Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Though there are no set guidelines by the state law or federal regulation regarding the basic qualification required for becoming a pharmacy technician however, employers prefer to hire well trained and certified individuals who prove to be more efficient and competent in providing the service. The increased awareness of the people in this regard and their demand for better medical facilities has also raised the need for well qualified and certified individuals in the field. Not only for the patients, it has also proved to be very beneficial for the technician himself as he gets better growth opportunities with an increased pay. The certification degree to the technicians in this field is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or PTCB which was established in 1995 and is a recognized organization in this field.
The field of medicine and healthcare industry is an ever growing field in which technological advancements in a continuous process. For keeping oneself updated with the latest improvements in the field, it's necessary to be aware about the latest developments in the field. One can keep abreast with the advancements in this field by joining various continuous education and certification programs. It's not only associated with the requirement of the state but, also due to the raised demand of the employers for hiring better qualified and certified individuals who have adequate knowledge about the latest methodologies and laws.
The basic requirement for appearing in the certification exam conducted by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination is that the person should have completed a high school diploma. Apart from this, people convicted in a drug related crime or any other felonies are not allowed to take this exam. The person must also not be under any restrictions by the particular State Board of Pharmacy from where he wants to take the exam.
There is a set pattern of the certification test which the candidate needs to pass for becoming a certified technician. After clearing the exam, the technician receives the qualification of the Certified Pharmacy Test or CPhT test. The test paper for the certification exam consists of 80 multiple choice questions. The technicians are mainly tested on the maintenance of medical records and medication control systems. Some questions are also based on how to assist a pharmacist in attending to patients and pharmacy operational management and administration. There is no restriction on the number of times one can take the test. So, one can appear in the test till the time he is able to clear it. Before the test, various sample test papers are also offered to the students for practice purpose and evaluating themselves before sitting for the actual test.
In order to maintain the certification status, the PTCB organization requires the candidates to retake the exam with in a span of every two years. For taking the recertification test, it's necessary for the technician to complete at least 20 hours of continuing education in the set time limit. This complete process is called as ecertification. The best option is to complete around 10 hours at the workplace itself however, it should be done under the supervision of a qualified and experienced pharmacist, who has a detailed record of all activities, training and projects completed by the technician under his guidance. Out of the complete balance hours, it's compulsory to spend one hour in pharmacy law and the remaining hours can be used in taking one college course in a life sciences or mathematics subject. It's always recommended to spend the continuing education hours in a subject which is relevant to the job one is currently doing or can prove to be useful when apply for any position in future. There is also the facility of reinstatement for the recertification with in a year if a person fails to get the recertification degree with in the stipulated time frame.
One can also check all the requirements for certification on PTCB website which gives detail about the certification needs in all the 50 states of America stating different state laws and regulations pertaining to pharmacy practices in the respective state.
The field of medicine and healthcare industry is an ever growing field in which technological advancements in a continuous process. For keeping oneself updated with the latest improvements in the field, it's necessary to be aware about the latest developments in the field. One can keep abreast with the advancements in this field by joining various continuous education and certification programs. It's not only associated with the requirement of the state but, also due to the raised demand of the employers for hiring better qualified and certified individuals who have adequate knowledge about the latest methodologies and laws.
The basic requirement for appearing in the certification exam conducted by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination is that the person should have completed a high school diploma. Apart from this, people convicted in a drug related crime or any other felonies are not allowed to take this exam. The person must also not be under any restrictions by the particular State Board of Pharmacy from where he wants to take the exam.
There is a set pattern of the certification test which the candidate needs to pass for becoming a certified technician. After clearing the exam, the technician receives the qualification of the Certified Pharmacy Test or CPhT test. The test paper for the certification exam consists of 80 multiple choice questions. The technicians are mainly tested on the maintenance of medical records and medication control systems. Some questions are also based on how to assist a pharmacist in attending to patients and pharmacy operational management and administration. There is no restriction on the number of times one can take the test. So, one can appear in the test till the time he is able to clear it. Before the test, various sample test papers are also offered to the students for practice purpose and evaluating themselves before sitting for the actual test.
In order to maintain the certification status, the PTCB organization requires the candidates to retake the exam with in a span of every two years. For taking the recertification test, it's necessary for the technician to complete at least 20 hours of continuing education in the set time limit. This complete process is called as ecertification. The best option is to complete around 10 hours at the workplace itself however, it should be done under the supervision of a qualified and experienced pharmacist, who has a detailed record of all activities, training and projects completed by the technician under his guidance. Out of the complete balance hours, it's compulsory to spend one hour in pharmacy law and the remaining hours can be used in taking one college course in a life sciences or mathematics subject. It's always recommended to spend the continuing education hours in a subject which is relevant to the job one is currently doing or can prove to be useful when apply for any position in future. There is also the facility of reinstatement for the recertification with in a year if a person fails to get the recertification degree with in the stipulated time frame.
One can also check all the requirements for certification on PTCB website which gives detail about the certification needs in all the 50 states of America stating different state laws and regulations pertaining to pharmacy practices in the respective state.