Re: ExCPT CPhT vs PTCB CPhT?

[Guest guest]

lets hope this extends into canada as well, as from

what I remember (and any canadians on here can verify)

there is an exam in ontario that is only given there,

yet no one else in canada can say they are CPhT

without their exam! even if they took the PCTB! I

totally agree with this new ruling, even if i'm not

entirely sure the exams are completely equal at this

point in time.

--- Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

<rxjm2002@...> wrote:

Dear All,

A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters:

CPhT!

Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are

no longer specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT

means certified pharmacy technician just as RPh means

registered pharmacist or RN means registered nurse.

http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

>

> From this point on which ever the test you take to

> certify you as a

> pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a

> certified pharmacy

> technician.

>

> However your state will determine which test or

> tests you may take to

> become certified.

> Here is an example:

>

> Currently in the state of Oregon you may become

> certified by taking

> either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

>

> Currently in the state of California you may

> graduate from a state

> approved pharmacy technician program or you may take

> PTCB's PTCE exam

> to become certified.

>

> Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a

> state training

> program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

>

> The NEWS Release can be read at:

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> Find the following headline and click on the

> appropriate 'button':

> CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified

> Technicians

> Learn More... (PDF)

>

>

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Pharm Tech Educator

>

>

" If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. "

- Yogi Berra

ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING

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________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

ATTENTION THIS IS A REPOST WITH ONE MAJOR EDIT: Changed the word NOT to the word

" NOW " in the third paragraph of my post! MY APOLOGIES! the previous post has

been removed to avoid any confusion.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

Karin, I am sooooooooooo glad you said that! In my circle of educators, many

have embraced the PTCE or PTCB exam as the only exam to allow one to call him or

herself a certified pharmacy technician. To even breath a word otherwise may

make you sound like a 'traitor' when in fact you are just airing your opinion on

fairness.

No one owns the title registered nurse or certified plumber.

And I agree until I KNOW which of the tests both or one (if so which one) is

psychometrically sound and if the tests are comparable I can no say if one, both

or none should be used. What I can say is that both companies or organizations

claim to be psychometrically sound.

I do hope that an independent THIRD party becomes the overseer of nation's

certification of pharmacy technician, especially if we see more than Oregon and

Montana allow for ExCPT.

This third party should oversee all certification data coming from the

independent certification exams so that we can have a true national

certification process.

I foresee ONE certification paper that would list the date and 'SERVICE ' that

provided the test if in fact they are deemed equal. They also should not have

anything to do with testing!!! They MUST be a neutral party that houses data,

oversees pharm tech or consumer complaints of the testing organizations, sites,

accreditation (if any), use of the term CPhT, comparability and 'soundness' of

the exams no matter how many more exams crop up!!! Currently ther eare three

exams. Only two that I know of are accepted by any of the states.

I do not wish to loose site! We MUST applaud PTCB for the start of something

BIG and necessary: competency testing for pharmacy technicians. This led to

continued education for techs and that led to more accredited pharmacy

technician schools and programs.

But now the evolution of this process has made a competitor: ExCPT. And this

competitor can NOW use the initials behind the names of all who pass their exam.

This only means we need to know if the two are comparable.

If not the writing is on the wall:

Act I Break room

Susie CPhT: " I am a PTCB certified pharm tech, I am better than you and I

should get $2.00 more an hour than you do " .

CPhT: " But I have taken the NEWEST exam ExCPT and I am going to ask for

more money than you because I am an ExCPT certified pharmacy technician.

Darlene RPh: 'Hold it hold it! you are both certified pharmacy technicians,

what is the difference? I will not pay one more than the other! " .

Act II - RPh Staff meeting

Tim RPh: Yes Darlene, my brother in law works for " U-Choose It Testing " and

said the " U Choose It " test made by " UDose it " is the better test. So we should

pay Susie/ (Your Choice!) more than Susie/ (Your Choice)

Act III

CPhT: Darlene!!!! #$%**%^ Susie's pulling my hair!

Susie CPhT: Darlene!!!#$ %**% is socking my arm!

CPhT: YES! because I am an ExCPT CPhT I can sock harder than you!

