A New Job Opens an Unexpected Door
After an accident interrupted her hands-on healthcare work, Shanna pivoted, landing a job that made use of her strong driving background. It turned out to be more than just a change of pace. It was the door to her next big move, once she learned about an education benefit her employer offered.
“I always wanted to do pharmacy technician,” she said. “When I saw the program, I was like, oh my God, they pay for school and they give you upfront tuition.”
She didn’t hesitate. “I applied for it. I didn’t even think much into it. I just knew I wanted to be a pharmacy tech.”
For Shanna, the appeal of pharmacy work was about more than a paycheck. “It’s very informative,” she said. “You know a lot of meds, you could help your family. I believe in health as well. Money is not everything. As long as you’re not healthy, it’s nothing. It’s good to know your body, so you could stay healthy, because we all want to live long.”
A Program That Made Complex Material Click
Shanna enrolled in a MedCerts Pharmacy Technician program and credits the structure of the training with helping her truly understand the material.
“The professors, the teachers, everybody made sure to explain everything so clear,” she said. “If you’re in a classroom, you can’t really tell a teacher, hey, could you repeat yourself? But with the program, you could always rewind it and go back if you didn’t grasp something. They broke it down for me where it made me understand certain things. It made me want to learn more, what’s next?”
Balancing coursework with a job and family life wasn’t without its challenges. “You get to do it on your own time, and you don’t have to sit in a classroom Monday to Friday,” Shanna explained. “But if you’re not strong-minded, you could easily get distracted. There’s nobody on your back telling you to go to class. You’re the one who has to motivate yourself.”
For Shanna, that self-motivation was never in question. “I wouldn’t get into something if I know I’m not going to be in it all the way. I feel like that’s wasting my time and everybody else’s time.”
Certified and Looking Ahead
That commitment paid off. Shanna passed her certification exam on June 27, 2026. She’s already researching her next move, talking to people already working in pharmacy to figure out the best path forward.
“I’ve been doing research on social media with people who already have the job, already have the experience, where is best to go, retail or hospital,” she said. “It kind of points me in the direction of, okay, instead of starting here, I could just go straight to the hospital. I’ve been putting in a lot of applications. I’m just waiting for someone to reach out to me.”
She’s confident that once she’s in the field, the rest will follow. “I just want to get hands-on. Once I get in the field and see how things operate on a daily basis, I believe I will pick up really quick and master what I have to do.”
Advice for Anyone Considering the Leap
Shanna’s advice to anyone thinking about starting a career in pharmacy, or healthcare in general, is straightforward: want it, and use what’s available to you.
“Once you have all the resources that you need, anything is possible,” she said. “You just have to put your mind to it. Nothing is impossible for anyone to do. You have to want it.
Life is very challenging, and opportunities come once in a while, paid tuition plus being employed. You will have to work and pay out of pocket for school expenses otherwise. This is the best opportunity I ever had, so take advantage of whatever you want to do, and use this to move on to the next step in life.”
As a single parent balancing work, school and family, she knows firsthand how valuable a flexible, self-guided program can be. “There’s really a lot for you to be physically in a classroom while you have to do a nine-to-five at the same time,” she said. “This is a very good opportunity for someone who wants to take a step forward within their career.”
Moving Forward with Confidence
From home health aide to CNA to a newly certified pharmacy technician, Shanna’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when passion meets the right opportunity.
“I’m really happy to know that I’ve got this opportunity that I could move forward with my career,” she said.
Ready to take your own next step in healthcare? Start growing your skills with MedCerts.
