Pharmacy organizations have recommended a requirement that candidates for employment as pharmacy technicians be required to complete an accredited training program and obtain national certification by passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
In alliance with these recommendations, starting in 2020, PTCB implemented new education requirements mandating that in order to qualify to sit for the PTCE, applicants must complete a training program jointly accredited by ASHP and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). These accrediting bodies have set standards for these training programs, which include a minimum of 600 hours of training, including at least 160 hours of didactic training, 80 hours of simulation, and 160 hours of experiential education.
This article reviews the statutes and regulations to determine entry-level requirements for pharmacy technicians across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of training and certification are reported.