Becoming A Pharmacist Tips

Question: I’m a freshman in college and am already doing pre-pharmacy coursework.  What I would like to know is would it make sense to become a pharmacy technician so I could work in pharmacies during the summer and a bit during the year?

There’s a couple of roadblocks you’re going to have to deal with in this question. Let’s take them one-by-one.

Problem #1: Should You Get a Job While Trying To Get Into Pharmacy School?

Let’s face it, getting into pharmacy school is generally considered pretty tough to do. Granted, lots of students do it every year, but it is competitive and the curriculum is tough.

Now, since I don’t know you personally, I can’t comment on your abilities as to whether or not you can handle a job while tackling a demanding curriculum. So, you’ll have to dig deep and answer that question yourself. However, I am not afraid to tell you to tread lightly in this regard.

I’ve seen a number of otherwise promising students see their grades drop because they thought they had to work. Granted, some really did need the money. Most of them could have got by with a little better financial management (after all, if you consider a case of beer, a new snowboard and that pricey cell phone plan must haves then you may have a problem. OK, a case of beer may be a neccessity, but you get my point).

You need to really balance your time. I see too many students who are barely pulling a 3.0 GPA and think they have a great shot at getting into pharmacy school. Maybe, if you know the right people. But even that is pushing it.

Problem #2: The State You Will Be Working In Will Drive Your Decision

Just like pharmacy each state has different laws governing what is and is NOT a pharmacy technician. I mention this because it’s great to say you want to become a pharmacy technician to get a feel for what it’s like to work in a pharmacy. But some states have much more stringent standards about the hoops you have to jump through before you can work in a pharmacy.

You’ll have to do some research on your part and make the best decision there.

In short, I wouldn’t recommend it. Also, think about it from the employer’s point of view: if they want a pharmacy technician, they want somebody who is going to be there regular. Not hit or miss and someone who they know is going to fly the coup in a year.

However, you do have another option: why don’t you just ask a pharmacy to ‘intern’

Here’s something I did during my summer of my first year of pharmacy school. I worked 3 jobs. The first job was a regular 8 hour day shift. As soon as that shift was done I drove down to the local pharmacy and put in about 3 or 4 hours there. For free.

Did you catch that last part? Yes, for free.

I originally did that to get the hours for my intern license. But, if I had to do it again and was interested in the field of pharmacy I would not hesitate to approach a pharmacy and just make the offer that, “Hey, I’m really interested in becoming a pharmacist. Here’s what I propose: I’d like to come and work at your pharmacy for 50 or 100 hours (or whatever number you think is sufficient) over a few months. You don’t have to pay me. I’ll work hard and make it worth your while.”

All the pharmacy is going to hear is “I’ll work for free.”

Yeah, it sucks to work for free. I’m not going to lie to you. But, incidentally, I did get $500 at the end of my time on that second job. Granted, nothing to write home about. But they did ‘gift’ it to me in the form of a scholarship. So I got to put that little feather in my cap. Which, incidentally, may be a very smart thing to do and be able to put that on your pharmacy school application.

Just a thought.