Help with a tough decision..

[André]

Hello everyone,

My name is André, and I am currently a Pharmacy Technician, BTEC and NVQ qualified.
I really love Pharmacy as it is all I have done since leaving school (7 years) I have experience of unlicensed extemporaenous manufacturing, aseptic & retail/community experience.
I am now thinking about doing my Pharmacy degree and becoming a Pharmacist.

My question is: I currently earn £20k - To go to University will cost in the region of 20k plus.

The majority of Pharmacists I know earn in the region of 36 to 50k.
Is it worth 5 years of my life doing my degree and putting myself in debt - when I have seen Pharmacy Tech Locum jobs going for £16-20 an hour and some for £25 an hour..
So if I work out the time it would take to pay back a student loan, I probably could of saved the money and landed a decent locum job which meant I never needed to become a Pharmacist in the first place as the money is pretty similar, but not guaranteed at the moment.. and if I am repaying back a loan anyways, I am not essentially earning a full pharmacist wage - might be closer to a tech locum one..?

I'm just a little confused with making this decision.. as my predicament is, do I spend money funding my degree.. or do I just work as a locum and earn near enough a pharmacists wage?.. It appears the role of the Pharmacy Technician is expanding anyways, and obviously with more responsibilities comes a higher salary..

I could be better off just completing my ACT's course and working locum part time as well as my full time employment...although I really would love to become a Pharmacist.. I do not know if it is economically viable in my situation..

Please let me know what you guys would do/recommend.

Thanks in advance guys!

[crit care]

depends how badly you want to become a pharmacist? its not all down to money at the end of the day! if you are really that passionate about becoming a pharmacist, then they money issues wouldn't be an issue....paying back student loans come out of your salary anyway, so your barely notice it!

its a decision only you can make, don't make the mistake of not pursuing your dream and then regretting it later on thinking..."what if...." there is nothing stopping you working whilst you are at uni continuing doing your locuming for extra ££££

[André]

Yeah, I think I will get into locuming first of all, then go to University - it's just I am also weighing up the idea of getting a mortgage.. If I can locum and earn enough, then I will do that and still go to university.. or there is always the mature student option.. but I just don't know right now :-s

[dizzyb23]

Hi Andre. This is just my simple opinion. I had an amazing and very wise friend who sadly passed away a few years ago and even now I miss his help and support in all areas of my life. He once told me that if you are in a position to, always aim higher. And although money is important to a point, it is not the be all and end all and he has been so right. If you can spend the time and money to become a Pharmacist, then I truly can't think of anything more worthwhile. If you read my previous postings, you'll see that I moan about Pharmacy most days but I love this profession it's just that many people f*** it up. If I could manage it, I would go for the Pharmacy degree tomorrow but i'm not in a position to do this.
Again, just my opinion.....

[Defblade]

If you can get a pharmacy tech job at £25/hr, you're doing better than me as a pharmacist. So I'd skip the degree and just do that.... in fact, can you post those jobs up for me?

[johnep]

These would be hospital jobs.
johnep

[culchie82]

I wouldn't imagine those £25 per hour technician jobs would be all that plentiful, but if you can get that I wouldn't bother with the degree.

[Pharmanaut]

If you want to do the MPharm, Do the ACT and then locum while you are studying.
You could fit at least sat or sunday in, and possibly another evening.

Do the ACT first and see if you are comfortable with the responsibility?

[André]

Hi most of the well paid Locuming jobs are down south, but can be found on google if you just type it in.

I appreciate all of your responses guys, you have helped me out a lot, with things to consider.

Thanks

[Pharmanaut]

Balance the well paid job in the south with the cost of living and traveling time.