Anyone else working in a Pharmacy or interested in working in it?

[LoqT]

Just curious as to how many people here are involved in working at a pharmacy or may be going to school for it? I'm a pharmacy technician right now in Fresno CA in a chain supermarket. Only make about 15 dollars an hour (with time and a half on sunday) and I'm going to school and getting my pre-pharm requirements down so I can HOPEFULLY get into pharmacy school. I sure as hell hope that I can get in, making anywhere from 45-75 dollars (relief) an hour sounds MIGHTY tasty right now. Not to mention the shortage of pharmacists being the way it is it's a sure bet that there'll be demand for quite a while considering baby boomers are getting into their senior years.

Hope to get into UOP since its only 2 hours away from here. Anyone else considering the field?

 

[vi edit]

Do a search for "pharmacist"...there was a really long thread with a bunch of resident pharmacy student/professionals discussing things in there.

 

[Nightfall]

My wife is in the field. She is actually going back for her docterate in Pharmacy. It is no easy task. You are in school full time for many years, but you have a steady job in the end with great pay.

I would recommend it if you are dedicated.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: LoqT
Just curious as to how many people here are involved in working at a pharmacy or may be going to school for it? I'm a pharmacy technician right now in Fresno CA in a chain supermarket. Only make about 15 dollars an hour (with time and a half on sunday) and I'm going to school and getting my pre-pharm requirements down so I can HOPEFULLY get into pharmacy school. I sure as hell hope that I can get in, making anywhere from 45-75 dollars (relief) an hour sounds MIGHTY tasty right now. Not to mention the shortage of pharmacists being the way it is it's a sure bet that there'll be demand for quite a while considering baby boomers are getting into their senior years.

Hope to get into UOP since its only 2 hours away from here. Anyone else considering the field?

"Only" $15/hour? I get $6.75 (office cashier)..maybe I shouldu look for a store with a pharmacy.

How long does it take to get the degree? 4, 6, 8 years?

 

[LoqT]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: LoqT
Just curious as to how many people here are involved in working at a pharmacy or may be going to school for it? I'm a pharmacy technician right now in Fresno CA in a chain supermarket. Only make about 15 dollars an hour (with time and a half on sunday) and I'm going to school and getting my pre-pharm requirements down so I can HOPEFULLY get into pharmacy school. I sure as hell hope that I can get in, making anywhere from 45-75 dollars (relief) an hour sounds MIGHTY tasty right now. Not to mention the shortage of pharmacists being the way it is it's a sure bet that there'll be demand for quite a while considering baby boomers are getting into their senior years.

Hope to get into UOP since its only 2 hours away from here. Anyone else considering the field?

"Only" $15/hour? I get $6.75 (office cashier)..maybe I shouldu look for a store with a pharmacy.

How long does it take to get the degree? 4, 6, 8 years?

Yeah I make 15 an hour for a technician, which is pretty decent for where I'm from since minumum wage here is 6.75. Its pretty easy work though too.... but I got in because I was working in the grocery part of the store before (been with the same company for 4 and 1/2 years.) Pre pharmacy classes take about 2 years to complete, and if you go to the accelerated program available at places like UOP it takes an additional 3 years (with no break, only in August).

I originally was majoring in business, but after working in the pharmacy, I like what I do most of the time. Customers can be a pain and so can insurance companies, but its not that bad. I don't have to flip burgers for minimum wage thankfully, I just read Dr. shorthand and type up directions, call insurance companies, help customers find things, ring them up, and read magazines when it's slow. I like where I'm at, and I know the people really well now since I've been in the same place for so long.

 

[tcsenter]

How long does it take to get the degree? 4, 6, 8 years?

If I understand your question, you're asking how long it requires to become a Pharmacy Technician? It requires no formal 'degree', you can learn OJT or there are some diploma/vocational type programs that are several weeks long.

$15.00/hr is probably on the high end of the scale for a Pharmacy Technician. In many states/regions, you can expect to start-out at around $7.00 - $8.00/hr. My ex-GF was a Pharmacy Technician for the Meijer chain of department stores/supermarkets in Michigan and was only making around $10.80/hr after two years. Meijer was considered one of the better paying pharmacy chains.

 

[LoqT]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

How long does it take to get the degree? 4, 6, 8 years?

If I understand your question, you're asking how long it requires to become a Pharmacy Technician? It requires no formal 'degree', you can learn OJT or there are some diploma/vocational type programs that are several weeks long.

$15.00/hr is probably on the high end of the scale for a Pharmacy Technician. In many states/regions, you can expect to start-out at around $7.00 - $8.00/hr. My ex-GF was a Pharmacy Technician for the Meijer chain of department stores/supermarkets in Michigan and was only making around $10.80/hr after two years. Meijer was considered one of the better paying pharmacy chains.

I've had my license since october, and was certified in January which leaves me where I am now. I really depends on where you wanna work. Most retail pharmacies don't pay that well, I'm fortunate enough to work for a great company. Hospitals pay alot better, but they have greater volume so there isn't much room for breaks.

 

[Dznuts007]

I've been a pharmacist for 1½ years now. Went to UOP and graduated in 2001.
The money is good, but it's not all that. To tell you the truth, I'm already sick of my job. You're overworked due to the shortages. You're understaffed alot of times. I haven't gotten a lunch break in about a week and a half. Customers are a-holes, etc...

 

[Shockwave]

Anyone else working in a Pharmacy or interested in working in it?

Only for the drugs. At which point I would be prosecuted and jailed. Thus, no.

 

[LoqT]

Originally posted by: Dznuts007
I've been a pharmacist for 1½ years now. Went to UOP and graduated in 2001.
The money is good, but it's not all that. To tell you the truth, I'm already sick of my job. You're overworked due to the shortages. You're understaffed alot of times. I haven't gotten a lunch break in about a week and a half. Customers are a-holes, etc...

Given you aren't under contract you should do relief work. Either that or work in a hospital.... the people that come in that work in hospitals tell me their job is much more satisfying than working in a retail environment. I've heard that Rite Aid is notorious for understaffing though.

 

[Dznuts007]

I'm actually a floater for my district but for the past 3 weeks I've been placed at this one store which I can't stand. I was relieved to hear today that I'm not the only one that feels this way about that store...I'm really thinking of doing some other line of work or switching from a retail environment to maybe working for a drug company.