Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam Brooke Shiotani, Kim Pong, Jennifer Seo, Chris Nomura, Helen Louie, Derek Kuniyoshi, David Thompson

Pharmacy Technician Facts Responsibilities have gone beyond “counting and pouring” There is a ratio of 3:1 technicians to pharmacists Currently there is no standardized certification to become a technician

Problem Definition We found two main problems within the field of pharmacy technicians No board verified standard level of knowledge Pharmacy technician is not considered a professional career

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Examination Is a national certification It certifies that an individual has met certain criteria laid out by the PTCB Drug knowledge Mathematics Management of pharmacy practice Inventory control Other basic pharmacy knowledge Technician receives credentials (CPhT)

THE LAW WAC 246.901.060 “To become certified as a pharmacy technician, an individual must: 1) Complete an approved pharmacy technician program; 2) Apply to board for certification. The application must include a notarized statement of program verification signed by the program director; 3) A new pharmacy technician must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) within 3 attempts not to exceed 24 months beyond the date of birth after obtaining the license.”

White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians Why is it important to have competent pharmacy technicians? Reduce workload for pharmacists Increases quality of pharmaceutical care Increases patient safety

White Paper cont. PTCB benefits Professional Identity Technicians remain longer in practice Improve staff morale Reduce medication errors Higher productivity Higher patient satisfaction Salary increase

Higher Pay Rates for CPhTs From: Murer, Melissa “Charting a New Course” 2002

States and the PTCB Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming utilize PTCB certification Washington and other states recognize the PTCB but do not require it

Stakeholders Pharmacy Technicians Pharmacists Washington Board of Pharmacy Pharmacies Pharmacy Technician Schools PTCB Patients

Alternatives Criterion Alternative Technical Feasibility Political Viability Administrative Operability No change + WA state exam ~ - Training school exam Pharmacy exam

Conclusion Lack of verified standard level of knowledge for technicians is a problem Proposal is to require technicians to pass the PTCB exam Benefits include: Increasing the competency of technicians Reducing medication errors Improving morale Create stable working environment

Resources Rouse, Michael J. “White paper on pharmacy technicians 2002: Needed changes can no longer wait.” American Journal of Health System Pharmacists 60 (2003):37-51. Pharmacy technicians: sesquicentennial stepping stone summits 2002. APhA; p 5 Career. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved December 1, 2003, from Merriam-Webster Online. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary Washington State Board of Pharmacy. Electronic references. Retrieved December 4, 2003 from http://www.leg.wa.gov/wac/index.cfm?fuseaction=Section&Section=246-901-060. Frequently Asked Questions. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online. http://www.ptcb.org Long T. Current and future development with pharmacy technicians. Paper presented at APhA Annual Meeting. Washington, DC; 2003 Mar 19 Guidebook to certification. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online. http://www.ptcb.org http://www.abhes.org/states.2000.asp. Accessed 12/1/03. McRee, Tina. Pharmacy Technicians in California: Snapshot of an emerging profession. 2003: UCSF Center for the Health Professions. Available from: http://www.calendow.org/pub/publications/RXT.pdf. Accessed 12/2/03. Murer, Melissa. Charting a New Course PTCB 2002. Presented at 37th ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting