Re: Secrets of the PTCB Study Guide

March 22, 2007

YES I have seen it. Anything I could say would be considered 'bashing'

and let us just say that I am too much of a lady and professional. I

have never made such a statement about one e-book or book in all the

years that I have taught or been on my study group site. So take it

from there.

Trisha? You out there? You had a LOT to say about this to me in

private a while back. Anything you care to share?

Thanks

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

F/O

>

> Just out of curiosity,has anyone used or seen the book, " Secrets of

> the PTCB Study Guide " ? I found this website on the internet and it

> looks like it would be helpful.

>

> http://www.mo-media.com/ptcb/

>

> Was interested to see if anyone else had thought the same and given it

> a try. Let me know!!! Good luck to all who are testing and/or

> studying for the certification test.

>

> Bart

>

March 23, 2007

Jeanetta,

I'm afraid my input would fall in the same grouping as yours (bashing), but,

you asked for it...My computer is down again, so I have to keep it short and

I'll refine it a little from the email I sent you a while ago...

Every so often I search the web to see what's out there as far as tech

education and PTCB prep information go. There are a bazillion! I'm not saying

they are all bad. In fact some of the texts and workbooks available for tech

education are fantastic and, the authors very credible and highly respected in

their field. However, (Jeanetta) you know how I feel about the lack of

practical application of learning?!...I'm right there with you, babe!

Some of these sites are pretty smooth and convincing. People interested or

new to the Field may find these sites very appealing. The website that really

fired me up was the guy from Texas who offered a sure fire way to pass PTCB,

quick easy short cuts to passing the exam and becoming a Nationally Certified

Pharmacy... (He may even have a link to passing your 'be a certified car

salesmen...?!?!) I think it was around $80.00, if I remember right. The thing

that really annoyed me was that he offered the exact same sales pitch for about

50 other 'certification exams' (x-ray, vet-tech, etc... and not all were medical

certs either!) The only difference in each web site was that he substituted

" vet- tech " for " pharmacy tech " thru-out his pitch. He definitely had the gift

for gab because basically all he offered were test taking tips we've all heard

since grade school:

If you're choices (for multiple choice test answers) include 2 numbers that

are really similar, rule out the other answers because its probably on of the 2

that are similar.

If the answer contains 'always' or 'never' if probably not the correct choice.

And, of course, if all else fails, go with " C " ,

etc., etc., etc., ...

Be careful he was very eloquent!

Trish Buckland, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Educator

---------------------------------

Be a PS3 game guru.

Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Games.

March 24, 2007

I was saddened for the individuals who pay the money for this

particular program as I found the practice questions to be more for a

Pharmacy student preparing to take the Pharmacist exam. Over

one-half of the questions I obtained for study purposes (under the

table), would never be asked in the PTCB exam. Obviously the

individual reaping profits from marketing knows NOTHING about the PTCB

national exam. I could be more vocal, but it does get my goat finding

so many resources, but so little of them actually serving a useful

purpose.

Jeanetta has a good resource here and one that should be looked at

closely for those in preparing themselves for the national exam. She

has done her homework and adds that special ingredient called

" caring, " of which many simply look at dollar signs and nothing more.

Joe Medina, CPhT

March 24, 2007

Thank you for your input. Please read my posts back to Joe Medina.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder/Owner of this site

>

> >

>

> > Just out of curiosity,has anyone used or seen the book, " Secrets of

>

> > the PTCB Study Guide " ? I found this website on the internet and it

>

> > looks like it would be helpful.

>

> >

>

> > http://www.mo- media.com/ ptcb/

>

> >

>

> > Was interested to see if anyone else had thought the same and

given it

>

> > a try. Let me know!!! Good luck to all who are testing and/or

>

> > studying for the certification test.

>

> >

>

> > Bart

>

> >

>

> ------------ --------- --------- ---

>

> Don't pick lemons.

>

> See all the new 2007 cars at Autos.

>

March 24, 2007

Dear Joe,

It saddens me too that books have more than is necessary for passing

the PTCB exam, WHEN they are marketed for study/review for the PTCB

exam. I too hate this RIP OFF!

