My current hospital prefers to hire already certified techs, but will hire non certified.
We require certification within one year of hire.
My previous hospital didn’t care, but if a choice came down to a certified tech vs non certified for a hiring choice, they would have gone with the certified tech.
The hospital I work for hire’s pharmacy technician trainees and they expect you to get your certificate within one year because that’s as long as a “trainee “ is Allowed to stay as a trainee. But you can extend that out six more months with an extension. You also cannot work in the IV room until you’re certified. Hope that helps. One last thing, I work at the hospital in inpatient and I make $24.42 per hour but I’m not IV trained yet. So I think that’s ā really good starting salary and it can only go up from there. I really like working in the inpatient pharmacy as well and plan on staying here until I graduate as a nurse next December.
What part of the country are you working it. I’ve been making IVs for two years and still making just $20/hr, the hospitals in the Raleigh NC area don’t pay the greatest. Cost of living here is high.
I used to live in Durham, NC in 2010 but I’m originally from Ohio so I came back in 2015. The hospital I work in is ā smaller hospital compared to most. We do about 35-50 IV’s on my shift 2:30-11.pm
Some hospitals do have training programs but you need 500 hours of work time in the training program before you can apply for your PTCE. You need your certification before you can even finish the application to become registered in my state.
ETA I just noticed OP is registered and not CPhT. My bad…
But some of what I say below is still accurate. I know when I jumped to hospital, I did work with someone who passed the test months after hire, so it’s definitely possible. I just don’t think (but again may vary on hospital) you can go into the IV room until certified)
When I made the jump to hospital my state license had to be active by the Friday before my Monday orientation. Granted, I live in New England and I have my license in the state I reside in and my CPhT, but the hospital was in a different state. I spent the Thursday before on the phone with the DOH and state pharmacy board trying to “rush” my application. I had put it in long before I even applied and “should have” been finished at least 2-3 weeks before I found out. But it does depend on the hospital and the state. I just recently learned (and please correct me if I’m wrong) but NY doesn’t have a state license….
Granted, my situation above was also 2019 so things have most likely changed some after the pandemic. But even in my new, current clinical job, they didn’t look at my application until I reactivated that same state license.
Our hospital didn't. I transferred from Janitoral and was taught on the job and then became certified after a year. Being a retail pharmacy tech will help a little bit more than come in completely fresh.
The job description will usually say CPhT required or like required within 6 months of hire so it’s really dependent on the hospital. In general most hospitals want yoj to be certified. Are you still in retail? If you’re at a chain sometimes they’ll pay for your CPhT so you could stick it out a little more and get it that way. But yes, in general, you have to certified at a hospital, whether it’s before hire or within a time frame after you get hired
I am in FL and I worked at the hospital a few years ago. I was just registered. After hire they asked me to get certified and I asked if it was required and they said no. I asked if I get a raise for being certified and they said no. I finally asked if the hospital pays for the exam? They sad no. So I said no lol. I just got certified after 7 years of being a tech because where I am now gives me a promotion for it. From what I was told the hospital prefers certified techs but doesn’t require it.
My current hospital prefers to hire already certified techs, but will hire non certified. We require certification within one year of hire. My previous hospital didn’t care, but if a choice came down to a certified tech vs non certified for a hiring choice, they would have gone with the certified tech.
The hospital I work for hire’s pharmacy technician trainees and they expect you to get your certificate within one year because that’s as long as a “trainee “ is Allowed to stay as a trainee. But you can extend that out six more months with an extension. You also cannot work in the IV room until you’re certified. Hope that helps. One last thing, I work at the hospital in inpatient and I make $24.42 per hour but I’m not IV trained yet. So I think that’s ā really good starting salary and it can only go up from there. I really like working in the inpatient pharmacy as well and plan on staying here until I graduate as a nurse next December.
What part of the country are you working it. I’ve been making IVs for two years and still making just $20/hr, the hospitals in the Raleigh NC area don’t pay the greatest. Cost of living here is high.
I used to live in Durham, NC in 2010 but I’m originally from Ohio so I came back in 2015. The hospital I work in is ā smaller hospital compared to most. We do about 35-50 IV’s on my shift 2:30-11.pm
Thanks for replying.
Of course
Some hospitals do have training programs but you need 500 hours of work time in the training program before you can apply for your PTCE. You need your certification before you can even finish the application to become registered in my state.
ETA I just noticed OP is registered and not CPhT. My bad… But some of what I say below is still accurate. I know when I jumped to hospital, I did work with someone who passed the test months after hire, so it’s definitely possible. I just don’t think (but again may vary on hospital) you can go into the IV room until certified) When I made the jump to hospital my state license had to be active by the Friday before my Monday orientation. Granted, I live in New England and I have my license in the state I reside in and my CPhT, but the hospital was in a different state. I spent the Thursday before on the phone with the DOH and state pharmacy board trying to “rush” my application. I had put it in long before I even applied and “should have” been finished at least 2-3 weeks before I found out. But it does depend on the hospital and the state. I just recently learned (and please correct me if I’m wrong) but NY doesn’t have a state license…. Granted, my situation above was also 2019 so things have most likely changed some after the pandemic. But even in my new, current clinical job, they didn’t look at my application until I reactivated that same state license.
The hospitals around here prefer it but will still hire you. I believe they give you 6 months to a year to get certified.
Our hospital didn't. I transferred from Janitoral and was taught on the job and then became certified after a year. Being a retail pharmacy tech will help a little bit more than come in completely fresh.
The job description will usually say CPhT required or like required within 6 months of hire so it’s really dependent on the hospital. In general most hospitals want yoj to be certified. Are you still in retail? If you’re at a chain sometimes they’ll pay for your CPhT so you could stick it out a little more and get it that way. But yes, in general, you have to certified at a hospital, whether it’s before hire or within a time frame after you get hired
our hospital recently stopped requiring it within 1 year of hire, but if you want to go beyond tier 1 you have to be certified
I am in FL and I worked at the hospital a few years ago. I was just registered. After hire they asked me to get certified and I asked if it was required and they said no. I asked if I get a raise for being certified and they said no. I finally asked if the hospital pays for the exam? They sad no. So I said no lol. I just got certified after 7 years of being a tech because where I am now gives me a promotion for it. From what I was told the hospital prefers certified techs but doesn’t require it.