WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 A career as a pharmacy technician is proving to be a wise choice in today's economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2008-09 report estimates employment for pharmacy technicians will grow much faster than for the average occupation--up to a 32 percent increase by 2016. Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) are an integral part of the pharmacy team and are relied upon to deliver vital services from assisting with the medication dispensing process, to making IV sterile products, to working in a pharmacist-run specialty clinic. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for certification in this recession-proof field having certified over 355,000 pharmacy technicians since 1995.
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A trusted pioneer in the industry, PTCB's Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) program is the only program endorsed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Over 40 states now regulate pharmacy technicians--and more than 70 percent of those have endorsed PTCB.
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As the demand for pharmacy technicians continues to grow, certification is expected to play an increasingly more important role in assuring the public of safe, accurate and efficient patient care and service. In fact, many national pharmacy chains including Walgreens, CVS/Pharmacy, and Target Pharmacy currently recognize the importance of PTCB certification and even pay for the examination fee. Technicians who earn this credential often benefit from increased job opportunities, such as a higher salary, expanded responsibilities and greater job security.
"PTCB certification shows a commitment to excellence on the part of the Certified Pharmacy Technician and the employers who require PTCB certification," says Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. "We applaud the efforts of CPhTs who are dedicated to being trained, tested and trusted."
PTCB has recently made several enhancements to its program making it easier than ever for pharmacy technicians to become certified. Exams are available at more than 200 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide and pass/fail results are given immediately after completing the PTCB Exam. Candidates are able to schedule their PTCB Examination Monday thru Friday and should check with their local Pearson Professional Center for hours and possible Saturday availability. PTCB offers testing flexibility, meeting the needs of pharmacy technicians, educators, employers, and state boards of pharmacy.
Visit www.ptcb.org for more information on pharmacy technician certification.
About the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
PTCB was established in January 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations - the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The goal of the PTCB national certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB contracts with Pearson VUE, the industry's technology leader, as its computer-based testing vendor. PTCB draws upon the experience and expertise of its 13-year partner, Professional Examination Service (PES) for test development. Visit PTCB online at www.ptcb.org.
SOURCE PTCB
