Zarni Htay, CPhT, HIVPCP, HIVPNC
Student Employee, HIV/ STI Awareness & Testing
CCSF Department of Health Education, SFDPH
San Francisco, CA
Certification
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) & HealthHIV
Number of Years at Organization
8 Years
Why did you become a pharmacy technician?
I often tell people that I didn’t choose to become a pharmacy technician — it chose me. Whenever I think about it, I cannot help but smile constantly. At first, I was just a sad student feeling lost as all my dream programs/schools I applied for rejected me. The summer was coming up and I still did not know what to do for the next fall academic year. My favorite academic counselor (now retired) kindly insisted that I should try the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) pharmacy technician program. I still felt scared, as I did not know anyone from the field of pharmacy, and neither did my family members. I finally submitted my application a day before the deadline thinking “If things are meant to be, it will be. I will give my best.” It was the beginning of my career.
How long have you been practicing?
Eight years
What are you most proud of in your professional career?
I served as a voluntary committee member for the CCSF pharmacy technician program, which is ASHP/ACPE-accredited and PTCB-recognized. Sometimes, I join as a guest speaker for Q&A sessions in class with the new students to share my externship experience, help them prepare for the PTCB exams, and answer every question as their new journey begins.
What is your most memorable experience as a pharmacy technician?
I would say every moment as a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) made me grow as a better healthcare professional. Some even created stronger relationships and better understandings for me with the colleagues in the pharmacy community. I may have left the job for another, but still, I can spend time together planning a fund-raising campaign like Red Nose Day or volunteering at local event like San Francisco PRIDE to support the lives and loves of the queer community. During the pandemic, I am thankful that I could contribute my work from making hand sanitizers to COVID-19 vaccinations for the department of public health. I can say that those are some of my memorable experiences.
Why did you become certified?
PTCB certification is widely accepted as a key requirement to become a certified pharmacy technician in most states. It has now created additional certification paths for CPhTs to advance their careers in healthcare.
What career advice do you have for others interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician?
Take a deep breath and submit your application to become a CPhT as soon as you have met the requirements or passed PTCE. It has opened the door for me to be listed as an HIV Prevention Certified Provider (HIVPCP), allowing me to help patients access PrEP medications, and HIV/ STI preventions and testing programs for the department of health education at my community college, where my journey as a CPhT began. I can confidently say, here in The Pharmacy Technician Society, that the journey of being a CPhT will never end. It can lead to many career opportunities and growth.