Susie CPhT: Yeah! Well I am a PTCB CPhT and because of that I can pull

anyone's hair harder than you!

Darlene RPhT: Stop it Stop it! There is enough work for both of you. But I will

have to make an exam and test you myself to see what you both know since I don't

know which of your exams is better or if they are the same!

Final Act!

Dunt Dunt' D DA! Presto! A new test is born!

And suddenly we learn that RPh owns the testing company!

or is it the Final Act?.......

Okay people we NEED oversight of the certification process NOW!

That THIRD entity CAN NOT have any private or personal interest in the selling,

developing, promoting of PTCB/PTCE exams or ICPT/ExCPT exams or any other pharm

tech exams being administered! It cannot be a technician organization. It can

not be a pharmacist organization with tech division! It cannot be the foundation

of a tech or RPh organization. It cannot be an educators organization! It must

be an independent impartial non-biased third party/entity that may have

consultants from each test org/biz involved. How do we finance this? I don't

know! I got it this far, someone with a better business acuity needs to do the

rest! I am just stating that this is an ETHICAL ISSUE at best! And since we are

an ethical society of pharmacists and techs " Let's Get Ethical! Ethical! Let's

Get Ethical! "

It MUST be an independent ENTITY with the BEST interest of the PUBLIC and

Pharmacy at its core!

Okay, I am sure that someone from one or both of the organizations will want to

shoot me now! But at least I won't have to worry about which one can do it

better! I don't think they are certified for that and I probably won't care when

I am six foot under! (here's a thought! maybe they can BOTH pull the trigger!)

They shoot horses don't they? Don't Shoot the messenger folks!

If any biz/org that makes CPhT tests out there is reading or listening, please

know this is an exaggerated scenario on purpose, to get your attention to see

what is yet to come if we do not get this act together!

I am not criticizing anyone or any one organization here. I am just in hopes

that you all have a plan, a really, really good one! If you need any help from

me or this site please let me know. I will do what ever it takes to avoid having

to answer FAQ;s on which is the better test? (resembling what is the difference

between the generic and the Trade?)

I you are an educator being bullied into accepting things you have a chance to

make yourself heard! Go to the APhA and ASHP conferences, write a letter to

ACPE! Hell post on this site! I don't really care as long as you do something

about what you are concerned about! PTEC I hope you are reading this! Get it on

your boards! Discuss it and be ready to meet this potential disaster head on!

All is said with a doomsday attitude because the writing is ON the WALL!

Yet it is in sarcasm! In fun and in jest. Without malice to anyone or harm. It

is to provoke thought and action!

If some one can point out WHY this won't happen PLEASE let me know! May be

there is already a plan out there! Come on let us in on it!

With GREAT Respect to PTCB, ICPT, ASHP, APhA, PTEC , ACPE and CPT;

With all sincerity that possible problems will be and can be avoided by

stimulation of this topic amongst you all amiably with a compromising effort for

a workable solution,

Thank you in advance for your efforts,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry,

PharmTech Educator/Director

Founder/Owner of this site

PS Don't shoot the messenger! Just remember if I had not said it some one would

have OR we will/would be experiencing this as a prophecy.

karin h <hockeykatbird_27@...> wrote: lets

hope this extends into canada as well, as from

what I remember (and any canadians on here can verify)

there is an exam in ontario that is only given there,

yet no one else in canada can say they are CPhT

without their exam! even if they took the PCTB! I

totally agree with this new ruling, even if i'm not

entirely sure the exams are completely equal at this

point in time.

--- Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

<rxjm2002@...> wrote:

Dear All,

A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters:

CPhT!

Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are

no longer specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT

means certified pharmacy technician just as RPh means

registered pharmacist or RN means registered nurse.

http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

>

> From this point on which ever the test you take to

> certify you as a

> pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a

> certified pharmacy

> technician.

>

> However your state will determine which test or

> tests you may take to

> become certified.

> Here is an example:

>

> Currently in the state of Oregon you may become

> certified by taking

> either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

>

> Currently in the state of California you may

> graduate from a state

> approved pharmacy technician program or you may take

> PTCB's PTCE exam

> to become certified.

