---
title: NHA Approves Alternative Pharm Tech Certification Eligibility Pathway
description: On October 1st, ExCPT candidates may sit for the certification exam prior to completing a pharm techn training program. Review the criteria for details.
image: https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/pharmacist-showing-pharmacy-technician-perscriptions-on-the-computer.jpg
---
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# NHA News Center
# NHA Approves Alternative Pharm Tech Certification Eligibility Pathway
Posted by [National Healthcareer Association](https://info.nhanow.com/mediacenter/author/national-healthcareer-association) on October 2022
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Recently, the NHA Pharmacy Technician Governing Board unanimously voted to approve an alternative eligibility pathway to sit for the national certification exam. On October 1, ExCPT candidates may sit for the certification exam prior to completing a pharmacy technician training program. In order to sit for the exam prior to full completion of a pharmacy technician training program, candidates have to meet certain criteria outlined below.
ExCPT National Certification Exam Criteria:
- NHA must have an agreement on file with the candidate’s institution, allowing their learners to sit for the exam prior to completion of the training program.
- The learner must be within 90 days of completing their training program.
- When a learner sits for the exam prior to full completion of the training program and passes, they will be notified that they passed the exam, but their certification will be held until their institution provides NHA with proof of completion of their training program. Until their certificate is released, they will not be considered certified, and if they do not provide proof of program completion within the 90-day window, they would then be required to retake the exam, provided they have completed or will complete their training program within 90 days.
NHA works hard to meet industry needs, and we understand that training occurs across many institutions and learning environments. CTE, vocational, employer, and community college programs find this alternative certification eligibility pathway to be a valuable opportunity to ensure that they have additional influence over their learners to successfully take and pass the national exam.
For more information and a listing of the full language, please view the NHA candidate handbook at: [https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/candidate\_handbook.pdf](https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/candidate_handbook.pdf)
Topics: [Pharmacy Technicians](https://info.nhanow.com/mediacenter/topic/pharmacy-technicians)
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