interesting things I could be doing.

Right now the plan of attack is to keep the current 8-5 IT job (because the

salary is good and I have a house to pay for) and find some weekend/night Pharm

Tech work for the time being. I just want to build up some experience even if it

means just working at the Target Pharmacy on Saturdays. I can manage night

school for the prereqs now and get the finances built up to go into full blown

pharmacy school in a couple of years.

I got fingerprinted this morning to register for Missouri's State Board of

Pharmacy. There are bureaucratic hoops, but I'm not in any terrible hurry right

now to drop IT. Well I am, and going to ramen noodle wage is preventing me, but

the goal is to do it gradually. I'm fully confident this is possible. Plus, I

have an employer who is very lenient on work/school scheduling.

It looks like I can start applying mid-October for part time positions because

as long as you have a pending registration with the state of Misery, you are

considered hirable.

PS Jeanetta - It was my mother that freaked out. There is no mother-in-law to

speak of. My mom is crazy. And I told her that.

Re: Sanity Check - New Career

Hi -

First, let me welcome you to the group. Depending on your IT

experience there are lots of opportunities in the healthcare fields.

Tech requirements vary from state to state. Some states recognize

national certification, others require a state license, some have no

requirements at all. Check with your state's Board of Pharmacy---

many let you download applications.

To the chagrin of many an educated and experienced tech, people can

and do obtain national certification without ever having stepped

foot in a pharmacy. PTCB requires only a high school education (GED).

Even a felony conviction is not an " absolute bar " from attaining

CPhT status as convictions are viewed on a case by case basis.

If you have the resources and opportunity, I urge you to attend a

formal(traditional)tech program where you will get " hands on "

experience and at least one internship at an actual pharmacy. You

WILL be a better technician because of it--please trust me on this

one.

I know others will add more, so I'm keeping this short.

Good luck with your career change

Sincerely,

Dora

>

> First of all, Hello to the group. I've been reading over some of

> the posts and this looks like a great place for like minded

people.

> I hope I learn and can also share some of my experiences.

>

> My question to the group would be what the best approach for a

> neophyte to secure a job as a pharmacy tech. I've recently retired

> from a 30 year stint in the IT industry and would very much like

to

> look into working as a pharmacy technician. I've got another 10-12

> years before I 'formally' retire. As you might guess, I have no

> previous experience in the healthcare field and am not sure how

best

> to go about getting the experience necessary to obtain a job. My

> game plan thus far is to sign up for an Internet class that

prepares

> one for the PTCB exam, study and take the exam and then look for a

> job once I'm qualified. I think that this approach is possible

but

> not sure if it's practical. Would it be an oddity for an

individual

> to obtain certification with no practical experience? Could it be

> that it would be unlikely that one could even pass the exam

without

> some experience?

>

> Any thoughts appreciated.

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear and ,

I have MANY students who have been in the computer world but find it very

competitive and a saturated market. Still others say much is 'leaving' the US

and going to other countries. So you both are NOT alone.

As to taking the exam without having set foot in pharmacy: well Dora is

correct, but she does not paitn the picture of MY steam coming out of my ears

with the word 'chagrin'. But to give you an honest answer and show you that

ther are many who do agree with Dora, YES you can study from a book only, or

this site only or pay for a class or online test prep AND pass the exam. I would

pay no more than 100 MAX but you can do it on the cost of a book at $30 and

this free site.

BUT she is also correct in saying that you will not be the good tech or the best

tech just because you passed the exam. A much better tech would be one who has a

teacher to ask questions to and a teacher who has experience to guide you and

tell you MORE than what is in a text book. In ADDITION a classroom shouold also

have a MOCK real life model LAB, whre you will PRACTICE real life situations and

THEN go on an externship (school sponsored) and put inot practice what you

learned both in class and in the mock labs, under the further direction and

education and training of a pharmacist(s) and technician(s). Then you will be

ready to take an ENTRY level position. STILL not knowing it all! No one ever

does!

She is also correct about each state being different. So I am not sure what

state you are from. Please let us know .... if someone is from your state they

may be better able to give you an idea of what to expect with CPhT, but no other

reducation or training in your state..

Now as for the PTCB requirements, I will have to double check. Because my

understanding is that you can not take the PTCB UNLESS you are 18 AT the time

that you fill out your applicaton AND you must have graduated from HS or have

equivalency AT the time you apply to take the exam AND you can NOT have a felony

AT ALL!

Now I do KNOW this, in some states (California is one) if you have felony at

the time you apply for REGISTRATION and you are applying as a tech school

graduate to qualify you, then your felony is taken in to consideration as a case

by case basis. Since PTCB does NOT do a check on your fingerprints they would

have NO way of knowing, EVEN though they claim that you can not have a felony.

But by sigining that you do not have a felony if you really do, commits a new

felony!! If anyone informed PTCB of your felony then technically your CPhT could

be revoked.

So Dora, unless the rules have changed I disagree with what you wrote:

" Even a felony conviction is not an " absolute bar " from attaining

CPhT status as convictions are viewed on a case by case basis. "

I believe that there is a 'must not have felony conviction on the application,

unless this has changed.

I will try to check it out after I press send on this email /post.

much has been written about how to get a job as a neophyte. Much again

depends upon your state laws. So I will wait until you give us the name of your

state to help you better. But you can start with a GREAT resume. I have Resume

building tutorial JUST for NEW CPhT!s!!!! if is designed especially just for you

to get your foot in the door.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner of this site

erina@... wrote: Thank god, at least

someone else is leaving IT. I've been in it for 7 years now and am bored to

death. I've just switched from sysadmin to software QA testing and at least I

have something to do than babysit servers all day. Still, I tend to think about

other more interesting things I could be doing.