>

> Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a

> state training

> program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

>

> The NEWS Release can be read at:

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> Find the following headline and click on the

> appropriate 'button':

> CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified

> Technicians

> Learn More... (PDF)

>

>

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Pharm Tech Educator

>

>

" If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. "

- Yogi Berra

ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING

like myspace? try yuwie! http://r.yuwie.com/katbird_27

if you have the time to click on an e-mail link like this one:

http://www.sendmoreinfo.com/ID/2425657

you really can earn some extra cash!

even easier just get paid to surf! http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBP9226

__________________________________________________________

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Perhaps this is why the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

decided to endorse only one certification standard for pharmacy technicians,

The PTCB examination.

In my humble opinion, having two certifying organizations awarding the CPhT

credential is going to do more harm than good to the status of certified

techs. Especially since the organizations, and the test they provide, may

not be of equal quality.

I do not have any ties, financial or otherwise, to the PTCB Board, but I

favor their examination. Why? First, even though it is (again in my opinion)

a more difficult examination, it is more representative of the profession as

a whole. The material that must be learned to successfully pass the exam

covers a much broader array of subject material. Secondly, the professional

make-up of the organization appears to be superior. The PTCB has a much

clearer history of its creation - through professional groups involved in

the practice of pharmacy - , as well as its current governing body.

When I look at the competing certification organization, I do not find these

same attributes. I can not find where the need was for the second certifying

organization. I can not see a valid purpose for a competing organization,

and I do not see the same professionalism.

Until we have such time that we have separate certifications (which would

also be a mistake) for retail, and a separate certification for hospital,

and a separate certification for mail order, etc, there should be one

standard examination and one certification body.

Each technician certification candidate must make up their own mind as to

which test to pursue. The technician should take a long look at each

organization and choose the one that they feel will provide the most benefit

to their career. But I urge them to look much farther then the exam price or

how quickly they can take the test. Study the web sites of both, looking for

things other than " how much " and " when " . Look for evidence to the support

the organization has given to the technician profession.

Are there things that could be better about the PTCB process? Sure. But

these can be addressed, and improved, without the confusion caused by

multiple certifying organizations.

The folks at ExCEPT are happy about the news that they can share the CPhT

credential. But they also should also be worried since it now opens the

field for scores of other " certification " organizations who can also use the

same credential. How many should we have? Why just two? Maybe five, six,

ten......

Mark

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Jeanetta

Mastron

Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:08 AM

Subject: Re: ExCPT CPhT vs PTCB CPhT?

ATTENTION THIS IS A REPOST WITH ONE MAJOR EDIT: Changed the word NOT to the

word " NOW " in the third paragraph of my post! MY APOLOGIES! the previous

post has been removed to avoid any confusion.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

Karin, I am sooooooooooo glad you said that! In my circle of educators, many

have embraced the PTCE or PTCB exam as the only exam to allow one to call

him or herself a certified pharmacy technician. To even breath a word

otherwise may make you sound like a 'traitor' when in fact you are just

airing your opinion on fairness.

No one owns the title registered nurse or certified plumber.

And I agree until I KNOW which of the tests both or one (if so which one) is

psychometrically sound and if the tests are comparable I can no say if one,

both or none should be used. What I can say is that both companies or

organizations claim to be psychometrically sound.

I do hope that an independent THIRD party becomes the overseer of nation's

certification of pharmacy technician, especially if we see more than Oregon

and Montana allow for ExCPT.

This third party should oversee all certification data coming from the

independent certification exams so that we can have a true national

certification process.

I foresee ONE certification paper that would list the date and 'SERVICE '

that provided the test if in fact they are deemed equal. They also should

not have anything to do with testing!!! They MUST be a neutral party that

houses data, oversees pharm tech or consumer complaints of the testing

organizations, sites, accreditation (if any), use of the term CPhT,

comparability and 'soundness' of the exams no matter how many more exams

crop up!!! Currently ther eare three exams. Only two that I know of are

accepted by any of the states.

I do not wish to loose site! We MUST applaud PTCB for the start of something

BIG and necessary: competency testing for pharmacy technicians. This led to

continued education for techs and that led to more accredited pharmacy

technician schools and programs.

