Technicians


If you are interested in learning more about ICHP Volunteer opportunities check out: Volunteer with ICHP


 

PHARMACY TECH TOPICS MEMBER SUBSCRIBERS:

If you need help with your Pharmacy Tech Topics subscription, please email Jo Haley - JHaley@ichpnet.org, with "Tech Topics Question" in the subject line.


Check out the Pharmacy Tech Topics Brochure and the Pharmacy Tech Topics website.



Tech Network

ICHP Pharmacy Technician Network

The ICHP Pharmacy Technician Network has started meeting and welcomes volunteer members. The Network now meets virtually every other month on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, now at 5:30 pm-6:30 pm. You can help make this technician network a success! Volunteer today! For details about the new Technician Network, see the announcement in the Hi Tech column in the KeePosted News Journal, November 2019 issue. Minutes of the meetings are posted on the Pharmacy Technician Network Resources webpage, available to members only.

To learn more about the many opportunities for ICHP technicians, please check out Becky Ohrmund's article in the ICHP KeePosted News Journal, February 2020 issue.

Please let us know if you are interested in any of these volunteer activities or in joining the new technician network! Contact trishw@ichpnet.org or maggiea@ichpnet.org. 

ICHP Pharmacy Technician Network Mission & Vision PDF

ICHP Members must log in to view the minutes of the Pharmacy Technician Network.


Thinking about joining ICHP as a technician member?

Check out our ICHP technician member benefits and sign up today!

Check out the many free home study programs for ICHP members.
Free Home Study CE for ICHP Technician Members!

And all ICHP Technician members receive a FREE subscription to Pharmacy Tech Topics - all the continuing pharmacy education you need for PTCB recertification! See below.


KeePosted - Hi Tech

Check out these articles written by ICHP technician members: 

KeePosted - Technician Leadership Spotlights


Interested in a Pharmacy Technician Advancement Program?


PTCB Will Launch Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv) and Five Assessment-Based Certificate Programs - July 2019

PTCB will expand its credentialing programs by adding five assessment-based certificate programs for advanced technician roles, and an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT-Adv) credential.  The new assessment-based certificate programs will recognize the important contributions pharmacy technicians make to advance medication safety.  Candidates seeking to be a CPhT-Adv will be required to have earned at least four of the new certificates to be eligible.  Read more on PTCB's website.

PTCB is Connected to CPE Monitor 

PTCB is now connected to the CPE Monitor database so your CPE Monitor account will be accessible for your PTCB recertification. This connection is designed to allow CE hours entered into your CPE Monitor account to be recorded simultaneously in your PTCB account. All PTCB recertification continuing education credit will be reported through the national database CPE Monitor. 

All pharmacy technicians must set up an NABP e-Profile ID by October 2019 if you have not already done so. To obtain your NABE e-Profile ID: NABP Set Up.   For information on PTCB recertification and CPE Monitor: PTCB Info


What is CPE Monitor?
The CPE Monitor is a national, collaborative effort by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education that allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to track their completed CPE credits in a central system. Part of this process involves you, as a CPhT. It is important that you log into your CPE Monitor Account to be sure your NABP e-Profile is set up correctly, and then check to be sure your PTCB Certification number is reflected. Be sure and register for your CPE Monitor account.

Online Only Licensure Process for Pharmacy Technicians

Need to renew for Illinois? Illinois has an ONLINE ONLY licensure process. Please note that all paper applications and payments for impacted professions will be returned to the sender. This applies to the Pharmacy Technician profession among others per the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

For Online Portal Access: Online Portal

For Renewal Online Information: Online Renewal


Pharmacy Tech Topics™

Online version is free to ICHP Technician members!

ICHP pharmacy technician members are automatically signed up for an online subscription to Pharmacy Tech Topics™ as part of their ICHP membership and receive an email with access information from the pharmacytechtopics.com website. If you need assistance accessing your online subscription, please call us at 815-227-9292.

Pharmacy Tech Topics™ is home study continuing education for pharmacy technicians by Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists.

Our modules are authored by leading pharmacy experts in their field, and address the latest disease management and operational issues.  Modules are published quarterly in January, April, July and October.  A two year Pharmacy Tech Topics™ subscription fulfills all of PTCB’s recertification requirements (twenty contact hours, including law and patient safety credit)!  Two options available: online and paper modules by mail!


For more information, please visit www.pharmacytechtopics.com.



ASHP & ACPE Announcements Impacting Pharmacy Technicians

Your CE Requirements: What Changed
PTCB continuing education (CE) recertification requirements for CPhTs allows 10 CE hours earned via college/university courses. A maximum of 10 of your 20 CE hours may be earned by completing a relevant college course with a grade of 'C' or better. Please note, in-service hours are not accepted for CE credit in recertification. For more on PTCB Recertification Requirements. 

ASHP and ACPE Announce Updates in Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Standards
Beginning in 2020, PTCB will require candidates for initial certification to complete a pharmacy technician education program accredited jointly by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In addition, PTCB is updating the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). Certification eligibility pathways: 1. completion of a PTCB-recognized education/training program; 2. equivalent work experience of 500 hours and attesting to specified knowledge requirements. To read more.

PTCB Changed Continuing Education Requirements 

PTCB requires CPhTs to submit 20 hours of pharmacy technician-specific (‘T-specific’) continuing education (CE) to qualify for recertification. As of 2018, PTCB does not allow in-service training to qualify for CE. Additional new requirements, taking effect January 1, 2020, are part of the program changes announced by PTCB to advance pharmacy technician qualifications by elevating PTCB’s standards for certification and recertification. Please review the PTCB Renewal Information.

Resources for Technicians

The above resources are for current pharmacy technicians and those individuals who want to become one!  Visit these exciting websites to learn all you can about the career of pharmacy technician.  Training, education, certification, frequently asked questions and much more.  Time to get started and move up the career ladder!

Need help recertifying online? Check out PTCB's Recertification & Renewal Page for step-by-step help at www.ptcb.org! Have a different question? Check out the PTCB Help Center.

PTCB
  


Important Phone Numbers & websites for Help to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician:

Periodicals and Study Guides
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (301) 657-3000
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, Inc. (800) 363-8012
American Pharmacists Association (800) 878-0729
Michigan Pharmacists Association (517) 484-1466
Delmar Publishers (800) 842-3636
EMC Paradigm Publishers (800) 328-1452
Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins (800) 638-3030
Morton Publishing Company (800) 348-3777
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (703) 549-3001
National Community Pharmacists Association (703) 683-8200
Pharmacy Education Resources, Inc. (713) 639-3175
Pharmacy Marketing Group (800) 798-4338
Precept Press (800) 225-3775
Regulation and Licensure Questions
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (847) 698-6227
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
   idfpr.com