Pharmacy Technician Graduate Aims To Achieve, Inspire

Tina Tevis has come full circle: From uncertainty about her career path to preparing for pharmacy school, she was able to find her way and gain multiple credentials. As she prepares for the next step of her journey, Tina said her Pharmacy Technician professional certificate was key to her ongoing success.

Undecided about a profession, Tina withdrew from college. She spent the past few years as a dedicated stay-at-home mother. When she moved to Acworth and began receiving information about our Healthcare Certificates, a spark was lit.

“Now that my daughter is older, I [had] enough time to do something for myself,” Tina said. “I would browse the brochures KSU College of Continuing and Professional Education sends, and the Pharmacy Technician Certificate always caught my interest. I chose the program because I believe it to be a career I would enjoy.”

The certificate course provided an opportunity for Tina to understand pharmacy fundamentals and help gauge pursuing pharmacy school. Stability and innovation in the healthcare industry were also appealing.

“Advancements in medicine and technology are most interesting in the health field, along with the ability to cure diseases that once crippled nations. I love the thought of prolonging the quality of life for the human race,” she said. “I like helping people and the responsibility associated with medicinal care. Medicine has been around for thousands of years. I will always be employed [with] an education in medicine.”

Tina enrolled in our program in August 2018 and said the teachers’ desire for the students to succeed was impactful.

“I knew the course would not be easy, and I am glad the teachers were willing to come early – and even stay after class – for extra help,” she said. “This was especially helpful with the pharmacy math. I learned to convert measurements, calculations for medicinal dosing, and many other everyday pharmacy duties.”

She graduated in December. In addition to her certificate, Tina accomplished her “greatest professional success”— passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

“I attended every class and would come early for extra math help from [instructor] Tim Sanders when needed,” she said. “I took many practice exams online after my classes ended, downloaded apps, and studied everything for about a month before taking the [exam].”

Tina’s experience in the program also cemented her decision to continue her education. She enrolled in college to fulfill prerequisites to enter a PharmD program and studies at least three hours daily.

Although her new career path, family and school put demands on her time, Tina is focusing on the big picture and has her goals in sight. Also, being an inspiration for other women, especially her daughter, is important. In her words, “It’s never too late to work for something they want to achieve.”

“I didn’t have a clear vision concerning the career I wanted to follow years ago, but I’m pretty sure I’m on the right path now,” Tina said. “New experiences can be scary. The hardest part is the start line, but as long as you put in the work, you are bound to succeed.”