How do i get a place on an NVQ course in pharmacy services?

[fayeandash]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum, so sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I am very interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, and just wondered how i go about getting a place on course, i went to college when i left school and passed an advanced GNVQ in science, but did nothing with this, would this be an advantage to getting on a course?
I am in lancashire and any info on courses or jobs with train would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Faye x

[welshoney]

hi welcome to the forum
I work in a pharmacy and progressed from counter staff to dispensing assistant to dispenser to now nearly qualified technician, and did on the job training and distance learniing courses through work.
you woud have to gain some experience through working in a pharmacy.
I'm not sure of any other route you can go , maybe some one else might be able to hep you
good luck

[Web Ferret]

Faye
You need to get a job in a pharmacy then get put on the course, you'll have to start on a low wage and work hard but you can progress with the right company and then get £10 an hour once you are qualified if you are good and work hard.

Leyland - I grew up near there!

[fraser]

I applied for the job of student tech at the local hospital, being put through Technical Certificate and SVQ level 3 (Scottish NVQ equivalent) via distance learning run by buttercups.

[laura/nottingham]

Hi

I am doing the Buttercups course, Buttercups is in Nottingham, however so am I, but learning is all distant.Its pretty easy and I am well ahead of target as they have told me I can complete early.

It is two qualifications, BTEC and NVQ 3 in pharmacy services. Also a Employee rights and regs workbook and key skills to complete. If you have acheived C or above in maths and english in the last X amount of years, then you don't have to do the key skills, like me.

You have to do at least 14 hours in a pharmacy setting, either hospital or community.

Also check out for vacancies in your local hospitals, this is normally time they advertise for student pharmacy technicians.

Anything else, just ask.

Laura

[fraser]

Laura above explained it better than I ever could

Look into Pharmacy Assistant positions at hospitals too, it seems a lot of our technicians and student techs. started as assistants and the powers that be like to recruit from the assistant pool.

I got the student tech. position and came from a completely unrelated field however so certainly apply for technician jobs, a solid background in science and a good interview are enough to land you the job.

Good luck!

[laura/nottingham]

Glad I explained it good for you!

Unfortunately, I went for a student tech job at a hospital, totally not had no experience in a Pharmacy, schools in fact. Personally I think what let me down was my diabetes and my attendance in the job before and college (having to give it up) didn't make me successful. The interviewer said it was close, but didn't have enough posts to take me on. I was really wanting that but I am in comunity now, doing the buttercups course and I can move on when I'm qualified. Its a national qualification that can let you work in hospitals, community, prison, Ministry of Defence.

Have you started the job and course yet then?? I looked into going from an assistant, but if it is possible going straight into technician, then the assitant bit was useless.

I think I will actually end up doing the MCA course once I'm qualified, I have no clue when I sell OTC stuff. Lol

Are you interested in the ACT (Accredited Checking Technician)?

You on a rubbish apprenticeship wage at the moment?? I'm on 80 pound a week, only work 3 days though. Can't wait to qualify and get like 10 pound an hour.

Fayandash - if you go on the buttercups course, then don't hesitate to ask. Although sometimes I get stuck too.

[fraser]

I've heard similar from assistants I work with who were turned down for student tech positions - lord knows why I was offered the post, I've only a basic background in biology from university and prior to this worked as a welder!

I've been working in hospital since October, we do rotation and already I've worked in the childrens hospital in a dispensary and clinical role, now I'm in the main hospital working in dispensary. I've started the BTEC and will start the NVQ in April apparently.

The salary isn't bad, its 70% of Band 4 in the 1st year and 75% in the second - works out to around £1200 a month for a 1st year student technician. £80 a week is robbery! I do know that's the going rate for apprentices though so you have my sympathy, it seems wages for student techs in hospitals vary between trusts but they have to follow this agenda for change pay scale thing which at least assures you the same wage as everyone else when you're qualified.

I am definitely interested in being an ACT, apparently this will be offered to us once we have been qualified for over a year and the need arises to train another tech, it's accompanied with a rise in pay bands which would be great.