But now the evolution of this process has made a competitor: ExCPT. And this

competitor can NOW use the initials behind the names of all who pass their

exam. This only means we need to know if the two are comparable.

If not the writing is on the wall:

Act I Break room

Susie CPhT: " I am a PTCB certified pharm tech, I am better than you and I

should get $2.00 more an hour than you do " .

CPhT: " But I have taken the NEWEST exam ExCPT and I am going to ask

for more money than you because I am an ExCPT certified pharmacy technician.

Darlene RPh: 'Hold it hold it! you are both certified pharmacy technicians,

what is the difference? I will not pay one more than the other! " .

Act II - RPh Staff meeting

Tim RPh: Yes Darlene, my brother in law works for " U-Choose It Testing " and

said the " U Choose It " test made by " UDose it " is the better test. So we

should pay Susie/ (Your Choice!) more than Susie/ (Your Choice)

Act III

CPhT: Darlene!!!! #$%**%^ Susie's pulling my hair!

Susie CPhT: Darlene!!!#$ %**% is socking my arm!

CPhT: YES! because I am an ExCPT CPhT I can sock harder than you!

Susie CPhT: Yeah! Well I am a PTCB CPhT and because of that I can pull

anyone's hair harder than you!

Darlene RPhT: Stop it Stop it! There is enough work for both of you. But I

will have to make an exam and test you myself to see what you both know

since I don't know which of your exams is better or if they are the same!

Final Act!

Dunt Dunt' D DA! Presto! A new test is born!

And suddenly we learn that RPh owns the testing company!

or is it the Final Act?.......

Okay people we NEED oversight of the certification process NOW!

That THIRD entity CAN NOT have any private or personal interest in the

selling, developing, promoting of PTCB/PTCE exams or ICPT/ExCPT exams or any

other pharm tech exams being administered! It cannot be a technician

organization. It can not be a pharmacist organization with tech division! It

cannot be the foundation of a tech or RPh organization. It cannot be an

educators organization! It must be an independent impartial non-biased third

party/entity that may have consultants from each test org/biz involved. How

do we finance this? I don't know! I got it this far, someone with a better

business acuity needs to do the rest! I am just stating that this is an

ETHICAL ISSUE at best! And since we are an ethical society of pharmacists

and techs " Let's Get Ethical! Ethical! Let's Get Ethical! "

It MUST be an independent ENTITY with the BEST interest of the PUBLIC and

Pharmacy at its core!

Okay, I am sure that someone from one or both of the organizations will want

to shoot me now! But at least I won't have to worry about which one can do

it better! I don't think they are certified for that and I probably won't

care when I am six foot under! (here's a thought! maybe they can BOTH pull

the trigger!) They shoot horses don't they? Don't Shoot the messenger folks!

If any biz/org that makes CPhT tests out there is reading or listening,

please know this is an exaggerated scenario on purpose, to get your

attention to see what is yet to come if we do not get this act together!

I am not criticizing anyone or any one organization here. I am just in hopes

that you all have a plan, a really, really good one! If you need any help

from me or this site please let me know. I will do what ever it takes to

avoid having to answer FAQ;s on which is the better test? (resembling what

is the difference between the generic and the Trade?)

I you are an educator being bullied into accepting things you have a chance

to make yourself heard! Go to the APhA and ASHP conferences, write a letter

to ACPE! Hell post on this site! I don't really care as long as you do

something about what you are concerned about! PTEC I hope you are reading

this! Get it on your boards! Discuss it and be ready to meet this potential

disaster head on!

All is said with a doomsday attitude because the writing is ON the WALL!

Yet it is in sarcasm! In fun and in jest. Without malice to anyone or harm.

It is to provoke thought and action!

If some one can point out WHY this won't happen PLEASE let me know! May be

there is already a plan out there! Come on let us in on it!

