Certification and CE Requirements

Education, training, and certification help pharmacy technicians demonstrate knowledge and skills, and their ability to meet pharmacy practice standards. New state laws and regulations are bringing up questions about registration, certification, and licensure of pharmacy technicians. For example, the death of a toddler in Ohio resulting from a hospital pharmacy technician’s error not caught by the pharmacist led to the passage of “Emily’s Law.” Although the pharmacist was ultimately held responsible, new requirements were put in place for Ohio pharmacy technicians to maximize patient safety and ensure appropriate pharmacy technician training.

This tutorial explains what technician certification means, how to become certified, and how to maintain certification. It also reviews technician continuing education (CE) requirements and other professional development opportunities for technicians. Keep in mind, each state will have different requirements for its technicians. Use the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ to find out requirements in your state and keep track of your completion of required courses.

What are differences between registration, certification, and licensure for technicians?

Most states require technicians to be registered, certified, or licensed, but a few states don’t require anything. Other states use different terms to describe technician requirements. For example, in Oklahoma, technicians are not considered “registered,” but are given a permit. There is no standard definition of “registration,” “certification,” or “licensure” used by all states. However, there are accepted, professionally recognized definitions of these terms.

Registration is defined simply as making a list. Registration is usually done to keep track of who is a technician, where they work or live, and in some states, do background checks. Registration is the only requirement in some states. In most states, registration does not address the educational and training background of pharmacy technicians. Some states require technicians to complete additional requirements to maintain their registration, such as completing a set number of CE hours.

Certification is defined as the process by which a nongovernmental organization recognizes an individual who meets predetermined qualifications specified by that organization. Nearly one-half of states include certification in their regulations. Technicians can become certified by taking a national certification exam, or by meeting state certification requirements. Once a pharmacy technician becomes certified, he or she may use the designation “CPhT.” National certification by exam through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) recognizes technicians who have the education, knowledge, and training to efficiently assist pharmacists in the safe and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications and the provision of quality patient care and service. Some states require that technicians take one of the national certification examinations to get state certification, registration, or licensure. However, other states grant state certification by recognizing on-the-job training or a diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree program from a community college or technical school. State certification may also be granted through completion of training approved by the state pharmacy board or pharmacy accreditor (e.g., the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education [ASHP-ACPE]) as an alternative to taking a national examination. The number of states requiring either national or state certification is expected to increase due to patient safety concerns. There’s even a push for standardization of technician training, education, certification requirements, and regulations among all states. Check the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ for certification requirements in your state.

Licensure is required for technicians in some states, including Arizona, California, and Utah. Licensure is defined as the process by which permission is granted to an individual to practice their occupation after it is determined that the individual has the minimum level of competency to practice safely. Licensure may require registration plus certification by exam and/or completion of education and training. Keep in mind, some states use the terms “licensure” and “registration” interchangeably. Check the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ to see if licensure is an option in your state.

Which national organizations offer a certification exam?

Certification exams are offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam [PTCE] at www.ptcb.org) and the National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT exam at www.nhanow.com).

PTCB is a nonprofit organization established by five pharmacy organizations, including the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Since its inception in 1995, PTCB has certified over 700,000 pharmacy technicians through the examination.

The ExCPT exam is administered by NHA, one of the largest national health certification providers in the U.S. Established in 1989, NHA provides national certifications to pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professions, in addition to an information support network to allied healthcare professionals, educators, and the healthcare industry.

What does it mean for a certification exam to be accredited?

The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) reviews and accredits certification programs that assess professional competency. Meeting NCCA criteria means, among other things, that the certification program uses fair and valid tests, defines the professional’s level of responsibility, and requires continued proficiency. The PTCB certification program and the NHA certification process are accredited by NCCA.

Which exam does my state require?

The answer depends on your state. About one-half of states currently include national certification through a specific exam in their regulations. Several states plan to add a national certification requirement in the near future. In some states, certification is voluntary, but a certain exam may be recognized by boards of pharmacy if technicians wish to get certified. Other states do not specify ANY certification requirements or recognize any specific exams for technicians.

If your state requires national certification, you will need to complete an exam recognized by your state’s board of pharmacy. Currently, all states that require national certification recognize the PTCE as board-approved; almost all of these states also recognize the ExCPT exam.

If certification is voluntary in your state and a specific exam IS recognized by the board of pharmacy, it’s a good idea to pursue national certification through the board-recognized exam(s), even though this certification is voluntary. Some employers may require certification for initial hire or advancement even if the board of pharmacy doesn’t.

