A great number of pharmacists are turning to national certification as a benchmark by which to precisely determine the level of expertise possessed by a pharmacy technician. It is now widely acknowledged that obtaining a technician certification is essential; as a result, attaining one is either required or recommended for obtaining a license in 29 states.
- According to William Schimmel, assistant executive director of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, certification is quite useful regardless of whether or not the state requires it (PTCB).
- According to an interview with Pharmacy Times conducted by Schimmel, “Employers place a high importance on certification since it indicates your competence as a technician and your devotion to your work in the pharmacy.” “As we watch things shift in the industry and advanced jobs become available for technicians, certification will make a lot of previously unavailable possibilities available.” According to Schimmel, obtaining a national certification also functions as a “portable credential.” He continued by saying, “You may take it with you to verify your expertise even if you move to a different state if you have to.” Schimmel estimated that there are around 280,000 technicians who are currently actively certified via the PTCB, and he recommended both already practicing technicians and future technicians who are interested in joining those numbers to pursue these steps: 1.
Determine Eligibility First and foremost, prospective candidates need to determine whether or not they meet the requirements to become PTCB certified. Applicants are needed to have a high school diploma or an educational degree comparable to a high school diploma, such as a GED.
- There is no minimum age requirement, and previous experience working in a pharmacy is not required.
- In addition to this, applicants are required to reveal any prior convictions as well as any disciplinary measures taken against them by a state pharmacy board.
- Although Schimmel stated that a candidate may be disqualified for having a single black mark on their record, the PTCB does treat a number of infractions, particularly those that include drug-related offences, extremely seriously.2.
Get yourself ready for the Test. A passing grade on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam administered by the PTCB is unquestionably one of the most important requirements for obtaining PTCB certification (PTCE). According to Schimmel, the best way for applicants to get ready for this exam is to enroll in a technician training course, particularly one that has been approved by an organization like the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
- Applicants should consider enrolling in such a course.
- There are a variety of different tools, including as books, flashcard applications, and smartphone games, accessible to candidates in order to assist them in their studying.
- In addition, the PTCB provides candidates with an online practice exam; however, Schimmel was quick to point out that achieving a passing mark on the practice test does not guarantee achieving the same score on the actual PTCE.3.
Fill out the Application Online. Applicants who are confident in their ability to pass the examination will need to apply for certification and register with the PTCB online in order to do so. There is a charge of $129 associated with both the application and the exam; however, many pharmacies will sponsor their employees and pay the amount for them.
- Applicants who have a need for specific testing accommodations will have the opportunity to make that request on the application.
- Candidates have a window of time of ninety days after the application has been approved to arrange and take their exam through Pearson VUE.
- Applicants who need to reschedule or cancel their appointment with Pearson can do so up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the exam.
On the other hand, applicants who wish to withdraw their application completely must do so within the 90-day period; after this period, the majority of the testing fee will be refunded.4. Attempt the Test, and Stay Tuned for the Results Candidates should make it a priority to obtain adequate rest the night before every significant test they take, including the examination.
- On the day of the exam, you should make plans to come thirty minutes before your appointment time and carry a picture identification card that was issued by the government and is still current.
- At the location of the exam, you will be required to put all of your other belongings, including any personal goods, in a locker.
Applicants will get an unofficial test result immediately following the exam, with the final results being made available online within two to three weeks after the exam has concluded. Those who were successful in passing the examination will have their certificates mailed to them between four and six weeks following the date of the test.
- Schimmel cautioned that the PTCE is a highly difficult exam, and because of this, the pass rate is only 57%.
- Those who are unsuccessful, on the other hand, are given three other opportunities to do so; however, they are required to wait either sixty days or six months before taking the examination once more.
Candidates are required to submit a new application and pay the cost if they wish to retake the exam.5. Maintain Certification In order to keep their certifications current, certified technicians are expected to participate in continuing education (CE) for a total of twenty hours every two years.
- Since 2015, all continuing education credits obtained need to be tailored to the needs of technicians.
- Those technicians who are unable to obtain 20 CE credits within a period of 2 years will have their credentials revoked.
- Following this, the technicians will have a reinstatement period of 1 year during which they can renew their certification.
If after that year a technician does not succeed in having their certification reinstated, they will be required to restart the certification process all over again and repeat the PTCE in order to get qualified once more.
Is the NHA exam necessary for Pharmacy techs?
You are not need to submit an application for state license in order to work for the NHA. Therefore, if the profession of pharmacy technician is not regulated in your state, this can be the ideal choice for you. That is to say, if you are successful in passing the NHA test, you will have a certificate that is acknowledged on a national level, which will enable you to compete for outstanding employment prospects.
Is PTCB certification required for Pharmacy techs?
If your state gives you the option, it’s probably best to go with the PTCB because it’s the one most likely to be recognized by other state pharmacy boards, and those boards will want proof of a national certification before granting a license. You may be nationally qualified but not licensed to operate as a pharmacy technician if the state in which you live does not govern who may or cannot practice in the profession.