PTCB Calls For Profession-wide Feedback on Proposed Changes to Certification Program

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Today, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) launches the C.R.E.S.T. Initiative Survey to collect feedback from the pharmacy profession on recommended changes to the PTCB Certification Program. Recommendations include the creation of specialty pharmacy technician exams and additional requirements for PTCB certification, such as requiring a minimum period of practical experience, criminal background checks, and completion of an accredited education program.

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"Changes to the PTCB Certification Program have potential to impact hundreds of thousands of pharmacy technicians nationwide. Candidate eligibility requirements have remained largely unchanged since the organization's founding in 1995," said Megan Sheahan, PharmD, PTCB Director of Professional Affairs.

The survey's launch is part of the C.R.E.S.T. Initiative, which began in 2011 with a summit focused on the areas of Consumer Awareness, Resources, Education, State Policy, and Testing relating to pharmacy technicians. Summit participants, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, educators, employers, and State Boards of Pharmacy, expressed the need for the profession to make decisions on the future of pharmacy technicians. This sentiment, coupled with results from a survey completed by 12,000 individuals prior to the summit, led to the recommendations.

"This is an opportunity for individuals to share insight on important issues within the pharmacy profession," said Sheahan. "We encourage all members of the health care team to participate in this survey."

The C.R.E.S.T. Initiative Survey is available now and will remain open through March 31, 2012. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous. To learn more about the C.R.E.S.T. Initiative, please visit www.ptcb.org. To take the survey, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/crestinitiativesurvey.

About PTCB

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (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. The goal of PTCB's national certification program, which has certified over 400,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide, is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. Pharmacy technicians may apply online to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam at www.ptcb.org.

SOURCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Board