Pharmacy Technician Certification

Advance Your Career by Taking the Next Step

Pharmacy Technician Certification has become a way for techs to demonstrate to current and prospective employers that they have met an established national standard for pharmacy technician education. If you’re already an experienced pharmacy tech, but not yet certified you may have given the idea some serious thought?  Maybe you have talked to a co-worker about it, or you know someone who has already taken the exam.  Your supervisor could have suggested it to you at your last evaluation, or even better, you asked your boss if certification would mean a pay raise or help advance your career in some way? Some employers are even willing to reimburse you for the exam fee.

If you’re just starting your Pharmacy Technician education, the school representative has most likely emphasized that Pharmacy technician certification will definitely work to your advantage in this very competitive job market.  Many schools, both online and traditional have set up their Pharmacy technician training programs, so you’ll not only have the required skills to work in any pharmacy setting, but you’ll also possess the knowledge necessary to take the certification exam.  One online Pharmacy tech school is so confident that you’ll pass the exam that they will return the exam fee to you if you don’t pass.

Currently there are fifteen states (see below) that require Pharmacy technicians to be certified as a prerequisite for employment.  In all other states certification is either voluntary or has been included in regulations that list it as an alternative to formal education.  Whether required or not by your state, remember that many employers today prefer to hire applicants who are certified pharmacy techs.

There are two organizations in the U.S. that offer Pharmacy Technician certification:

• the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT)

Both organizations are recognized by the states and are accepted by most employers.  However, PTCB appears to be the preferred provider for certification testing.  They were the first organization to establish credentialing standards for Pharmacy Technicians back in 1995. Since that time, they have had over 400,000 technicians nationwide successfully attain PTCB certification (CPhT) by taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

To qualify to sit for the PTCB exam prospective candidates must have:

• a high school diploma or GED
• no felony, drug or pharmacy related convictions
• a clean record with the pharmacy licensing board

The PTCB exam is offered in all 50 states throughout the year at Pearsonvue computer testing centers.  Pharmacy technicians who wish to take the PTCB exam can register and pay for the exam online through PTCB’s website.

To maintain PTCB certification (CPhT), pharmacy technicians will be required to take a total of twenty hours of continuing education every 2 years.

To qualify to take the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) exam one must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have graduated from high school or have the equivalent GED
• Not have any felony convictions

Upon passing ICPT’s exam you will receive the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) designation. As with PTCB, maintaining your certification status will require the completion of twenty continuing education hours every 2 years.  Both organizations require that at least one hour of CE credit be completed in pharmacy law.

States that require Pharmacy Technician Certification: