| Get your PTCB Certification and increase your job | | | | products, and refunded products, knowledge of policies, |
| opportunities as well as the odds that you will be paid | | | | procedures, and practices regarding storage and |
| more than techs that are not certified. The Pharmacy | | | | handling of hazardous materials and wastes (for |
| Technician Certification Board administers the | | | | example, Materials Safety Data Sheet [MSDS]), and |
| certification test and offers a guidebook. You may | | | | knowledge of inventory receiving process. |
| register for the exam as well as access the | | | | Participating in the Administration and Management of |
| guidebook and other resources at ptcb.org. | | | | Pharmacy Practice was 12% of the exam in 2007 and |
| The PTCB exam covers three broad areas of | | | | includes knowledge of sanitation requirements (for |
| knowledge including: Assisting the Pharmacist in | | | | example, handwashing, cleaning counting trays, |
| Serving Patients, Maintaining Medication and Inventory | | | | countertop, and equipment), knowledge of procedures |
| Control Systems, and Participating in the Administration | | | | to document occurrences such as medication errors, |
| and Management of Pharmacy Practice. | | | | adverse effects, and product integrity (for example, |
| Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients was 66% | | | | FDA Med Watch Program), and knowledge of lines of |
| of the exam in 2007 and includes knowledge of | | | | communication throughout the organization. |
| anatomy and physiology, knowledge of pharmaceutical | | | | The guidebook to the Pharmacy Technician |
| and medical abbreviations and terminology, and | | | | Certification Board exam is a comprehensive 41 page |
| knowledge of effects of patient's age (for example, | | | | document which covers these topics as well as many |
| neonates, geriatrics) on drug and non-drug therapy. | | | | others and prepares you for taking the exam. |
| Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems | | | | A career as a certified pharmacy technician can be |
| was 22% of the exam in 2007 and includes | | | | very rewarding. The demand for techs is strong and |
| knowledge of regulatory requirements regarding | | | | you have the option to continue your education and |
| record-keeping for repackaged products, recalled | | | | pursue becoming a pharmacist. |