Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Exhibits At 2008 NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 27 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) announced it will be exhibiting at this week's National Association of Chain Drug Store (NACDS) Pharmacy & Technology Conference alongside more than 320 exhibitors and 150 leading retail companies. PTCB's exhibit provides conference participants with solutions for enhanced patient safety and the benefits of pharmacy technician certification in the largest single gathering of retail pharmacy executives from drug, food, and mass retailers and their supplier counterparts. Founded in 1995, PTCB is a pioneer in the certification of pharmacy technicians, having certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians who play a vital role assisting pharmacists in serving patients nationwide.

"Major employers of pharmacy technicians across the country see that PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians facilitate more efficient pharmacy operations and enhanced patient care" said Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. "Employers such as Walgreens, CVS, and Target are among the employers that presently support and endorse PTCB across the United States."

Pharmacy practice in modern healthcare continues to evolve. The work of today's pharmacists in caring for patients is expanding to help meet patient needs for safe and effective care. In addition to this important role for pharmacists, safe medication use systems also require the support of well-qualified and competent pharmacy technicians. The pharmacy technician is accountable to the supervising pharmacist who is legally responsible through state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by the pharmacy.

PTCB's exam, Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE), is administered in all 50 states and included in regulations for 31 states. In June, the Florida legislature signed into law a bill requiring new certification standards for pharmacy technicians across the state. PTCB's Online Verification of Certification also allows regulators and employers to get the most updated information on the certification status of all PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs).

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.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board