Working as a Pharmacy Technician in VA: Plz help

[missionibt]

Dear All,

I passed my fpgee, but stucked with IBT. In the meantime, I wanna gain some working experience by working in a pharmacy. My bad luck, VA board of pharmacy changes the previous rule of intern license so they need FPGEC in order to issuse an intern license. I tried to work as a pharm tech, but came to know that even to work as a tech, we need license... OHh God, what am I suppose to do. Plz anyone here in VA suggest me. Is it worth to apply for Technician license? I have a valid work permit.

I even tried to inquire about the DC rules, but unable to obtain info through their website. Anybody knows about DC??

Plz guide me friends.
Thanks in an advance.

[jane2238]

Applying for an intern license in VA is no big deal!

In VA you only need to take the state tech exam after you have been working for 6-9 months. I work for CVS. Go into a store whose pharmacy is open 24 hours (in other words a busy store that is always looking for staff) and speak to the pharmacist about a tech job and that you will soon be a pharmacy intern. Even if they can't help you they can tell you a district manager who can. At CVS you just have to fill out an online application in the store. CVS does all the technician training as you are working. Hopefully you will have your FPGEC before you even have to take your technician exam. The good thing then is that if you are working you can easily change to an intern license and continue your internship with the same company. Unfortunately as VA has changed it rules your tech hours will not count towards your intern hours until you have your FPGEC and your intern license.

DC also requires FPGEC before internship.

By the way techs get paid around $10 per hour.

[missionibt]

Originally Posted by jane2238

Applying for an intern license in VA is no big deal!

In VA you only need to take the state tech exam after you have been working for 6-9 months. I work for CVS. Go into a store whose pharmacy is open 24 hours (in other words a busy store that is always looking for staff) and speak to the pharmacist about a tech job and that you will soon be a pharmacy intern. Even if they can't help you they can tell you a district manager who can. At CVS you just have to fill out an online application in the store. CVS does all the technician training as you are working. Hopefully you will have your FPGEC before you even have to take your technician exam. The good thing then is that if you are working you can easily change to an intern license and continue your internship with the same company. Unfortunately as VA has changed it rules your tech hours will not count towards your intern hours until you have your FPGEC and your intern license.

DC also requires FPGEC before internship.

By the way techs get paid around $10 per hour.

Hey, Thanks for ur info. I tried to call and went to the pharmacies even for the job, but no success. They said me to apply online, I did so. But no response till today. I'll try again. BTW, where are u located?? Would you mind giving me the info about CVS, and the contact no. of PDM?
Thanks for the information.