Best get back to work, busy afternoon!

[laura/nottingham]

Hehe, Today's my day off!!

Tell me about it. I just cope on 80 pound a week, including learning to drive.

I can't wait to qualify and go into hospital pharmacy.

The best about this Buttercups course is the distance learning. And I started like you in October 2008. I have complete 6 units of the BTEC and on the 4th Unit of the NVQ. And they keep cheering me on, I'm student of the year....keep the work coming....and says its okay to qualify early. Which will be good for the wage increase.

What made you go from welder to pharmacy tech?? Lol. I actually wanted to be a teacher, that went out the window!!! What hospital you work at then? And college you go to?

Hope you didnt have too much of a busy afternoon

[fraser]

Hehe, Today's my day off!!

Tell me about it. I just cope on 80 pound a week, including learning to drive.

I can't wait to qualify and go into hospital pharmacy.

The best about this Buttercups course is the distance learning. And I started like you in October 2008. I have complete 6 units of the BTEC and on the 4th Unit of the NVQ. And they keep cheering me on, I'm student of the year....keep the work coming....and says its okay to qualify early. Which will be good for the wage increase.

What made you go from welder to pharmacy tech?? Lol. I actually wanted to be a teacher, that went out the window!!! What hospital you work at then? And college you go to?

Hope you didnt have too much of a busy afternoon

I must admit I'm behind on my work, we are allocated 1 day a week to work on the BTEC/NVQ but it doesnt always happen and I've got 3 unites 90% done, just need to get it all finished up and sent off. Not to worry, always been a procrastinator the work is simple like you said so its just a case of sitting down for a few hours and finishing it all up. Didn't start my BTEC until mid January, for some reason I worked 3 months in the childrens hospital before they got the buttercups stuff going.

You're quite the student! I'll have to remember to get in touch if I'm ever stuck on a unit :P

As for whole welder thing, I moved here to work in offshore oil and did all my training and stuff over a year and a bit, decided that I'd rather not spend weeks at a time on a rusting oil platform and that the whole idea was a bit scary so went to University to study Biology, liked it but decided I'd be happier working, saw the student pharmacy tech post. advertised pretty much by accident and applied since I thought it sounded interesting.

Interview went really well and I got offered the post the next day, seem to have adjusted to it pretty well and find it interesting, I have always had an interest in healthcare and medicine though so im really enjoying it.

Our rotations put us in different positions and roles, I started as a student tech. in childrens hospital working dispensary and on a few wards, just doing their drug orders and keeping their ward stock, controlled drugs and things in order. Did the same for the neonatal intensive care unit in the maternity hospital which was amazing to be allowed to see. I'm now in the main hospital dispensary and move between ward discharges/medicines management, making up dosettes and dispensing outpatients. It's a bigger team and a lot more busy than sick kids but it's got me adept at labelling, handling staff, spotting errors and a bit of patient counselling. I move to distribution next which handles all supply of drugs to wards, ordering from manufacturers, quality assurance etc. Probably a bit less interesting but good experience. Then I'm in for a 9 month stint in technical services and radiopharmacy, preparing cytotoxics for chemo patients and the radioactive broths etc. (sorry really not sure of the specifics of this whole side of things yet!) used in cancer treatment. All in aseptic labs, big white bunny suit and doing the work with your hands in a laminar flow cab! looks great, I love lab work so looking forward to it. After that I think I return to main dispensary to finish up and that's me a qualified Band 4 technician.

The hospital is Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, I believe they send us to a college in Edinburgh to do some of the lab stuff for the NVQ later on.


As an aside, was speaking to one of the pharmacy assistants I work with - she's done the job for over 2 years, holds a degree in biochemistry and does every bit the same job as a technician in the dispensary but gets paid less. She applied for the student tech job same time as me and was turned down because of "lack of experience" - poor girl, god knows why. Luck of the draw I think :/


(sorry long post, i better go to bed )