Pharmacy Technician Jobs in California

Known nationwide to be one of the top employers in the healthcare industry, you can be assured that Pharmacy Technician jobs in California will likely be plentiful well into 2018.

However due to the impact the current economic crisis has had on the job market, employment prospects for Pharmacy Technicians jobs in California seems to have slowed a bit, even though available jobs outnumber  other states.  Job board participants looking for support are complaining about how difficult it is to even get an interview let alone land a job.  One likely explanation is that there seems to be many more applicants competing for available Pharmacy tech positions.  Also HR personnel are looking to fill Pharmacy technician job openings with candidates that have work experience.

It reminds me of the time when I had recently graduated from a Respiratory Therapist training program during the middle of the Doctor’s strike in January 1976. Try finding a job under those circumstances.  There were limited Respiratory Therapist job openings and wherever I attempted to submit my resume was met with the typical response from HR – “were only interviewing people with experience”.  The two months I had spent as an intern at a local hospital seemed to matter little.

So How Do You Get Work Experience If No One Will Hire You?

Frustrated by the hopelessness of my three month job search, I decided to call my instructor and asked if he would be willing to hire me.  After graduation, he had accepted a position as Director of the Respiratory Department at a major medical center in San Diego.  It meant that I would have to relocate from Los Angeles but under the circumstances I was more than willing to do so.

Sometimes that’s what it takes.  The relationships you develop with classmates and your instructor during your Pharmacy Technician training may help you later when you’re looking for your first job.   Maintain those connections and network with other pharmacy techs in your local area.  Job seekers may want to look into their local chapter of the California Pharmacist Association or the California Association of Health-System Pharmacists.  Both encourage pharmacy technicians to join and participate.  Don’t be afraid to ask for job leads or an introduction to a possible employer.

When researching how to become a Pharmacy Technician in California visit the website of State Board of Pharmacy.  They are going to be the best resource for finding out what requirements you’ll need to meet before you can start working.

How to Get a Pharmacy Technician Job in California

You will first need to register for a Pharmacy Technician license.  The California Board of Pharmacy website outlines the ways in which you can qualify for registration:

• Completion of an associate degree in Pharmacy Technology
• Completion of a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists or if the training is a non-accredited ASHP program it must include 240 hours of instruction that meet the standards established by the California Code of Regulations 1793.6 (c).  Additionally, the application must be signed and dated by a school representative and include the school seal and address.
• Training acquired through any branch of the military (applicants will need to supply a certified copy of their DD214)
• Graduate of an ACPE accredited School of Pharmacy
• attaining national certification through the PTCB

All the forms necessary to start the registration process can be found here.

California also requires applicants for Pharmacy Technician registration to submit their fingerprints and all applicable fees along with application.  Follow the directions for the application process to the letter – otherwise any “deficiencies” will only delay the registration process and your ability to attain a Pharmacy Technician job in CA.

Tips for Landing a Pharmacy Tech Job in California

The competition is keen for Pharmacy Technician jobs so you’ll want to make sure you have your resume in order.  Many people worry that they don’t have the experience employers are looking for.  Any related work experience such as customer service will be a plus in the pharmacy.  Experienced or not, the important thing is to tailor you resume around your strengths -  willingness to work hard with a positive attitude, attention to detail, team player, self-starter – all good buzz words to use in a resume for Pharmacy techs.

Now that you are licensed Pharmacy tech in California and have a polished resume in hand, you can begin you job search in earnest.  Start by signing up with the major job search engines like Indeed.com and Career Builder.  Set up job alerts so that when new Pharmacy Tech jobs become available you’ll be notified by email.

Resources for Your Pharmacy Technician Job Search in California

Check online for jobs listings on Craigslist and also the websites of all local hospitals and major drug retailers in your area.  Don’t forget your local unemployment office.  VA hospitals and county clinics and jails also employ pharmacy technicians.  Mail order and compounding pharmacies, drug distribution (McKesson) and insurance companies (Blue Shield/Blue Cross) are other good resources for Pharmacy tech jobs.  There are even hazardous waste management companies that hire pharmacy techs (Stericycle).

Historically the majority of Pharmacy techs are employed in retail, however techs who work in hospitals typically earn more than retail techs.  Pharmacy technicians employed in California and the west coast in general, earn substantially more than techs anywhere else in the United States.  Average salaries start at around $16-17 an hour for hospital techs.  Certified pharmacy technicians also typically earn more than non-certified technicians.

When I chose to begin my Pharmacy Technician training, I wanted to work in a hospital pharmacy.  I knew that hospitals paid more and provided better benefits and job stability.  I wanted to work in medicine and give back to the community but I wanted to do so behind the scenes.  I knew I would never be happy working in a retail setting doing face to face time with customers.   To accomplish my goals, I chose a pharmacy technician training program that also provided a hospital externship.  I was hired immediately after graduation and now as a certified pharmacy technician with over 14 years of experience working in a major teaching hospital in California, I can honestly say that I have never regretted my decision.

In this economy finding any job has become increasingly difficult.  As the Healthcare Reform Act takes effect in 2014, the prospects for pharmacy technician jobs in California will likely increase when an estimated 32 million people become insured.  However let’s hope our President and the members of Congress can come together and figure out how to create more jobs now.  Unemployed Americans can’t afford to wait until 2014.

Good luck in your search.