My STEP Signature Project was becoming nationally certified as a pharmacy technician. Over the course of the summer, I worked as a pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy. I spent 30 to 40 hours each week working hands on in the pharmacy gaining hands-on experience. I continued to develop skills in communication, customer service, patient interactions, problem solving, collaboration, and time management. In addition to my time spent in the pharmacy, I spent 5 to 10 hours each week studying for the PTCE, Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. I worked through calculations, test bank questions, and medication flashcards. At the end of the summer, I registered to take my PTCE on October 17, 2024.
Prior to my project, I began my work as a pharmacy technician trainee in May of 2023. I went through 120 days of extensive training and 40 hours of online training. In 2024, I took my registration exam and became registered with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. I knew I wanted to continue my education as a pharmacy technician and pursue a job where I could obtain direct patient care experience. Additionally, my work as a pharmacy technician has contributed to my continuing education at Ohio State. As a health sciences major, many of the classes I take involve patient care, education, medical terminology, etc. I have also been able to work towards completing my pharmaceutical sciences minor. The classes I have taken for my minor have aligned with my work experience and allowed me to apply pharmaceutical concepts in and outside of the classroom.
After passing my exam and earning my certification, I realized that there weren’t many certified pharmacy technicians my age. Most young adults retain careers in retail settings, food services, or have internships/careers pertaining to their major or interests. At the pharmacy I work at, I am one of three certified pharmacy technicians and also the youngest. Many of my coworkers have chosen not to pursue certification because of the exam’s difficulty and time commitment for studying. In addition to studying outside of work, technicians also have to obtain at least 300 hours of pharmacy experience prior to applying to take the exam. It made me realize that there were several potential barriers to take the exam in addition to being a college student enrolled in full credit hours. My understanding of myself has changed knowing that I can do hard things by empowering myself and using my resources. I have the ability to overcome obstacles that may come my way, some before they even happen. Becoming a certified pharmacy technician has also increased my confidence in my role and given it a greater sense of meaning. My work as a pharmacy technician is not merely counting and bottling pills, it is so much more than that. I have been able to form meaningful relationships with my managers, coworkers, and customers who have become regulars. I look forward to going into work knowing that what I’m doing matters and is making a difference in the life of someone else.
Throughout my work as a pharmacy technician, I have not come to know just the job I do, but the people I work with and interact with on a daily basis. I have been able to see firsthand the impact my work has on others. One story I will never forget from the summer was when a man came in to consultation. The man’s parents didn’t speak English, but they needed to learn how to apply and use a continuous glucose monitor. I talked to the man directly and he translated what I was saying to his parents. I was able to show the parents how to apply the monitor and download the app onto their phones. For about 30 minutes, I worked with the man and his parents. While someone else could’ve seen it as a mundane task, I was able to directly see the impact I was having on the man and his parents. I was able to not only teach them how to care for themselves, but how the man who could care for his parents if he needed to do so. I have had various patient interactions, positive, negative, and neutral. However, the only ones I remember are the positive ones. In addition to interacting with patients, I have been able to further my professional relationships with my managers and my coworkers. I have learned how to be a better collaborator, work with a team, and delegate/pick up tasks as needed to enhance productivity and workflow.
In addition to the relationships I have developed, earning my certification as a pharmacy technician has strengthened my skills and confidence. I have continued to excel in my work has a pharmacy technician with a greater understanding of patient care, safety, state laws, and how the pharmacy is run. My skill set has deepened and allowed me to complete tasks in an accurate and timely manner, communicate efficiently, contribute to a team, and collaborate well with others. Prior to my certification, I was not nearly as confident in my skills as I am now. I don’t need to rely on others for assistance or reassurance. With my certification, I have become more confident in my abilities and independent in my work.
My certification as a pharmacy technician has contributed to my academic goals. As a health sciences major with a pharmaceutical sciences minor, the pharmacy experience I have gained has allowed me to excel in my classes. I have a greater understanding of healthcare settings, how they work, patient care, patient safety, and patient education. In addition to understanding concepts, I have a deeper understanding of real world healthcare issues pertaining to pharmacy. Firsthand, I have been able to see how prescription drug costs and accessibility affect patients. It has inspired me to continue my work as a pharmacy technician and contribution to healthcare in the future. I am driven to be a part of the change in healthcare.
My coworker, Vicki, and I posing after our last shift together.
PTCE Certification
My pharmacist, Al, and I.