Career Opportunities That Don’t Suck: Walgreen’s Pharmacy Tech Program

Career Opportunities That Don’t Suck are different from Careers That Don’t Suck Profiles in that the careers or jobs profiled in these postings are not quite ready for prime time: They are generally entry-level training opportunities or foot-in-the-door opportunities that may lead to careers that don’t suck.

So, the first Career Opportunity is Walgreen’s Pharmacy Technician. Under Walgreen’s pharmacy training program, employees with only a high school diploma and an interest in working in the pharmacy can join the program, be trained in assisting pharmacists in filling prescriptions, using our Intercom Plus computer system to process prescriptions and assist patients, handling phone inquiries and entering patient purchases on pharmacy cash registers.

In addition to the paid training, Walgreen’s provides certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

With training and certification in hand, an upstart could earn up to $43,000 per year working in a Walgreen’s pharmacy or that of another retailer, or a hospital or clinic pharmacy (starting pay is a much more modest $12,000-$16,500 per year).
While being a pharmacy tech is a career all its own, it’s generally a stepping-stone position to becoming a pharmacist. Walgreen’s program is a great way for anyone who is considering a career as a pharmacist to get up close and personal with working pharmacists, and get a foot in the door with an organization that will help you pay for pharmacy school should you decide to go, and pay you handsomely ($100k+) once you graduate.

In addition to the pharmacy technician training, Walgreen’s offers educational assistance at every stage of your pharmacy education–from your first year to graduation. Walgreen’s Pre-Pharmacy Student Educational Assistance Program provides $3000 toward pre-pharmacy classes for Walgreen’s employees who have worked 1040 hours and have been accepted to or enrolled in an accredited pharmacy school.
Stay in school and Walgreen’s will continue to reward you. Under its Progressive Pharmacy Student Educational Assistance Program (the Progressive Program), Walgreen’s provides pharmacy students attending their last four years of pharmacy school. You will receive $1,500 when you first apply, then every subsequent year the dollar amount will increase by $500. If you attend a 3-year pharmacy school, the awards will be adjusted to $1,500, $3,000 or $4,500.

If that weren’t enough, if you are in the final two years of pharmacy school, Walgreen’s Location Based Program provides $5,000* per year for eligible students who are willing to work in designated markets (markets where Walgreen’s has high talent needs).

Finally, Walgreen’s offers a pretty robust career path for pharmacists at all stages in their careers, and if they reach their planned 7,000 stores by 2010, there will certainly be opportunity.
For more information on the pharmacy technician career, check out the National Pharmacy Technician Organization (NPTO).

View pharmacy technician job openings or search for pharmacist jobs.