As the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians and pharmacy setting practices continue to advance, continuous learning is essential.
Many state Boards of Pharmacy require pharmacy technicians to complete continuing education (CE) courses; CE credits are also required to maintain CPhT certification through the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) and NHA (National Healthcareer Association). (You can learn more about the continuing education requirements for re-certification with the PTCB and NHA by visiting our CE Requirements page.)
Even if you are not required to complete CE courses, continuous learning has many benefits, like helping you become an even better pharmacy technician and equipped to take on more specialized and senior roles.
Numerous pharmacy and pharmacy technician associations, as well as colleges, offer continuing education courses. If you are completing credits to meet requirements for certification or for your state board, you need to make sure they approve of education provider.
For example, the PTCB approves providers that are accredited by the ACPE (Accreditation Council forPharmacy Education (ACPE); the NHA tends to recommend courses from such providers as the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
Contact your state board or certification authority, (i.e. the PTCB and NHA), to be sure the CE course you plan on taking is acceptable.
Not all Pharmacy Technician CE Courses are FREE, but some are! And many are reasonably priced. Here are just someexamples:
1. “The Role of the Pharmacy Technician in Inventory Management”
– For pharmacy technicians to learn best inventory practices and in a community pharmacy setting.
– Sponsored by Postgraduate Healthcare Education, LLC which is accredited by the ACPE.
– 2 Credit Hours
– Online course expires October 31, 2014.
For more information visit:
https://www.ptcb.org/about-ptcb/news-room/ce-updates#.U7vzwvldUuc
https://www.powerpak.com/courses/
2. “Brave New World of Medication Adherence and Compliance Technology”
– Geared for pharmacists, nurses and pharmacy technicians.
– For pharmacy technicians to learn barriers to taking medications as required, of electronic tools that help patients improve their medication adherence and of relationship management.
– Delivered by PharmCon, Inc. which is accredited by the ACPE.
– 1.25 Contact Hours
– Live Online Courseis offered on August 14, August 21, September 16 and other future dates.
For more information visit:
https://www.freece.com/freece/Calendar.aspx
3. Opportunities and Challenges Related to Pharmacy Technicians in Supporting Optimal Pharmacy Practice Models in Hospitals and Health System
– Geared for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that work in hospital and health system pharmacies.
– Discusses expanding roles of and pharmacy technicians, as well as on training and certification of pharmacy techs and other topics.
– Delivered by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists which is accredited by the ACPE.
– 1.0 Contact Hour
– Online Course expires October 13, 2014.
For more information visit:
https://www.ashp.org/menu/Education/Online-Programs/ACPE-204-999-11-064-H04P.aspx
Explore the links accompanying the sample CE courses [above] as these sources provide information on additional pharmacy technician courses that are FREE or reasonably priced.
