Best Time to Prepare for NAPLEX and CPJE and Job Search

Hi Everyone!

Your last year of pharmacy school is the best time to prepare for your NAPLEX and CPJE.

If you need guidance on how to prep for CPJE or NAPLEX, check out my past posts Preparing for the CPJE and Review of NAPLEX and CPJE Test Prep Resource. They contain links to updated material such as RxPrep and even Weissman’s California Pharmacy law review books! For those looking for guidance on where to look for free CEs to renew their pharmacist license, check CPJE, License / Certification, Renewals Pharmacy Law Waivers.

The typical timeline is apply and interview to jobs through your school’s job fair during your last year of pharmacy school. If you want to do the residency or fellowship route, apply during first half of last year of pharmacy school. It’s competitive to get in. Even if you do end up interviewing, matching, and completing a residency or fellowship, here are 3 cons to consider: 1) residency or fellowship pays about 1/2 pharmacist salary, 2) there’s no guarantee you will have a job lined up post graduation, and 3) you’ll be overqualified for most jobs that are available (retail). I’m not trying to deter you from going that route. With the state of the job market, there’s no guarantee.

In 2021, there are a lot of temporary COVID support jobs available. Many temporary agencies have reached out to me. If you’re licensed and immunization certified and interested, that’s an easy job to get. I’m not sure if it will lead to something permanent. I would apply directly on the company’s site. I believe the likelihood of being hired is better if you’re an employee of the company vs temporary agency, because there’s an extra fee for the company to hire someone from the temporary agency. There’s some cons with the COVID support job to consider. 1) Some traveling may be involved, 2) High risk of contracting COVID, 3) Low Pay for high risk. With the numbers that are floating around in job posts and forums, I don’t think the COVID support job pays well even with +$4/hr hero fee, 4) Job is temporary with no benefits and may not lead to a permanent retail pharmacist job.

In 2022, due to the stress of job juggling retail operations and administrating vaccines, I believe there’s still a demand for retail pharmacists. For hard to fill locations, there’s a sign on bonus for at least 2 years commitment. I still see COVID support jobs available if you prefer that over working retail.

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Thank you!