YET I do believe that MUCH more than the basics should be known by

technicians and that formal education is required instead of a simple

review book that anyone can read and pass. Also the information should

be of text book quality for such formal education. So I believe that

most likely I would think that more advanced material is acceptable

for a pharm tech program and especially in the future if/when we have

a nationalized standard that would require more than what the diploma

mills currently teach. I think then perhaps this more detailed

information that is not required for PTCB passng should be in that

curriculum and eventually in the PTCB test, upgrading it.

Until that time I too am saddened when people buy books that rip them

off ESPECIALLY with NOT enough information.

That is what I wanted to point out however, Joe. I think you MAY have

been trying to post back on the Pharmacy Trainer Thread instead of

THIS thread! Joe, from what I know " Secretes " only teaches one how

to take an exam, but does not truly teach them much about pharmacy OR

pharmacology.

Where as Pharmacy Trainer, if I understand your first hand knowledge

and what I know of its product and site, really does have pharmacy and

pharmacology information, but that it is advanced for the average or

new tech and it is most likely not material that is going to be on the

PTCB exam. Is this a correct view or am I now understanding your

opinion correctly.

Of the TWO I would RATHER see someone spend their money on MORE

information (Pharmacy Trainer), than NO information or a small amount

of information.

So Joe, if you want to place your reply to the 'Secrets' post over on

Pharmacy Trainer Thread and remove it from here, feel free and be my

guest. Afterwards I can remove this post if you like.

I think there may have been a bit of confusion trying to get back to

or find your original comment on PharmacyTrainer. I may be wrong.

Please feel free to correct me if I am.

In addition I would like to thank you for your kind words of my work.

My site is meant as a supplement to a good study guide book, NOT

necessarily a sole resource. However there are a few people who have

claimed that this site is all they have used, including some who have

never worked in pharmacy. The site takes a lot of surfing and maneuvering.

It is important for those studying who are reading this to KNOW that

there IS BASIC pharmacology on the PTCB exam. Nothing said here is to

be misinterpreted that you do not have to study it, because you do.

But it is a small portion of the exam comparitively to math and law.

Respectfully to Joe Medina,

Joe if I have mispoken for you or if you have found something that I

and Trish have not please inform us.

If you feel the need to carry this on private email first please feel

free.

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder/Owner of this site

>

> I was saddened for the individuals who pay the money for this

> particular program as I found the practice questions to be more for a

> Pharmacy student preparing to take the Pharmacist exam. Over

> one-half of the questions I obtained for study purposes (under the

> table), would never be asked in the PTCB exam. Obviously the

> individual reaping profits from marketing knows NOTHING about the PTCB

> national exam. I could be more vocal, but it does get my goat finding

> so many resources, but so little of them actually serving a useful

> purpose.

>

> Jeanetta has a good resource here and one that should be looked at

> closely for those in preparing themselves for the national exam. She

> has done her homework and adds that special ingredient called

> " caring, " of which many simply look at dollar signs and nothing more.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

March 24, 2007

Thank you for your input. I think I will put together a survey

if I can in the near future too. These are two very good books from

what I know of them.

Again I think more discussion before the aquestions is a bit in order,

which is why I still recommend Joe Medina's and Noah Reifman's books.

May I quote you in a testimonial section for study guide

recommendations that I plan to make in the near future?

Thank you,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

F/O

>

> >

>

> > Just out of curiosity,has anyone used or seen the book, " Secrets of

>

> > the PTCB Study Guide " ? I found this website on the internet and it

>

> > looks like it would be helpful.

>

> >

>

> > http://www.mo- media.com/ ptcb/

>

> >

>

> > Was interested to see if anyone else had thought the same and

given it

>

> > a try. Let me know!!! Good luck to all who are testing and/or

>

> > studying for the certification test.

>

> >

>

> > Bart

>

> >

>

> ------------ --------- --------- ---

>

> Don't pick lemons.