With GREAT Respect to PTCB, ICPT, ASHP, APhA, PTEC , ACPE and CPT;

With all sincerity that possible problems will be and can be avoided by

stimulation of this topic amongst you all amiably with a compromising effort

for a workable solution,

Thank you in advance for your efforts,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry,

PharmTech Educator/Director

Founder/Owner of this site

PS Don't shoot the messenger! Just remember if I had not said it some one

would have OR we will/would be experiencing this as a prophecy.

karin h <hockeykatbird_ <mailto:hockeykatbird_27%40> 27@...>

wrote: lets hope this extends into canada as well, as from

what I remember (and any canadians on here can verify)

there is an exam in ontario that is only given there,

yet no one else in canada can say they are CPhT

without their exam! even if they took the PCTB! I

totally agree with this new ruling, even if i'm not

entirely sure the exams are completely equal at this

point in time.

--- Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

<rxjm2002 (DOT) <mailto:rxjm2002%40> com> wrote:

Dear All,

A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters:

CPhT!

Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are

no longer specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT

means certified pharmacy technician just as RPh means

registered pharmacist or RN means registered nurse.

http://www.national <http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml>

techexam.org/default.shtml

>

> From this point on which ever the test you take to

> certify you as a

> pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a

> certified pharmacy

> technician.

>

> However your state will determine which test or

> tests you may take to

> become certified.

> Here is an example:

>

> Currently in the state of Oregon you may become

> certified by taking

> either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

>

> Currently in the state of California you may

> graduate from a state

> approved pharmacy technician program or you may take

> PTCB's PTCE exam

> to become certified.

>

> Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a

> state training

> program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

>

> The NEWS Release can be read at:

> http://www.national <http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml>

techexam.org/default.shtml

> Find the following headline and click on the

> appropriate 'button':

> CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified

> Technicians

> Learn More... (PDF)

>

>

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Pharm Tech Educator

>

>

" If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. "

- Yogi Berra

ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING

like myspace? try yuwie! http://r.yuwie. <http://r.yuwie.com/katbird_27>

com/katbird_27

if you have the time to click on an e-mail link like this one:

http://www.sendmore <http://www.sendmoreinfo.com/ID/2425657>

info.com/ID/2425657

you really can earn some extra cash!

even easier just get paid to surf! http://www.agloco.

<http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBP9226> com/r/BBBP9226

__________________________________________________________

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.

<http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ>

/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Hi All-

As long as anybody off the street---without a lick of pharmacy

experience or education---can take the exam, the CPhT credential is

essentially meaningless. Granted, many chains/facilities will give a

small pay raise to those w/ the CPhT designation, but its really chump

change when you think of what we COULD be earning. We need NABP to

require rigorous training and educational requirements for all

technicians on a national level. That would cull our numbers and

produce better trained more highly qualified individuals.

As many of you know, I have strong opinions on this topic---but duty

calls...

I owe, I owe, its off to work I go

Dora

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

Excellent posting!

The emergence of the ExCPT exam reminds me of the arrival of NPTA

eight years ago, which was not founded by any other organizations,

but was solely a million dollar business entity using its wealth to

market itself as the National organization to belong. There was no

history of relevance in this organization as actually serving the

individual Pharmacy Technician needs and in the beginning there was

much disconcern as to its validity by many non-profit Pharmacy

organizational entities. Today, we find NPTA successfully has become

" our national organization " to belong. Not by doing anything of

value, but by using its financial assets to create a monopoly of which

now mainly involves multiple offerings to make money off of the

individual Pharmacy Technician.

With this in mind, As with NPTA, I think the ExCPT is more about money that can

be made and yes it does open the door for other business entities to do the same

thing. Imagine offering a national exam with the initial fee to take the exam

along with a fee being charged every two years by the individual Pharmacy

Technician for a lifetime. Add

hundreds of thousands of Technicians; you can see where a great deal

of money can be made. Oh need we forget, ExCPT also offers review

manuals, study aids, practice exam, etc to prepare for their

exam....all for a fee.

Besides the issue of both PTCB and ExCPT making money off of our

vocation, what about the individual Pharmacy Technician who pays for

this service? What value is passing an exam that does not require

anyone to have any experience at all in the pharmacy setting? What is

the true worth in having the " CPhT " behind an individual's name? What

does being nationally certified actually mean?

Looking at it logically, today, being nationally certified means that

one passed an exam but may or may not know a thing about working in

the Pharmacy setting. To simplify it more.... one paid for the right

to wear the " CPhT " behind their name and nothing more. Which

ultimately leads to the individual customer/patient who believes that

a certified Pharmacy Technician means better patient care.

