How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health (2024)

A pharmacy technician isn't just a person with a white coat who stands behind the counter and fills medical prescriptions.

This may be the popular picture that comes to mind when some hear the term pharmacy technician, but the reality is that this important position is often on the frontlines of helping people through the various ups and downs of life.

Those who pursue a career as a pharmacy technician quickly become a friendly and trusted face in their communities as they put people on the path to better health.

CVS Health is currently hiring for both full and part-time pharmacy technicians across the country, and if you're trying to figure out if it could be the right career fit, here are some facts to consider:

3 Benefits Of A Career As A Pharmacy Technician At CVS

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health (1)

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A Chance to Make a Difference - Pharmacy techs are extremely valuable resources to customers who have questions about their medications, how much medicine they need to take, when they'll start to feel better, and other medical matters. Sometimes the calming and reassuring voice of a pharmacy technician can be a comfort to a customer going through a health crisis. It's not unusual for pharmacy techs and customers to be on a first-name basis, especially at the retail level.

Pharmacy technicians are also sometimes advocates as they work with doctors, insurance companies, and various CVS Health programs to help customers in need of financial assistance. Those who advance in the field have a chance to work with patients on a more personal level.

Geographic Flexibility - With almost 10,000 retail locations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, job seekers have a great opportunity to find a pharmacy tech position close to where they live, or where they may want to live. It's nice to have options!

Entry Into the Healthcare Profession - There is a growing demand to fill positions in healthcare jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15% in the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs.

Whether you're a student studying medicine, a professional looking to break into the field, or just someone looking to make a career change, a pharmacy technician job is a great starting point.

There are many areas to grow just within the pharmacy tech field, but beyond that professionals have options for advancing their careers at CVS Health. Many with prominent careers at CVS Health have started as pharmacy technicians (more on that later). Some pharmacy technicians may also go on to work elsewhere in the medical/healthcare field.

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health (2)

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Those who apply for a pharmacy technician job must be at least 16 years old. Job seekers applying without any previous experience should research state licensing requirements by visiting their state's board of pharmacy website or by talking with the hiring manager.

There are no pharmacy technician license requirements in the states of Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

Most other states require registration at their boards of pharmacy and the completion of a pharmacy technician training program or certification. Fortunately, CVS Health has a program that meets the requirements of an accredited pharmacy training program.

Candidates selected for pharmacy technician jobs at CVS Health have to complete the company's pharmacy training program, LearnRx. This 120-day program teaches new pharm techs customer service skills, the business of pharmacy, patient safety, pharmacy workflow, and inventory.

Those who take part in the LearnRx program will have a strong support structure in place that includes the pharmacy manager, high-performing pharmacy technicians who double as coaches, and field colleague trainers.

Pharmacy Technician Roles At CVS Health

Pharmacy technician roles at CVS Health break down into the following categories.

Retail Pharmacy Technicians - Retail pharmacy technicians are very community-oriented as they often interact with the most people and are the first point of contact for patients getting their prescriptions and other medical needs met. Being a retail pharm tech is a great opportunity for an individual looking to mix their passions and expertise with customer service.

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technicians - These positions could be a great opportunity for individuals looking to work in medical settings.

Omnicare long-term care pharmacy technicians provide much-needed care to those in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and chronic care settings by assisting with medication dispensing, medication orders, and helping with several other customer service matters.

Through Omnicare, an industry-leading long-term care pharmacy services provider, you have the chance to provide compassionate, supportive care to patients throughout the continuum of care.

Mail, Specialty, and PBM - Managed care pharmacy technicians for the company's pharmacy benefit management and mail-order business with CVS Caremark use innovative technology to provide high-quality care.

These pharm techs help patients understand and manage prescriptions. Job seekers interested in one of these specialty positions have a unique opportunity to maximize the efficiency of one of the most sophisticated pharmacy management systems in the industry.

How To Grow Your Career At CVS Health

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Once you're part of the company, CVS Health not only gives its employees the tools to become the best pharmacy technicians possible but options to grow their careers.

All pharmacy technicians are encouraged to become nationally certified, and CVS Health offers additional classes and materials to help colleagues study for the national exam. The company will also sponsor eligible colleagues to take the exam by covering the cost of the exam. In states where ASHP/ACPE is required, CVS Health has an extended program to meet those needs and provide colleagues with the deeper level of knowledge necessary to satisfy the requirement.

Many pharmacy technicians that stay with CVS Health often further their skills to become a coach, inventory specialist, lead technician, or even a field colleague trainer.

Others have gone on to pursue different roles at CVS Health, including Matt DeSilva, who started as a pharmacy technician in 2004 and now serves as the company's manager of real estate and acquisitions.

"I was originally going to school to be a pharmacist, so I figured getting some store-level experience before college was a great start. When I ended up graduating with an economics degree instead, it was great to have that experience because it led to many more opportunities within the company," DeSilva says. "I liked that CVS Health is a big company with experience in different areas of health care, but also that going to your local CVS Pharmacy felt like they truly care about you."

Marquesha Atkism served as a staging pharmacy technician and pharmacy technician from 2012-2013, and now serves as the company's manager of account management for senior living.

"I began as a staging technician and quickly realized there was an opportunity to grow within the company," Atkism says. "The most exciting part of working for CVS Health is the opportunity to learn and grow within the company. CVS Health's culture makes staying with the company easy and ideal."

Benefits And Perks Of Working At CVS Health

CVS Health has built a strong reputation for its company culture and has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for seven consecutive years.

