Nina Said:

pharmacy tech job questions?

We Answered:

I am actually interested in a career in department of corrections pharmacy myself. My boyfriend is moving out to California for an opportunity and one of the few people hiring in California right now is the dept of corrections because of a supreme court decision that said it is unconstitutional for them not to hire enough pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

I am going to school at http://www.quicktestprep.com/ and my instructor Tom King, who is a pharmacist, said that they would have to keep contact with the prisoners for pharmacy staff at zero because the pharmacy would have to be a very secure area by law since it contains drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, and other sought-after narcotics. Also, by law, pharmacy personnel can only dispense medication but cannot administer medication, with very few exceptions to this legal rule. These laws should mean that you'll have zero contact with the inmates. I double checked his answer online with a google search and it turns out that he is correct: http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/pharmacy… . However, as with any security system, it is only as good as the guards. Make sure to speak with some of the guards at the interview, ask for the phone numbers of some former pharmacy employees, and ask lots of questions at the interview. By law, it should be perfectly safe to work in a prison pharmacy as long as the guards are doing their jobs.

BTW, I'm very sorry that you're in pharmacy tech school but your instructor cannot answer a basic pharmacy law question. I bet the instructor who teaches most of your classes is not even a pharmacist (or is a retired pharmacist who has no clue about modern pharmacy practice). Most community colleges and vocational schools have what's known as a "pay cap" to cut costs in this tight economy. However, pharmacists make $50-60 per hour and I would be surprised to find any of these fine institutions paying any of their instructors this much money. If you are considering going to such a fine institution, I suggest that you do yourself a favor and ask them if a pharmacist will be teaching all your classes.

Yolanda Said:

Any opinions on working in the pharmacy field in Tucson, AZ? I don't have a high school degree yet? ?? to do?

We Answered:

HELLO future pharmacy employee!! I was a pharmacy technician for Fry's Food and Drug for 4 years when I lived in Tucson. You CAN work there before you are 18. You just can't work in the PHARMACY until you are 18. Once you are 18, and you graduate from High School, you can apply for a position in any pharmacy in the state of Arizona. You don't have to go to a pharmacy tech school to be a certified pharmacy technician. It helps to pass the certification exam, but it's not required.
Arizona is a state that does not require technicians to become certified. Most states are actually like that. If you DO become certified, try to get a job at Costco. They pay the best of any pharmacies in Arizona but you have to be certified to be hired there. Don't fret much. It is fun work and it's really rewarding. I have also worked in a hospital pharmacy. While it was a quiet change away from the public, it just wasn't for me. But, that is another option for you.Good luck and best wishes for your future career.

By the way, if you want to work at Fry's, try the store on Grant and Alvernon or Grant and First. They are almost always hiring.

Mabel Said:

Questions about college and pharmacy.....help?

We Answered:

If you are a senior in high school you are going to have to study at least 2 years in college with pre-pharmacy coursework before you can apply to pharmacy school. That means you will need to take your basic science courses (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc) and other prerequisites at another college and the earliest you will be able to apply to pharmacy school is Fall 2011. Sometime in two years you will need to take the PCAT and then apply to your pharmacy school. You should be able to get more information on preparing for the PCAT and applying to pharmacy school from your counselor at whichever college you study at this coming fall.

Good luck!

Kenneth Said:

I want to become a pharmacy techinician, is anyone out there in this career field?

We Answered:

Here is what you do: go to CVS or Riteaid or any local pharmacy (except walgreens they like having licensed techs) and apply for a job as a pharmacy tech.
They will hire you and train you on the job. And then after working so many hours they will give you a test (CVS does their own and the woman gave me the answers if I asked her about what the question was asking me) to become a licensed tech. Then you can study to take the national board test if you want (not required in every state but is something you can do to further a career as a pharm tech and get more money/pay).

In retail dont do it unless you are a good people person. You need to be able to type fast and accurate into computers all day. You have to be able to handle people screaming at you (customers) for no good reason. It can be a stressful job at a busy location. However once you become a nationally certified tech you can work at a hospital pharmacy which pays more and is less stressful.

Adrian Said:

how can i make successful career in medical field or pharmacy?

We Answered:

there are so many confusions first of all you state whether you are a doctor or pharmacist
then successful career also has got different meaning as successful in earning or a good name or really interested in doing service
unless you clearly state it will be difficult for answerers to answer