Joe Medina, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe,

Well stated!

I believe it is high time that we stop placing so much value on the

acronym “CPhTâ€. When PTCB began the certification process for

pharmacy technicians over a decade a ago I thought it was a step toward

standardizing competencies that would later lead to standardized skills

and education for pharmacy technicians. Reflecting back, I certainly

think this is a perfect example of putting the cart before the horse.

But something needed to be done.

It is time that we who represent the pharmacy technician profession say

enough! Enough to those who have decided that competency for pharmacy

technicians only means passing an exam. It doesn’t matter that we are

certified if we do not understand the basic fundamentals of why we do

what we do. To declare competency in our profession we must possess the

skill, knowledge and ability to not just to do the job but to do it well

and with the of greatest integrity. How can we do that if we are

satisfied with a few initials behind our name that only represent

passing an exam with no pursuit of higher education. How can we feel

good about the quality of service and care that we provide for the

patients if we do not demand more of our profession than a designation

of CPhT or any other acronym without formal education and training

pharmacy.

For the record, let me say that I am PTCB certified. However, I

received formal education and training from an ASHP accredited program

long before I was certified. I am of the belief that certification by

any means will only have true value when formal education and training

become a pre-requisite to the exam.

>>> " Joe Medina " <joemedina@...> 1/16/2008 11:22 AM >>>

Hi Mark,

Excellent posting!

The emergence of the ExCPT exam reminds me of the arrival of NPTA

eight years ago, which was not founded by any other organizations,

but was solely a million dollar business entity using its wealth to

market itself as the National organization to belong. There was no

history of relevance in this organization as actually serving the

individual Pharmacy Technician needs and in the beginning there was

much disconcern as to its validity by many non-profit Pharmacy

organizational entities. Today, we find NPTA successfully has become

" our national organization " to belong. Not by doing anything of

value, but by using its financial assets to create a monopoly of which

now mainly involves multiple offerings to make money off of the

individual Pharmacy Technician.

With this in mind, As with NPTA, I think the ExCPT is more about money

that can be made and yes it does open the door for other business

entities to do the same thing. Imagine offering a national exam with

the initial fee to take the exam along with a fee being charged every

two years by the individual Pharmacy Technician for a lifetime. Add

hundreds of thousands of Technicians; you can see where a great deal

of money can be made. Oh need we forget, ExCPT also offers review

manuals, study aids, practice exam, etc to prepare for their

exam....all for a fee.

Besides the issue of both PTCB and ExCPT making money off of our

vocation, what about the individual Pharmacy Technician who pays for

this service? What value is passing an exam that does not require

anyone to have any experience at all in the pharmacy setting? What is

the true worth in having the " CPhT " behind an individual's name? What

does being nationally certified actually mean?

Looking at it logically, today, being nationally certified means that

one passed an exam but may or may not know a thing about working in

the Pharmacy setting. To simplify it more.... one paid for the right

to wear the " CPhT " behind their name and nothing more. Which

ultimately leads to the individual customer/patient who believes that

a certified Pharmacy Technician means better patient care.

Joe Medina, CPhT

--

This message has been scanned for viruses and

dangerous content by MailScanner, and is

believed to be clean.

[Guest guest]

Let me suggest an idea for the next topic...how about anyone with

POSITIVE experiences with ANY of the pharmacy organizations (NPTA,

AAPT, ASHP, etc, etc...) tell the group about them. What have they

done to promote education and the advancement of pharmacy

technicians?

This name calling and finger pointing is such wasted energy. How

about everyone use that time to help me explain to the state board of

pharmacy in New York why our technicians need to have some sort of

(any sort of)regulatory requirements. How about we make that a goal

for the whole entire country?

Jeanetta, I have to apologize because this not the forum for such

discussions, but I feel a great injustice would be done if your

members were left feeling as though NPTA is some great EVIL!

Wow Joe, even in an " apology " you can manage to be condescending. I

have yet to see you post something without some stab at NPTA. I'm

really surprised you didn't slide in a plug for tech lectures. I

absolutely agree with the sentiment offered, and that is why (as

you may recall) I asked to be removed from your group a few years

back.