If certification is voluntary in your state and a specific exam is NOT recognized by your state board of pharmacy, you can still pursue this step in your professional development through the PTCE or ExCPT exam. Some employers are requiring certification for employment or wage increase which may apply in states with no board-approved national certification exam requirements. Alternatively, in some states, there are other avenues for pursuing state certification, such as on-the-job training or completing an educational program.

Before pursuing national certification in any state, check with your employer or pharmacist supervisor about specific requirements or certifications that may be recognized within your organization. Use the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ to check your state’s requirements, see which exams are board-recognized in your state, and watch for future changes in your state.

Where do I take the exam?

The PTCE is taken on a computer either in person at a Pearson Professional Center or online through Pearson Vue’s OnVUE online proctoring software. See www.pearsonvue.com/ptcb for more information.

The ExCPT exam is taken on a computer at a PSI Testing Center or an NHA-affiliated school or employer. Individuals whose school or employer is not partnered with NHA as a testing site will schedule their exam with PSI. See www.psionline.com or call 833-537-1330 for more information.

When and how do I sign up to take the exam?

The PTCE is offered continuously. You can apply online year-round at www.ptcb.org. After submitting your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Once your application is approved, you’ll get an Authorization to Schedule email. At this point, you can schedule an appointment with Pearson VUE to take the exam.

The ExCPT exam can also be taken continuously. You can apply at www.nhanow.com. After submitting your application, you’ll receive your confirmation to test, at which point you’ll be able to schedule your exam.

How much does it cost to take the exam?

It costs $129 to take the PTCE. The ExCPT exam costs $117. Check with your employer before taking an exam. They may help you with the costs.

What are the pre-requisites for taking a certification exam?

To take the PTCE, you must first complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program (or be within 60 days of completion) or equivalent work experience (minimum of 500 hours). Our Pharmacy Technicians University program (more details provided later) is a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program. For a list of other PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Programs, visit: https://www.ptcb.org/educators/ptcb-recognized-education-training-program-directory.

To take the ExCPT, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be within 60 days of achieving one. Plus, within the past five years, you must have successfully completed a training program considered eligible by NHA, such as a program offered by an accredited or state-approved provider or institution or an employer-based training program, or have a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised pharmacy-related work experience within any one year of the last three years.

What do the tests cover?

The PTCE questions test knowledge and skills related to the activities performed by pharmacy technicians. The exam applies to both community and hospital settings. Most of the 90 multiple-choice questions relate to helping the pharmacist serve patients. The exam is broken down into four knowledge domains: medications, federal requirements, patient safety, and order entry.

The ExCPT consists of 100 scored questions and 20 pre-test questions. The ExCPT exam also has four similar knowledge domains: overview and laws, drugs and drug therapy, dispensing, and medication safety.

How do I prepare for the exam?

Pharmacy technician training textbooks, academic study programs, and on-the-job experience can be helpful in preparing for the exam. Completing an employer training program or technician training program offered through a technical or vocational school or community college may be helpful. Check with your pharmacist and other technicians who have successfully passed a certification exam for help developing a study strategy.

Our Pharmacy Technicians University program is an online, interactive educational course designed to prepare enrollees to pass any pharmacy technician certification exam. It also helps enrollees learn what it takes to become a safe, efficient, and overall great pharmacy technician. The program allows users to go through the content at their own pace. Plus, there are pacing questions, case studies, educational games, and more to help cement the concepts to memory, as well as keep the experience fresh and enjoyable. You can get additional information by going to the Pharmacy Technicians University website.

Other resources may be available through the testing organizations:

How long does national certification last?

Certification is good for two years for PTCB and NHA. Keep in mind that your state might require you to regularly (e.g., annually or every two years) renew your registration, certification, or licensure with the board of pharmacy. Some states require CE in addition to maintaining national certification.

Do I need to maintain my national certification?

Some states require certification for initial licensure or registration, but thereafter the technician does not have to maintain certification. Other states require that you maintain your national certification. Even if it is not required by your state, it is a good idea to maintain your certification because you may move to a state that requires it, or your state law may change. If your ExCPT or PTCB certification lapses for more than 12 months, you will need to sit for the exam again to be certified. Check the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ for information on your state or certifying board’s renewal period and renewal requirements.

What are the CE requirements for nationally certified technicians?

