PTCB recognizes education and training programs that meet the criteria outlined in the CPhT Knowledge Reference Document.
Recognition as a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program (REP) is available only to programs based in the United States and its territories. International programs are not eligible for PTCB recognition unless a jurisdiction’s government regulator officially requires or recognizes PTCB’s CPhT Certification for pharmacy practice (NOTE: Candidates in that jurisdiction must meet the eligibility requirements to take the exam). PTCB exams are only administered within the United States.
To be eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam® (PTCE®), a student must either complete a REP or have 500 hours of equivalent work experience.
The following resources are available for you to create your program or prepare to become a REP.
Accreditation
PTCB does not serve as an academic accreditor. Many REPs are already accredited, but accreditation is not a requirement for a program to be a REP.
PTCB automatically recognizes education/training programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by ASHP/ACPE or ABHES, the attestation survey must be completed by a program director to receive PTCB recognition.
Please check with your state board of pharmacy for additional state-specific requirements for training/educating pharmacy technicians.
External Resources
External resources, often used as textbooks in pharmacy technician programs, may be helpful for individuals preparing for the PTCE. While PTCB does not recommend or endorse specific educational materials, the following examples are provided for informational purposes only:
- Manual for Pharmacy Technicians, 5th Edition
- The Pharmacy Technician, 6th Edition
- Pharmaceutical Calculations, 16th Edition
- The Pharmacy Technician's Pocket Drug Reference, 12th Edition
PTCB also offers two unique ways for CPhT candidates to prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam® (PTCE®)—the PTCE Practice Bank® and the Pre-PTCE®.
How to Get Your Program Recognized by PTCB
- Create Your Account: Once you have developed your program, create your PTCB Educator Account, log in and submit your attestation to become recognized.
- Attestation Survey: This survey may take some time to complete, as program directors need to review and attest that their program curriculum covers the specific areas of knowledge required by PTCB. Please note, this survey does not ask for any information about the instructor’s education or credentials.
- Program Requirements: There is no minimum program length required to be a REP, and PTCB does not have a requirement for experiential hours. Your program simply needs to meet the CPhT Knowledge Requirements, which can be found in the CPhT Knowledge Reference.
Please note: Throughout the year, PTCB audits a selection of REPs to verify the information in the Recognized Education/Training Program Attestation is accurate.
What if I have multiple locations?
You can choose the approach that works best for your school or district. If all campuses use the same curriculum, you can submit the attestation at a district level. In this case, we will need a list of all schools offering the pharmacy technician program. Let us know your decision by sending a Help Request.
When Will I Hear Back?
Please allow PTCB up to 10 business days for review of your attestation. Once approved, you will receive a welcome email, and your program will be added to our REP Directory.
Important note: Courses that are solely designed to prepare students for the PTCE are not eligible for recognition. Additionally, activities such as study groups and personal tutoring are not eligible.
Related Help Center Articles:
My PTCB-Recognized CPhT Education/Training Program was selected for audit. What do I need to do?