>

> See all the new 2007 cars at Autos.

>

March 24, 2007

Hi Jeanetta,

Did not mean to confuse you.

Pharmacy Trainer actually is the book that I use in my Review Class

along with my Review Manual. This way the student gets two

perspectives in material learned. Pharmacy Trainer by Mark Greenwald,

R.Ph., does tend to have more information and more detail than

necessary or required for one taking the PTCB national exam.

The Secrets of taking the PTCB exam is another entity in itself of

which the author markets it as the only thing you need to pass the

PTCB exam. Truth be told, the information contained in this review

series is simply not applicable for the Pharmacy Technician studying

for the PTCB exam as over one-half of the practice questions were more

geared for a student studying to take the Pharmacist or NAPLEX exam.

I would think those who purchase this product would become extremely

anxious as it is much too technical in nature as far as Pharmacology

is concerned. It is obvious the one selling this book know nothing

about the PTCB exam.

As for study material....yes.....an inundation of information is okay

especially if we are talking about formal education....but for one

simply wanting to pass the national exam....an inundation of

unnecessary information is not very helpful.

I suppose I would be biased to suggest my own review manual, but hey I

have taken the exam several times and my score(s) reflects that maybe

my review manual has some merit in helping one pass the national exam.

Joe Medina, CPhT

March 25, 2007

Well I am GLAD to know that your program does teach more than what is

required for the PTCB exam. Your program is somewhere between a PTCB

prep course and a full pharm tech program from what little I know of it.

But I do see that we agree that for the PTCB exam, as it is NOW, does

not ask questions that would warrent someone to study as in depth as

what you know of the Pharmacy Trainer.

Thank you for clarifying this.

Respectfully

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

F/O

>

> Hi Jeanetta,

>

> Did not mean to confuse you.

>

> Pharmacy Trainer actually is the book that I use in my Review Class

> along with my Review Manual. This way the student gets two

> perspectives in material learned. Pharmacy Trainer by Mark Greenwald,

> R.Ph., does tend to have more information and more detail than

> necessary or required for one taking the PTCB national exam.

>

> The Secrets of taking the PTCB exam is another entity in itself of

> which the author markets it as the only thing you need to pass the

> PTCB exam. Truth be told, the information contained in this review

> series is simply not applicable for the Pharmacy Technician studying

> for the PTCB exam as over one-half of the practice questions were more

> geared for a student studying to take the Pharmacist or NAPLEX exam.

> I would think those who purchase this product would become extremely

> anxious as it is much too technical in nature as far as Pharmacology

> is concerned. It is obvious the one selling this book know nothing

> about the PTCB exam.

>

> As for study material....yes.....an inundation of information is okay

> especially if we are talking about formal education....but for one

> simply wanting to pass the national exam....an inundation of

> unnecessary information is not very helpful.

>

> I suppose I would be biased to suggest my own review manual, but hey I

> have taken the exam several times and my score(s) reflects that maybe

> my review manual has some merit in helping one pass the national exam.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

March 25, 2007

Hi Joe,

I am responding to the two different issues in your posted reply in

two different responses:

Joe I have been asking others WHAT books THEY have used in order to

update my study guide review. I have not made a post of my own

suggestions in a long time. You may or may not know that in my current

study guide review document in the file section I actually recommend

the combination of your book along with that of Noah Reifman. And I

explain why in that document. However MANY members and educators have

asked me to update this document via posts and via private email,

because the document is old by some opinion, even though it is about 3

yrs old.

This time I felt it would be best to get the testimonials from the

members, NOT just me and the educators. I will be compiling the

information as I get it all.

Some have emailed me privately and I am asking them if I can use their

names in the testimonials. So far everyone has said yes.

Your book has always been a top recommendation of mine for a

studyguide review book for the PTCB exam. And because of this you have

been allowed to advertise it 4 times a year per my policy.

Feel free to do so.

As for me I thought it was common knowledge via my recommendations on

that document that I recommend your book, however I did not want t

taint the responses of others.

Thank you again for your membership and informative posts to this site,