To maintain certification, technicians certified by PTCB need to obtain 20 hours of CE every two-year renewal period. At least one hour must be in pharmacy law and one hour must be in patient safety. A maximum of five hours of pharmacist-specific CE may be accepted, as long as the subject matter aligns with the PTCE content outline found here: https://www.ptcb.org/guidebook/ptce-content-outline. PTCB will also accept CE completed from non-ACPE-accredited providers, but the activity must include subject matter covered in the PTCE content outline. A max of 10 of your 20 hours of CE credit can be earned from relevant college courses. Your transcript or grade report will serve as proof. (Contact PTCB to make sure your college courses will qualify.) All proof of your completed CE must be submitted to PTCB in time for your recertification (renewal).

Technicians certified by ExCPT need to obtain 20 hours of CE every two years. At least one hour must be in pharmacy law and one hour must be in patient safety. NHA also allows in-service training programs or projects (up to 10 hours of CE allowed) or college courses on mathematics, life sciences, or pharmaceutical sciences to count toward your certification hours. All proof of your completed CE must be submitted to NHA in time for your recertification.

Bear in mind, states can have their own continuing education requirements that may be different from those required to maintain certification. For example, a state may require a certain number of “live” CE hours (e.g., CE delivered by live lecture or teleconference). They might also require that a certain number of hours cover designated topics such as pharmacy law or medication errors. For example, in South Carolina technicians need four hours of live CE annually. See our Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ for answers about exactly what, if any, CE is required in your state. You can also find the appropriate Pharmacy Technician’s Letter CE course to meet any state requirement, including live CE requirements.

In many states, the CE must be approved by the board or by ACPE. For example, Louisiana specifies that ten hours must be ACPE or board-approved.

Your state might require pharmacy technician-specific CE. Some CE is specifically designed for technicians. These programs have an ACPE code number with the letter “T” (as opposed to “P” for pharmacists) at the end of the code. Regardless of your state’s requirements, try to choose tech-specific programs because their breadth, scope, and subject matter are geared specifically to technicians. Technicians can rest assured that Pharmacy Technician’s Letter CE meets ACPE requirements, is specifically designed for technicians, and will meet PTCB, NHA, and state CE requirements.

How does the board or certifying organization keep track of my CEs?

You may not need to send in your CE certificates unless the state board or certifying organization audits them. Therefore, you will need to keep proof that you have completed and passed the required number and types of CEs for a period of time designated by your board and/or certifying organization in the event of an audit. NHA requires that you upload completed CE credits online. PTCB requires that you manually upload any non-accredited CE hours, but accredited CE hours get reported to PTCB through CPE Monitor (discussed below). Some states require that documentation be kept up to five years.

CE credits from ACPE-approved activities get reported through a national system, called CPE Monitor. CPE Monitor is a collaborative effort by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and ACPE to provide an electronic system for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to track their completed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credits. If you aren’t enrolled yet, you can start by going to go to your Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™. Upon enrolling with CPE Monitor, you will get an NABP e-Profile ID number. You must enter this number, along with your date of birth, in your Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™, in order for your CE credit to be properly reported to CPE Monitor.

I have been a technician for some time. Am I exempt from certification?

Depending on your state and when you started working, you may be exempt from taking a national certification exam. You might have the option of working as a technician trainee for one or two years pending state certification, again depending on your state. Check with your state board for more information.

What additional career development opportunities are possible if I become certified?

Many options exist for technicians wishing to pursue career development or training once national or state certification is achieved. Talk to your pharmacist or employer about growth or specialization opportunities within your organization. Many technicians have advanced within their organization to be a “Lead Technician,” with resulting supervisory, scheduling, or other responsibilities. A “Pharmacy Technician Trainer” may have responsibilities for educating other techs on new technology, insurance billing, or other professional service initiatives. Some pharmacies may also offer opportunities for technicians to take on new roles to assist the pharmacist with patient care, disease state management, or medication therapy management programs. For example, some pharmacies allow technicians to complete a “Certified Technician Screener” or other training to participate in pharmacy glucose, cholesterol, and other screenings immunizations; or disease state management programs as allowed in their state. Technician product verification (tech-check-tech) and telepharmacy programs are gaining popularity, allowing techs to work more independently and take on more responsibility.

Are there other certifications or credentials available for pharmacy technicians?