Three major areas that CVS Health builds its company culture around are creating an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, maintaining talent that wants to grow with the company, and corporate social responsibility. The company is also committed to hiring veterans and has an award-winning internship program to help students break into the healthcare field.

Other Benefits and Perks of Working at CVS Health:

  • Robust health benefits, including free health screenings and immunizations
  • Health and wellness programs
  • Employee stock purchase program
  • Parental leave/adoption coverage/assistance
  • Career growth programs
  • Merchandise discounts from CVS/pharmacy
  • Education reimbursem*nt
  • Employee assistance program

Pharmacy Technician Jobs Near Me

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health (4)

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Are you interested in a pharmacy technician career at CVS Health? Visit the company's pharmacy technician page to learn more about these exciting career opportunities.

CVS Health is also currently seeking entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians to join their COVID-19 Support Team.

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How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health (2024)

FAQs

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health? ›

As a new Pharmacy Technician, you are required to complete an extensive CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program as well as satisfy all registration, licensing and certification requirements ...

What is the highest pay for CVS pharmacy tech? ›

Cvs Pharmacy Tech Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$48,000$4,000
75th Percentile$42,500$3,541
Average$40,074$3,339
25th Percentile$35,000$2,916

How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician in California? ›

Completing at least 240 hours of coursework that meets the requirements that Title 16 California Code of Regulation section 1793.6(c) specifies. Completing a training course with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)

What are the requirements to be a pharmacy technician in Texas? ›

Eligibility Requirements

A pharmacy technician applicant must have the following: A high school diploma, equivalent diploma (e.g., GED), or be working to achieve a high school diploma or equivalent for no more than two years; Current certification from a Board-approved pharmacy technician certification exam.

How to be a pharmacy tech in Florida? ›

Process
  1. Apply for Registered Pharmacy Technician. Ensure that all fields are completed as instructed. ...
  2. Complete a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program and submit a certificate of completion for the program. Official transcripts, copies of diplomas, and copies of certificate of completions are acceptable.

Which store pays pharmacy technicians the most? ›

Top companies for Pharmacy Technicians in United States
  • AIDS Healthcare Foundation. 4.1 $22.36per hour. 549 reviews29 salaries reported.
  • HEB. 4.2 $19.95per hour. 11,355 reviews17 salaries reported.
  • RPh on the Go. 4.0 $19.93per hour. ...
  • Safeway. 3.3 $19.50per hour. ...
  • Amazon Pharmacy. 3.1 $19.15per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.

What color scrubs do CVS pharmacy techs wear? ›

Do CVS Pharmacy Techs Wear Scrubs? When pharmacy technicians are first hired at CVS, they are allowed to wear business casual attire until their blue scrubs come in. Front personnel wears black jeans or dress pants and a blue polo shirt.

What is the hourly rate for a pharmacy technician in California? ›

As of Jun 3, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Pharmacy Technician in California is $17.12 an hour.

Can you work as a pharmacy technician without being certified in California? ›

To become a pharmacy technician in California, you must be licensed by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Becoming licensed involves education, training and completing a detailed application.

How much does a pharmacy tech make at Walmart in California? ›

Average Walmart Certified Pharmacy Technician hourly pay in California is approximately $22.15, which is 18% above the national average.

Is the PTCB exam hard? ›

The pharmacy technician exam can be challenging, so completing a preparation course is highly recommended. The pass rate for the pharmacy technician certification exam is 71%.

Which pharmacy tech certification is best? ›

Top Pharmacy Tech Certifications
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) ...
  • Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) ...
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) ...
  • Certified Medication Technician (CMT) ...
  • Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPhT) ...
  • Certified IV Technician. ...
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification (ExCPT)

Can I work as a pharmacy technician without license in Texas? ›

To perform the duties of a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee, an individual must have an ACTIVE registration with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP).

How old are most pharmacy technicians? ›

The workforce of Pharmacy technicians in 2022 was 398,563 people, with 78.4% woman, and 21.6% men. The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 20 to 24 years (72,937 people), 25 to 29 years (67,344 people), and 30 to 34 years (58,804 people).

How much does a CVS pharmacy tech make in Florida? ›

Cvs Pharmacy Tech Salary in Florida
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$35,870$2,989
75th Percentile$31,800$2,650
Average$28,711$2,392
25th Percentile$26,200$2,183

What is the youngest age to be a pharmacy tech? ›

Pharmacy Technician License Overview

You have to be 17 (Florida, Georgia, Maryland) or 18 years old (most other states) to get your pharmacy technician license in most states. A pharmacy technician license is different from a certification.

What is the highest paying pharmacy technician job? ›

Highest-Paying Pharmacy Technician Jobs
  • 1) Pharmacy Technician Informaticist. ...
  • 2) Pharmacy Technician Program Director. ...
  • 3) Pharmacy Technician Level III. ...
  • 4) Pharmacy Technician Level II. ...
  • 5) Pharmacy Technician Instructor. ...
  • 6) Hospital Pharmacy Technician. ...
  • 7) Pharmacy Technician Level I. ...
  • 8) Compound Pharmacy Technician.

What CVS makes the most money? ›

CVS's Health Services segment — which includes its PBM CVS Caremark — now accounts for more than half of CVS's total revenue.

How much does a CVS pharmacy tech make in California? ›

How much does a Cvs Pharmacy Tech make in California? As of May 29, 2024, the average hourly pay for the Cvs Pharmacy Tech jobs category in California is $19.27 an hour.

How much does CVS pay starting out in Florida? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $13.65 and as low as $5.75, the majority of Cvs Cashier salaries currently range between $8.46 (25th percentile) to $11.49 (75th percentile) in Florida.

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