Pharmacy Technician Certification

What are the national accrediting organizations for pharmacy technicians?

National certification is in most cases done voluntarily, and is not a requirement for earning state licensure. However, most states’ boards of pharmacy do honor national certification and will grant nationally certified techs their state licensure without the need for further testing. The two organizations that provide certification on a national level are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute of Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). The ICPT administers a test called the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, aptly dubbed ExCPT. The test administered by the PTCB is simply called the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE). Both are recognized by a host of professional organizations and both will grant the recipient the CPhT credential, meaning Certified Pharmacy Technician.

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The PTCB is distinguished as being the original organization granting national certification and is the only one endorsed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society for Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) which are three of the oldest and most respected pharmacist associations. Information on PTCB testing locations, exam preparation, and national certification is available at www.ptcb.org.

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The ExCPT exam administered by the ICPT has recently been endorsed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) which is the accrediting arm of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The NOCA grants accreditation to the two national organizations that comply with NCCA standards. The fee for the ExCPT exam is $95.00. For information on exam preparation, testing locations, and national certification through the ICPT visit www.nationaltechexam.org.

What national professional organizations are open to pharmacy technicians?

The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is the largest non-profit national professional organization for pharmacy techs. Its 30,000 members work in retail pharmacies, health system pharmacies, and federal pharmacy services in the capacity of purchasing, education, and management. The NPTA exists as the leading provider of continuing education programs for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) and also offers advanced levels of specialty certification. To get information on NPTA membership visit www.pharmacytechnician.org.

Are there requirements for state licensure?

Each state has its own board of pharmacy responsible for granting licensure to pharmacy techs which authorizes them to work in any type of pharmacy, whether it be retail, in-facility, mail-order, or online. Initial licensure is granted after testing for and passing the test administered by the respective state board of pharmacy. Policies for licensure vary considerably from state to state with Ohio having the strictest standards based on recent legislature following the negligent death of a young girl whose prescription proved fatal due to an error made by the pharmacy tech who compounded it. The cost of state licensure is around $50.00 and requires annual renewal. Annual renewal does not typically require retesting for competency, but only the resubmission of an application for licensure.

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Many states honor national certification through either the PTCB or ICPT and will grant state licensure to pharmacy techs who have earned this national certification without requiring further state-level testing. In these instances state license fees and yearly renewal requirements would still apply.

In the wake of the recent tragedy in Ohio and subsequent legislation there, many states have recognized the need for stronger laws and stricter standards governing the licensure of pharmacy techs. Though Ohio and Maine are the only states currently enacting a heightened set of standards, it is expected that many states will soon enact similar laws as this legislation is presented by these states’ senate reps for national congressional approval.

Are there requirements for continuing education (CE)?

Continuing education is not currently a requirement for license renewal in most states, but the momentum seems to be building as more and more state’s boards of pharmacy embrace policies similar to those of Ohio and Maine. Ohio, with their newly enacted legislation, New York, Texas, and California exist as some of the few current exceptions requiring some CE to be completed in order to have state licensure renewed.

Between 30 and 40 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEU) each year will satisfy the requirements for re-licensure in the states that require it. CEUs necessary for re-licensure in most of the states that require it can be earned online. Some states, like New York, place a stronger emphasis on earning CEUs in the live environment of the pharmacy.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is responsible for accrediting CE courses for pharmacy technicians available through vocational schools, community colleges, and online schools. To get more information on the CE requirements for re-licensure specific to your state visit www.ashp.org.

CE is usually done voluntarily as a means by which to gain the knowledge necessary for career advancement and specialty certification through the NPTA.