PTCB recently launched a Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) certification to support their mission in advancing medication safety. Now hospital techs can demonstrate expertise in compounding sterile products. Existing PTCB-certified technicians are eligible to sit for this exam by one of two pathways. You’ll either need to complete a PTCB-recognized sterile compounding training program AND one year of full-time, continuous work experience in sterile compounding, OR complete three years of full-time, continuous work experience in sterile compounding.

To gain certification, you must pass the CSPT certification exam and submit a Competency Attestation Form, which tests your skills in areas of sterile compounding. The CSPT exam is a two-hour, 75-question multiple choice exam. One hour and 50 minutes are allotted for answering the exam questions and 10 minutes for a tutorial and post-exam survey. They’ll test on four knowledge areas pertaining to hazardous and nonhazardous Compounded Sterile Products (CSPs). Expect questions related to sterile compounding procedures; facilities and equipment; medications; and handling, packaging, storage, and disposal. Find the CSPT exam content outline in the Candidate Guidebook at https://www.ptcb.org/guidebook/cspt-exam-content-outline.

The CSPT exam has a $50 application fee plus an exam fee of $149. The registration procedures are similar to the PTCE where you’ll apply for the exam and receive an Authorization to Schedule email to pick when you’ll take your exam. To recertify your CSPT certification, you must have your CPhT in good standing, and you must complete five hours of continuing education in sterile compounding, and submit a Competency Attestation Form completed by a qualified supervisor, annually. The five hours of continuing education in sterile compounding will be counted toward the 20 continuing education hours required for CPhT recertification.

To prepare for the CSPT exam, our Pharmacy Technicians University (PTU) Elite: CSPT Preparation program is an online, interactive, self-paced course designed to prepare certified techs to pass the CSPT exam. The program includes case studies, knowledge checks, downloadable resources and more to help drive the concepts to memory, while being fun and enjoyable. You can get additional information about the PTU Elite: CSPT Preparation program by visiting https://trchealthcare.com/about-us/products/ptu-elite/.

PTCB also has an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) credential and several certificate programs. Examples of some certificate programs include Technician Product Verification (Tech-Check-Tech), Medication History, Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention, Billing and Reimbursement, and Hazardous Drug Management. To be eligible for the CPhT-Adv credential, you’ll need to be PTCB-certified, have three years of work experience, and complete at least four PTCB certificate programs. CPhTs who have the CSPT credential will only need to complete three certificate programs. CPhTs who earn the CPhT-Adv credential will be required to complete specific continuing education and renew on a regular basis.

Be on the lookout for immunization training and certificate programs for pharmacy technicians. Some states allow pharmacy technicians with special training to support the pharmacist by administering vaccines. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, new federal guidance authorized qualified pharmacy technicians in ALL states to administer childhood vaccines to kids ages 3 to 18, and COVID-19 vaccines to patients ages 3 years and older. The emergency federal guidance requires that pharmacy technicians be licensed or registered in their state, or be nationally certified. Technicians who will be immunizing need to go through an ACPE-approved training program that includes hands-on injection technique and must have a current CPR certificate. Our PTU Elite: Immunizations program is designed to help you meet training requirements and ensure you’re confident and prepared to give vaccinations. Learn more at: https://trchealthcare.com/about-us/products/ptu-elite/.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

The Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ gives all the information on state CE and national certification requirements and renewal; state-recognized certification processes; and requirements and renewal periods for state registration, licensure, and permits. If you have national certification, use the Technician’s CE & Training Organizer™ for information on recertification periods, renewal requirements, and what types of CE you need. Call Pharmacy Technician’s Letter at 209-472-2240 or contact us at https://trchealthcare.com/contact if you need additional information on your requirements. You can also contact the national certification organizations or your state board of pharmacy if you have additional questions about certification or state requirements. Ask your employer or pharmacist supervisor questions about technician requirements in your organization.

Contact and Website Information

Pharmacy Technician’s Letter / Pharmacy Technicians University
 Phone: 209-472-2240
Email: https://trchealthcare.com/contact

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
 Phone: 800-363-8012
Email: https://ptcb.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
http://www.ptcb.org

National Healthcareer Association
 Phone: 800-499-9092
Email: https://info.nhanow.com/nha-email-form
http://www.nhanow.com

State Board of Pharmacy
 See https://nabp.pharmacy/about/boards-of-pharmacy/ for contact information for each state board.

Cite this document as follows: Technician Tutorial, Certification and CE Requirements. Pharmacist’s Letter/Pharmacy Technician’s Letter. February 2021. [370282]

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