MARCH 2026 - Bryce started his journey at DORS’ Workforce & Technology Center (WTC) in February of 2020. First, he completed the classroom portion of the CVS® Retail Training program and then did an internship at a CVS in his community. However, his career path was interrupted in March by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He worked at a Subway while waiting for WTC’s CVS Retail program to reopen and was able to return to training in April of 2022, successfully completing the program that June.
Bryce’s next goal was to complete the WTC CVS Pharmacy Technician Training program. Knowing that he would need support to be successful, he began academic tutoring at WTC and received several other wraparound services, including Employment Services, which helped prepare him for acceptance and participation in the program.
The CVS Pharmacy Technician training is made up of three components: classroom study, practice in WTC’s mock CVS pharmacy, and a 20-week externship at a CVS pharmacy. WTC works closely with CVS to find an externship that is a good fit for the student. Once a student completes the externship, the pharmacist completes an assessment which includes areas that might need improvement, such as counting speed. Finally, the pharmacist makes a recommendation about hiring, but does not include any information about a disability, making any hiring a routine decision.
Bryce graduated from the Pharmacy Technician class in May of 2023 and went on to complete an externship at a pharmacy in his community.
The final step in becoming a pharmacy technician is taking and passing the national Pharmacy Technician Certifying Board (PTCB) test to become certified. Bryce took the test a couple of times, but both times his scores were just short of passing. So, he returned to WTC services, receiving virtual and in-person tutoring and taking practice tests. Bryce also learned about and used technologies that could help him with his exam preparations.
On January 30, 2025, Bryce took the PTCB test and passed! By March, he was working at a local CVS Pharmacy.
When asked about his job in August of 2025, Bryce said passing both the state and national licensing process changed his level of responsibility at work. “Now I work at all four workstations, and I am transitioning to production.” His next goals include becoming a lead technician and an immunizer at CVS.
His WTC Employment Specialist, Jenny Jean-Louis, says she always had faith that Bryce would be successful: “Bryce completed the program and continued working hard with WTC staff to prepare for his certification exam. He gained the skills and confidence he needed through classroom instruction and hands-on experience at a CVS pharmacy. His determination and dedication paid off and his dreams became reality.”
NOTE: Bryce's success was featured in an Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), video. RSA highlights success stories of individuals with disabilities that are served by state vocational rehabilitation programs, like DORS, across the country. Bryce's story is on of many success stories from states and territories across the nation.
