About the creator

20+ years behind the counter, now in your pocket

Hi, I'm Ethel. I'm a Pharmacy Technician with over 20 years of experience, and I created Academy of Pharmacy Technicians to help non-certified technicians keep learning on the go and pass the PTCB (PTCE) or NHA (ExCPT) exam.

1. Where it all started

   As a young child I helped care for members of my family. That early experience pulled me toward the medical field, and shortly after graduating from high school I started my path as a Pharmacy Technician.

2. Serving my community in retail

   Retail pharmacy let me give back where I lived: delivering medications to people who were sick, helping blind patients as they shopped, and knowing that I mattered to the people in my community.

3. 7 years in the IV room

   I spent seven years in IV and sterile compounding, garbing up, setting up the hood and preparing doses where every step matters. That's why the IV lessons and compounding games here focus on doing it right, every time.

4. 12 years teaching techs

   After retail, I taught a pharmacy technician program for 12 years. I volunteered at the VA Medical Center and built a relationship between the VA and our school. Training techs made me want to keep learning myself, so I earned an A.A.S. in Pharmacy Technician, a B.S. in Health Science, and my CPhT and sterile compounding certifications (BCSCPT/CSPT).

5. 4 years in prescription benefits

   I moved into a Pharmacy Benefit Manager setting for 4 years and loved finally understanding the behind-the-scenes processes I saw in retail every day, like prior authorizations.

6. Long-term care today

   Now I work in a long-term care pharmacy. This part of my journey has opened my eyes to endless possibilities in pharmacy.

7. Why I built Academy of Pharmacy Technicians

   So many techs are already working without being certified yet, with no time to sit in a classroom. I built Academy of Pharmacy Technicians so you can study on your phone, on a break or on the bus. I hope the start of your journey leads you to an opportunity with endless possibilities ahead. Good luck!