California professionals now have another certification option in growing field
Beginning January 1, 2017, pharmacy technicians in California will have a choice of certification programs to meet the California licensure requirements. Since most pharmacy employers seek applicants who have earned a pharmacy technician certification (CPhT), and many mandate it as a required qualification, earning this credential from NHA helps job candidates secure employment in their field.
“The approval of the ExCPT exam provides greater access to pharmacy technician jobs in California, where demand for these critical healthcare positions is growing,” said Steve Gray, Kaiser Permanente’s pharmacy professional affairs leader. “Kaiser Permanente applauds the Board of Pharmacy for recognizing the ExCPT and giving applicants more than one technician certification option.”
Ensuring that there are enough qualified pharmacy technicians is essential, since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 400,000 pharmacy technicians will be needed in the United States by 2024. According to the Bureau, California employed more than 33,000 pharmacy technicians as of May 2015– the most in the country.
“NCPA is pleased with the recent decision of the California Board of Pharmacy to add the ExCPT exam to its list of approved pharmacy technician certification exams,” said National Community Pharmacists Association CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA. “Community pharmacy owners in the state will appreciate having the option of an additional approved exam and the larger pool from which they can hire technicians qualified to support dispensing operations, patient care programs and sterile and non-sterile compounding.”
In considering the ExCPT, the Board reviewed a report released in January 2016 by the California Office of Professional Education Services (OPES). OPES evaluated both the ExCPT and the other national certification examination in the state for psychometric soundness and concluded that both exams were developed in accordance with recognized standards.
OPES also assessed the applicability of the exams to pharmacy technician practice in California. For this assessment, OPES engaged a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) comprised of licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who reviewed the ability of each exam to assess pharmacy technician candidates’ knowledge with respect to entry-level practice requirements in both retail and hospital pharmacies, where 74% and 17% of pharmacy technicians, respectively, find employment.
The SME panel concluded that the ExCPT measured a candidate’s job readiness more effectively than the other national exam, saying it “captures a broader range of practical knowledge required of entry-level pharmacy technicians.” The SMEs further noted that the “knowledge tested on the ExCPT represents a broader middle ground that addresses both retail and hospital settings.” Another key SME panel finding was that the ExCPT’s “emphasis on the prevention of medication errors enhances patient safety.”
“We’re pleased that California has approved the ExCPT a direct route to a pharmacy technician license,” said Lyndsey McDonald, director of strategic alliances, ExCPT, at NHA. “It’s testament to NHA’s commitment to upholding rigorous exam standards that assess practitioner competency and our significant investments to maintain the highest-quality certification programs.”
Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the NHA ExCPT is recognized by numerous Boards of Pharmacy throughout the United States. The NHA regulatory and advocacy team works with regulators, legislative representatives and healthcare professionals to advocate for access to a better future for those pursuing a frontline healthcare career such as pharmacy technician.