• Pharmacy techs help pharmacists provide medications to patients under federal and state laws.Prescription medicine image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  Pursuing national certification is a way for pharmacy technicians to increase their marketability for work anywhere in the U.S. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers this certification to candidates after making an application and passing an examination. To demonstrate the value of this credential, the PTCB announced in 2010 that the Department of Veterans Affairs now requires this certification for employment at Level 6 in the General Schedule.
  
  

Testing Arrangements

• Applicants must obtain a passing score on the exam offered at Pearson Professional Test Centers and DANTES Test Centers. Before an applicant makes her application for the test, she should determine if she will be paying for it herself or will receive sponsorship from her employer. The PTCB guide to certification advises that an applicant with sponsors has a different applicant process and should check with her employer first. After applying for the exam and being accepted, applicants must schedule an appointment with Pearson VUE or DANTES (for military applicants only). PTCB offers testing accommodations to persons with special needs. Failing the exam means the applicant has 3 chances to retake the exam.
  
  

Testing Preparation

• The pharmacy tech can prepare for the exam by reviewing the appendix in the PTCB guide to certification. This guide lists content in an outline form, offering an easy format for review. Sixty-six percent of the exam consists of content related to assisting the pharmacist in serving patients. Topics include receiving prescription orders and collecting and communicating data about patients. Twenty-two percent of the exam consists of how to maintain medication and inventory control systems. Topics include identifying pharmaceuticals, equipment, devices and supplies and placing orders to restock these pharmacy inventory items. The remaining twelve percent of the exam covers participating in the administration and management of pharmacy practice. For example, techs help pharmacists participate in quality assurance activities and comply with federal regulations and professional standards.
  
  

Additional Requirements

• The national certification from PTCB must be renewed every 2 years. PTCB notes that applicants will have to reapply, showing proof of 20 hours of continuing education (including pharmacy law) and remit the renewal fee. Some pharmacy techs will be randomly selected each year for audit of their continuing education. If the tech is selected for audit, he must provide copies of all certificates of participation from continuing education courses completed in the 2-year period.