ASHP & ACPE Announcements Impacting Pharmacy Technicians
Your CE Requirements: What Changed in 2016
This is a reminder that effective January 1, 2016, PTCB implemented a change in continuing education (CE) recertification requirements for CPhTs that reduced the allowable number of CE hours earned via college/university courses from 15 to 10. Beginning in 2016, a maximum of 10 of your 20 CE hours may be earned by completing a relevant college course with a grade of 'C' or better. Read more.
Check Your NABP e-Profile and Include Your PTCB Certification Number
The CPE Monitor is a national, collaborative effort by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education that allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to track their completed CPE credits in a central system. PTCB is completing the first step in the process of connecting information in your CPE Monitor account to your PTCB Account. In the future, this connection is designed to allow CE hours entered into your CPE Monitor account to simultaneously be recorded in your PTCB Account. Part of this process involves you, as a CPhT. It is important that you log into your CPE Monitor account to be sure your NABP e-Profile is set up correctly, and then check to be sure your PTCB Certification number is reflected. All pharmacy technicians are encouraged to register for CPE Monitor if they have not already done so.
Louisiana Delays Implementation of Training Requirement for One Year
In November, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy adopted an emergency rule requiring individuals submitting applications for a pharmacy technician certificate on or after January 1, 2017 to show they have completed a nationally accredited and board-approved training program. The rule delays for one year the planned implementation of the training requirement, originally set for January 1, 2016. Visit the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy website.
ASHP and ACPE Announce Updates in Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Standards
Beginning in 2020, PTCB will require candidates for initial certification to complete a pharmacy technician education program accredited jointly by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). On December 9, ASHP and ACPE announced that the standards for accreditation of pharmacy technician education programs will be updated effective January 1, 2016. Employers, educators, prospective CPhTs, and state associates may want to take note of these changes. According to the announcement, the update expands the flexibility of training programs to meet requirements regarding the number and types of student experiential activities that must be performed, requiring at least one and encouraging two different contemporary pharmacy practice experiences. Read the announcement.
|