The tasks assigned to pharmacy technicians are very important and carries with it some serious responsibilities. To ensure that only those who are highly qualified are able to work in this field, the pharmacy technician certification has been made as one of the basic requirements for the job. There are states that require certification from their hired technicians, however several states that do not require it yet. To safeguard the quality service given by pharmacies, certification will soon be required for all the technicians across the country.
Don’t be mistaken about where to get the pharmacy technician license because it is the private organizations that awards this and not the State Board of Pharmacy. Certification should only be taken from a reputable and renowned certifying organization. The PTCB or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is one of the two certifying organizations that are acknowledged by the State Board of Pharmacy and the pharmaceutical establishments all over the country. The PTCB has been in operation for many years now and they have certified thousands of pharmacy technicians already. Technicians who are not certified have relatively lower salary than those certified technicians awarded by the PTCB.
The pharmacy technician certification exam given by PTCB is not easy to pass. The goal of this certification examination is to evaluate the comprehension of the technicians on pharmaceutical matters. The computer-based examination of the PTCB is made possible by the Pearson VUE, and it is made available nationwide. When it comes to computer based testing, the Pearson VUE is the industry leader that sets off the standard when it comes to reliability and quality. During the examination, each applicant will receive a different set of test items, but even though the item are different, they will all focus on one topic.
The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians is the other nationally recognized certifying organization that employers and State boards of pharmacy highly regard. The ICPT gives out certification exams that only those who are truly competent can surpass it. It comprises of 110 questions in multiple choice type which is all about the duties and responsibilities of a technician and it is to be taken for 2 hours. There are so many pharmacy technicians these days that have obtained their certification from the ICPT.
You will also be able to know the results of the exam almost as immediately as you were done taking them. Those who passed the examination will be given an official report that says that you are now certified. You can use this report as your evidence that you passed if an employer of State pharmacy board ask you for proof of your pharmacy technician certification. Re-takes for those who did not make it pass the certification will be given after a month from the first try. They will also be given a report that indicates which subject they need to focus on.
Acquiring the certification from either of the two recognized organization will open doors for your success in this industry. With a certification, you will have better employment chances and a better salary pay. Being certified gives you the advantage of being chosen from among the other regular technicians with no certification. Certification is quite difficult to obtain, which is why many employers know the real value of being a certified technician. This certification is a proof of the pharmacy technicians’ competency in performing the tasks expected of them.
