Watch for Changes to Pharmacy Tech Certification and Credentialing

You'll see changes to national pharmacy technician certification and new credentialing programs.

This is all part of the growing focus of states, organizations, and employers to recognize the important work you do...and expand your role.

Think of these coming changes as an opportunity to gain advanced pharmacy knowledge...and increase patient safety in your pharmacy.

National certification. Starting in 2020, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) will require techs who want to become certified to complete one of two pathways before taking their certification exam.

You'll either need to complete a PTCB-recognized technician training program...OR work at least 500 hours in the pharmacy and attest to fulfilling certain knowledge requirements.

Be aware that the PTCB exam is also changing in 2020. They'll test on four main knowledge areas...instead of nine. Expect questions related to medications, federal requirements, patient safety, and order entry.

Keep in mind, there's no changes to the ExCPT exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) at this time. They still require the completion of a tech training program...OR at least 1,200 hours working in a pharmacy within one year of the last three years...before taking the exam.

Credentialing programs. Watch for new opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills...and earn an advanced credential.

For example, PTCB recently launched a Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) program...to allow experienced techs to demonstrate expertise in compounding sterile products.

Now PTCB is developing a new Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) credential. To earn it, you'll need to be PTCB-certified...have three years of work experience...and complete four certificate programs.

There'll be five PTCB certificate programs to choose from...billing and reimbursement, controlled substance diversion prevention, medication reconciliation, tech product verification, and hazardous drug management.

Dive into our tech tutorial, Certification and CE Requirements, for answers to questions about the exam, maintaining certification, etc.

Check with your employer to see if your organization has licensed our PTCB-recognized program, Pharmacy Technicians University (PTU), for employee access. Or, find out more about PTU and how to get individual or organizational access here.

• Technician Tutorial: Certification and CE Requirements