NPTA and ACPE New Tech CE Standard

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I had planned on posting this on 2-10-05 PM but I felll asleep and

then got too busy after class tonight. So here it goes on 2-12-04 at

2 am but had been written 2-10-04 !

Jeanetta

Dear All,

I am happy to announce the following email as a cut and paste from my

email account from NPTA!!! While I believe that some pharmacy

technicians are definitely capable of understanding and completing

some pharmacist ACPE approved CE for pharmacists, and I never want to

see this privilege denied, I do believe that there is a need for

standardized CE for the pharmacy technician.

I am one of the pharmacy technicians who has learned more from

pharmacist CE than any other means since I became a pharmacy

technician in l989. I do not know if I am a rare breed, but

considering the fact that most US techs are not formally educated at

this time I would say so. Attending CE for Pharmacists has enabled me

to better write/author, develop and present suitable CE for the

pharmacy technician, which I have been doing since l996.

On the other hand it has been a long time coming for technicians, to

have their OWN CE quality and accreditation process, so that the CE

for them in general can be written at a level of understanding, and

with technical information that most pharmacy technicians can

identify with that is transferable to their specific technical duties

and job functions as a pharmacy technician.

I CONGRATULATE NPTA, on their success in getting such an approval

process and helping to set standards. When Mike ston had this

brainstorm and shared this idea with me and told me of the original

meeting, way back when, I was very excited. I do believe that Mike is

an extra-ordinary man who sets daily, as well as long-term goals,

with the best intentions for technicians in mind, and meets them.

One of the things that led to this brain storm was the fact that

Louisiana required ACPE approved CE for technicians, yet La never

required the techs to go to school in the first place!!! Andtheonly

ACPE CE's were only approved for pharmacists. After listening to many

techs from La, and understanding their problem, Mike went to work to

fight for these techs !!! Mike began at the 2003 Convention, right

after making the announcement that NPTA was going to tackle this

issue!! What he has accomplished helps not only Louisiana techs, but

US techs nationwide. No more will techs have to say that there are NO

or only a few quality or pertinent CE's available for the pharmacy

technician. While many companies have offered pharmacy tech CE's,

many have failed to provide " quality " CE's. Some CE's are so very

easy you could do them in your sleep. Some are just as difficult as

many pharmacist's CE's. Some just poorly written. I for one am happy

to see the standard.

When I first began speaking in l996 and teaching CE's one of the

first things I had to do was go through a process of getting my CE

approved by ACPE. I was to present Osteoarthrits in 2000 at the CSHP

Focus in Northern California. EVERYTHING had to meet specific

criteria! Everything!!! This included my background and

qualifications check! Sadly, I have not had any of my CE's go through

such scrutiny since!!! Editing yes, but accreditation NO!

Further I also have found a pharmacist or two sitting in an ACPE CE

that did not realize that it was designed and intended for pharmacy

technicians, and that he/she would not get pharmacist credit for it.

I think this logo will separate out the Pharmacy Technican " Level " CE

from the Pharmacist CE and still have some continuity of

standardization. Finally!!!

After speaking to Mike ston this very night (2-10-04 the 5th

Anniversary of NPTA by the way!) I have been assured by him that my

fears and concerns are not an issue. I explained to him that I do

hope that they (ACPE, PTCB, NPTA, ASHP or any entity) will continue

to fight to keep the pharmacists CE available for pharmacy

technicians. Why? Because much of what is presented to technicians is

frankly just not 'enough' for me. I need more. I require more. And I

learn more with more technical information and data. That is how I

have evolved. So if there were any plans by ACPE or PTCB to take that

away from me, I would learn nothing or very little with Pharmacy Tech

CE alone. (do not get me wrong I know that there will be/are areas of

tech CE/issues that I will/do need to get some basic and advanced

tech level information). Mike assured me that PTCB still allows and

accepts non-ACPE approved CE. He said that to his knowledge he was

not aware of any requirement of PTCB to require such.