Right now the plan of attack is to keep the current 8-5 IT job (because the

salary is good and I have a house to pay for) and find some weekend/night Pharm

Tech work for the time being. I just want to build up some experience even if it

means just working at the Target Pharmacy on Saturdays. I can manage night

school for the prereqs now and get the finances built up to go into full blown

pharmacy school in a couple of years.

I got fingerprinted this morning to register for Missouri's State Board of

Pharmacy. There are bureaucratic hoops, but I'm not in any terrible hurry right

now to drop IT. Well I am, and going to ramen noodle wage is preventing me, but

the goal is to do it gradually. I'm fully confident this is possible. Plus, I

have an employer who is very lenient on work/school scheduling.

It looks like I can start applying mid-October for part time positions because

as long as you have a pending registration with the state of Misery, you are

considered hirable.

PS Jeanetta - It was my mother that freaked out. There is no mother-in-law to

speak of. My mom is crazy. And I told her that.

Re: Sanity Check - New Career

Hi -

First, let me welcome you to the group. Depending on your IT

experience there are lots of opportunities in the healthcare fields.

Tech requirements vary from state to state. Some states recognize

national certification, others require a state license, some have no

requirements at all. Check with your state's Board of Pharmacy---

many let you download applications.

To the chagrin of many an educated and experienced tech, people can

and do obtain national certification without ever having stepped

foot in a pharmacy. PTCB requires only a high school education (GED).

Even a felony conviction is not an " absolute bar " from attaining

CPhT status as convictions are viewed on a case by case basis.

If you have the resources and opportunity, I urge you to attend a

formal(traditional)tech program where you will get " hands on "

experience and at least one internship at an actual pharmacy. You

WILL be a better technician because of it--please trust me on this

one.

I know others will add more, so I'm keeping this short.

Good luck with your career change

Sincerely,

Dora

>

> First of all, Hello to the group. I've been reading over some of

> the posts and this looks like a great place for like minded

people.

> I hope I learn and can also share some of my experiences.

>

> My question to the group would be what the best approach for a

> neophyte to secure a job as a pharmacy tech. I've recently retired

> from a 30 year stint in the IT industry and would very much like

to

> look into working as a pharmacy technician. I've got another 10-12

> years before I 'formally' retire. As you might guess, I have no

> previous experience in the healthcare field and am not sure how

best

> to go about getting the experience necessary to obtain a job. My

> game plan thus far is to sign up for an Internet class that

prepares

> one for the PTCB exam, study and take the exam and then look for a

> job once I'm qualified. I think that this approach is possible

but

> not sure if it's practical. Would it be an oddity for an

individual

> to obtain certification with no practical experience? Could it be

> that it would be unlikely that one could even pass the exam

without

> some experience?

>

> Any thoughts appreciated.

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

[Guest guest]

First of all, Thanks to all that replied to my post. I live up in

Northern New Hampshire so I belive that you do not need

certification to work in a pharmacy. As I said in my original post,

I've spent 30 years (with the same company) as their IT / Network

Administrator and have found the old saying true that " boredom

interrupted with chaos " to be the case, at least in the last few

years there. Once I left I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue to

work in the IT field. I'm in my mid 50's now and just can't see

myself continuing in the same field for another 10-12 years. One of

my first jobs after leaving high school was working in a hospital as

an orderly and I liked it and the surroundings. Couldn't pay the

bills with orderly pay so I went back to school and got into the IT

field. After taking a break from work in general since July, it

occured to me that a " second career " as a Pharmacy Technician may be

something that I'd enjoy and find rewarding. I don't know anyone in

the field to " bounce things off of " so you really don't know how

happy I am to have found this group. I can't find any local

programs in my area, (or a reasonable communte). I checked

the Internet for any pharmacy jobs that I could take as either an

aid or tech but none are available. I thought that this would give

me the hands-on experience that I'd find valuable while training /

studying for the exam. There seems to be an overwhelming number of

pharmacies in my area even though I'm very rural. Walmart,

supermarkets, and 3 or 4 national chain pharmacies but I don't think

I've ever seen anyone advertising a position for any of them unless

it was just as a cashier or store clerk. At this point it would be

easier to find another IT job, but don't want to give up on becoming

a CPhT... Up to this point, I can't seem to develop a game plan that

feels right. I seem to go back and forth between thinking that

studying for the exam without practical experience won't go very far

in getting me a job as opposed to no one will hire me without any

experience -or- certification.

Thanks for all the input!

> >

> > First of all, Hello to the group. I've been reading over some

of

> > the posts and this looks like a great place for like minded

> people.

> > I hope I learn and can also share some of my experiences.

> >

> > My question to the group would be what the best approach for

a

> > neophyte to secure a job as a pharmacy tech. I've recently

retired

> > from a 30 year stint in the IT industry and would very much

like

> to

> > look into working as a pharmacy technician. I've got another

10-12

> > years before I 'formally' retire. As you might guess, I have

no

> > previous experience in the healthcare field and am not sure

how

> best

> > to go about getting the experience necessary to obtain a job.

My

> > game plan thus far is to sign up for an Internet class that

> prepares

> > one for the PTCB exam, study and take the exam and then look

for a

> > job once I'm qualified. I think that this approach is

possible

> but

> > not sure if it's practical. Would it be an oddity for an

> individual

> > to obtain certification with no practical experience? Could

it be

> > that it would be unlikely that one could even pass the exam

> without

> > some experience?

> >

> > Any thoughts appreciated.

> > Thanks in advance.

> >

> >

>

>