Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Grants More Than Half A Million Certifications

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The total number of certifications granted by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recently eclipsed half a million, totaling 503,620 as of June 30, 2013. In 2012 alone, 39,729 candidates passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

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As healthcare reform is implemented, pharmacists' responsibilities are evolving to include more direct-patient care and medication therapy management. At the same time, PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) will increasingly be relied upon to help pharmacists advance patient care and safety, support new pharmacy information systems, and efficiently run pharmacy operations.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that pharmacy technician employment will increase more than 32% between 2010 and 2020, compared to the BLS' projected 14% growth for all occupations during the same period.

"Passing the half-million mark is an exciting milestone in the growth of PTCB's nationwide certification program," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Everett B. McAllister, MPA, RPh. "The PTCB CPhT credential represents an excellent pathway to employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians. It enables them to stay current and be prepared to meet the requirements of the occupation as our healthcare system evolves."

The PTCE is recognized in all 50 states and is the only pharmacy technician certification exam vetted by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. PTCB's certification program not only assesses technicians' initial knowledge, but also requires them to maintain certification by fulfilling continuing education requirements every two years. PTCB's program offers flexible testing at 237 Pearson VUE Professional Centers nationwide. Preliminary pass/fail results are provided to candidates immediately after they complete the PTCE, and certification verification is free.

Pharmacy technicians may apply online at www.ptcb.org, and may follow PTCB on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to connect with others interested in PTCB's certification program.

About PTCB
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) advocates a single national standard for pharmacy technician certification that is recognized and supported by the profession. The goal of PTCB's national certification program, which services the more than 274,000 currently active certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) nationwide, is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB was established in 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations—the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians may apply for certification online at www.ptcb.org.

SOURCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Board