I think that allowing techs and pharmacists to sit together at the

same table, to break bread together and to study and listen together

has done MORE for the recognition of pharmacy technicians than any

one thing in the last 10 years!!! Yep!! I recall the way things were

long before techs were allowed to attend the dinner CE's. I can

recall how teamwork and team spirit increased thereafter....

So I would not want to revert to a separation of the two into

a " we " " they " situations again.

So a message to NPTA: Thank you for continuing in the fight to allow

techs who want, need, understand and thrive on CE for the pharmacist

to continue to learn at their rate and capacity. Thank you for not

allowing this wonderful New Standard for Pharmacy Technicians

to 'limit' some techs their sincere attempt to become further

educated.

Again much appreciation to NPTA, Mike ston, Mike Rouse and others

who I am not aware of that have been a big part of this advancement

in standardization, which can only result in a higher quality and

technician oriented continued education that technicians across the

nation need.

I raise my glass to you all!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

Tue, 10 Feb 2004 17:16:43 -0500

" " NPTA Launches New Standard for Pharmacy Technician CE through ACPE

February 9, 2004 (Houston, Texas) - NPTA, the National Pharmacy

Technician Association announced today the launch of a new,

accredited standard for pharmacy technician continuing education,

through their relationship with ACPE, the Accreditation Council on

Pharmaceutical Education, an independent agency that accredits

providers of continuing pharmacy education.

" This is a major development in the evolution and standardization of

pharmacy technicians, " stated Mike ston, CPhT, Executive Director

of NPTA. " For the past several years, the leadership of our

organization has focused on the issue of standardizing CE for

pharmacy technicians and ensuring the highest standards in quality -

our relationship with ACPE has evolved into the perfect solution. "

By working directly with ACPE, NPTA is ensuring the highest quality

of educational content and creating consistency. Such uniformity in

standardized CEs will allow employers and state boards to recognize

and evaluate all pharmacy technicians on an equal basis. By

supporting and directing their pharmacy technicians to technician-

specific programs, nationwide educational solidity will develop.

Such a need in educational consistency arises due to state variations

in regulations and pharmacy boards concerning technicians. Although

some pharmacy technicians face stringent educational requirements;

other states have no formal requisites. NPTA, however, discovered

years ago that nearly all ACPE programming was created specifically

for pharmacists' education, thus inappropriate for most technicians.

In addition, while ACPE-programs may exist for pharmacy technicians,

pharmacists can fail to identify the difference between such

programs; and thus complete a non-certified course. In efforts to

solve both problems and increase the national standards of continuing

education, NPTA has unveiled this new standard for all pharmacy

technicians [see logo below].

This NPTA universal trademark below indicates the continuing

education program content is intended specifically for certified

pharmacy technicians. While the positive impact this announcement

will make for the pharmacy profession is inherent, NPTA commits

itself to the continuation of standardization of technician education

as an initial phase. NPTA intends to work closely with other ACPE-

accredited providers in ensuring the uniform use of this new standard.

Official Logo for New Standardized CE for Pharmacy Technicians

###

NPTA, the National Pharmacy Technician Association is the 24,000

membership organization representing pharmacy technicians, educators

and trainers of varying practice settings throughout the United

States and Internationally. Since 1999, NPTA has launched Today's

Technician™ Magazine, The Technician Convention, Intellitech

Publications and STAT Educational Services.

PO Box 683148, Houston, TX, 77268-3148 " " "

You MAY VIEW THE LOGO BY CHECKING OUT THE DOCUMENT SECTION OF THIS

SITE. : NPTA NEW TECHNICIAN CE STANDARD

Respectfully to all,

Jeanetta

[Guest guest]

You MAY VIEW THE Press Release and LOGO BY CHECKING OUT THE DOCUMENT

SECTION OF THIS SITE. : NPTA NEW TECHNICIAN CE STANDARD

Or just go to the NPTA site at:

http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT