Last week New York’s Governor signed SB 6517 bill into law, which defines the role of “registered pharmacy technicians” and establishes qualifications for licensure. The bill also differentiates between the responsibilities of registered (licensed) technicians and unlicensed technicians—and establishes a ratio requirement.
All 50 states accept the ExCPT exam from National Healthcareer Association (NHA), helping more pharmacy technicians earn a national credential
LEAWOOD, Kan., October 24, 2019 -- Pharmacy technicians now have options in all states for national certification. National Healthcareer Association’s Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT®) is now accepted in all states that require certification as well as all states that either expand the number of permitted pharmacy technicians or the scope of pharmacy technician practice based on certification. The ExCPT certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) credential confirms a pharmacy technician’s knowledge and competency in the core tasks of the role, which in turn enhances patient safety. Removing barriers that limit the options for certification creates a larger pool of qualified technicians, promotes innovation in the development of training and exam resources, and amplifies the collective voice of industry advocates that support professional advancement for technicians.
The first podcast within the Pharmacy Podcast Network to focus on pharm techs will explore their impact on workflow and patient care
Together with the California Pharmacist Association (CPhA), NHA announces the inaugural California Pharmacy Technician Recognition Program. The awards will be presented live at Western Pharmacy Exchange Annual Conference on April 13thduring the CPhA Awards Ceremony Luncheon from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. “Recognizing high performing innovators amongst pharmacy technicians, technician educators and employers is an important way to elevate the pharmacy technician profession,” said Jessica Langley, Executive Director of Education and Advocacy at NHA. The application process is now live in the following categories:
Lyndsey McDonald, director of business development at NHA, sat down with ECRM's Scott Porter to discuss developing staff for pharmacies of the future. Watch the full interview below:
We are pleased to announce that the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP), in collaboration with two independent evaluators, again issued the ExCPT certification program “full award status.” Full award status indicates the ExCPT exam is suitable and acceptable for the examination and certification of pharmacy technicians in the state of Texas.
Higher education was a hot topic during the month of March as stakeholders across the education sector engaged in rigorous advocacy and political outreach The data across this sector highlights sensitivity around educational preparedness and workplace rediness with only a third of students believing they will graduate with the skills and knowledge to be successful in the job market (34%) and in the workplace (36%).
In addition to discussions around education, there is continued excitement around advancing the roles of allied health professionals in fields like medical assisting and pharmacy tech. This month I had the opportunity to attend and speak on an industry panel discussing how pharmacy technicians are being seen as the back-bone of our pharmacies and the need for awareness around the topic.
NHA is in the process of launching our TEAM Based Care™ Assessment Based Certificate Program. This is an online learning and assessment tool for team-based and coordinated care teams that includes a psychometrically sound exam to prove competency. It was created to unite care teams, while empowering professionals within each role to work to the top of their credentials.
February is CTE Month®, a time to bring recognition and awareness to the impact Career and Technical Education has on the lives of so many hospitals, patients, teachers and students. NHA is happy to support the efforts of so many and to provide not just credentials but empower people to thrive. Check out additional ways that CTE is being recognized this month.
The middle skill economy was also discussed this month as both the Higher Education Act and Perkin’s Reauthorization is still being debated on Capital Hill. By identifying job market needs and providing programming aimed at helping to retool the skill sets required for middle-skill jobs, universities and colleges can help middle-skilled workers increase their earning potential while cashing in on a lucrative new revenue stream.
What does the future of healthcare look like as e-commerce giants such as Amazon look to disrupt the healthcare industry at an attempt to lower health cost at a time when they are forecasting that healthcare cost will represent 19.7% of the economy by 2026, up from 17.9% in 2016.
A new year is in full swing, with healthcare and education already being discussed heavily within the regulatory space and the private sector. These conversations leave us with a few questions:
- What major changes will we see in these two sectors?
- How will regulatory decisions impact how individuals receive both care and education?
Healthcare has taken over as the largest source of jobs in the U.S. and it’s just the beginning. Of the 10 jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics project will see the fastest percent growth in the next decade, five are in healthcare and elderly assistance. Unfortunately, this take over comes at a time when we continue to see dissatisfaction and shortages among primary care providers.
The Higher Education Act and reauthorization of Perkin’s funds for the career and technical education space are currently on the legislative docket; both of which could impact the future of America’s workforce. Will the importance of earning industry recognized credentials gradually decline, or will they rise to the top and be key indicators of professional competency?
Only time will tell.
The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has begun accepting pharmacy technician registration applications. Per Ohio law, all pharmacy technicians practicing in Ohio must be registered with the Board by April 6, 2018.
Registration of technicians involves the processing of application materials by Board of Pharmacy staff. Due to the high volume of expected applicants, it is strongly recommended that individuals apply for registration by March 1, 2018. Submission of applications and application materials by March 1, 2018 will ensure that existing technicians can be registered by the required deadline of April 6, 2018.