Here's my experience:

You do speak favorably of AAPT, but EVERY time I try to contact a

director to get additional information...I am ignored. Their website

has very little to offer as far as descriptive information, and after

no less than 5 unanswered emails to various directors...I am ready to

give up. Nor can I recommend this group to any of my students until

just one of my questions is addressed.

Of course your answer will now tell about AAPT being a small

nonprofit group without the benefit of a paid webmaster like NPTA

with all of their glitz and glam... Bottom line, I have never had a

bad experience with NPTA, my emails are ALWAYS answered in a timely

fashion, and no matter what you feel about the organization (yes,

your feud with Mike ston is legendary)NPTA works to educate

technicians in this country.

Now you will talk of how NPTA tries to make a profit on the backs of

technicians in this country. Well there are countless

groups/individuals who proclaim to educate and advance techs with

there books, CD's, web programs, etc. These programs charge

astronomical fees, with little if any proof of validity of content.

(Go to ebay and google one day and type in pharmacy technician)

Anything I have paid to NPTA has been money well spent, with

consistent results. It was very clear to me upfront what I would get

for my money.

It hasn't always been finacially easy for me to pay for my countless

memberships, trips for many assorted conferences, and the purchase of

my ever growing library of technician material, but I make the

sacrifices I need to in order to invest in my own future. No one is

going to hand it over to me on a silver platter.

How about you let everyone know aboult the endless supply of

excellent FREE CE available to technicians? No technician out there

has to spend anymore than the fee required for recertification. All

technicians should know that there is NO LIMIT to further educating

themselves, even when they are finacially strapped.

ANY organization that works to advance technicians, profit or not

should be applauded for their efforts. We as technicians are our own

worst enemy, as we do little as a group to push for change.

STOP attacking and work to change what you do not like!

Thanks,

E. V. Earle-, CPhT.

Pharmacy Technician Teacher

Adult Education and Career Training

Monroe #1 Board of ative Education

Pharmacy Tech IV

OR Pharmacy Satellite

Strong Memorial Hospital

University of Rochester

601 Elmwood Avenue

Rochester, New York 14642

phone: (585)275-5547

fax:(585)756-5582

email:victoria_earle@...

[Guest guest]

Hi All-

Vickie nailed it! We need to stop the infighting and start focusing

on the bigger picture. National standardization of training and

practical requirement.

I'm pretty sure that the Quaid family,'s family, or anyone else

who has been on the receiving end of a medication error could give a

rat's ass about which tech organization I belong to.

HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure they would have some very strong opinions

if they knew that the " certified " tech stocking/preparing the meds

for their loved ones---may little or no pharmacy education or

training!

Enough said about the virtues and flaws of the various organizations.

Please move on to a new topic.

Thank you,

Dora

group mod

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

> Dear All,

> A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters:

> CPhT!

> Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are

> no longer specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT

> means certified pharmacy technician just as RPh means

> registered pharmacist or RN means registered nurse.

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> >

> > From this point on which ever the test you take to

> > certify you as a

> > pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a

> > certified pharmacy

> > technician.

> >

> > However your state will determine which test or

> > tests you may take to

> > become certified.

> > Here is an example:

> >

> > Currently in the state of Oregon you may become

> > certified by taking

> > either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

> >

> > Currently in the state of California you may

> > graduate from a state

> > approved pharmacy technician program or you may take

> > PTCB's PTCE exam

> > to become certified.

> >

> > Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a

> > state training

> > program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

> >

> > The NEWS Release can be read at:

> > http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> > Find the following headline and click on the

> > appropriate 'button':

> > CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified

> > Technicians

> > Learn More... (PDF)

> >

> >

> >

> > Respectfully,

> >

> > Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> > Pharm Tech Educator

> >

> >

>

>

> " If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. "

> - Yogi Berra

>

> ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING

>

> like myspace? try yuwie! http://r.yuwie.com/katbird_27

>

> if you have the time to click on an e-mail link like this one:

http://www.sendmoreinfo.com/ID/2425657

> you really can earn some extra cash!

>

> even easier just get paid to surf! http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBP9226

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

>

> Dear All,

>

> A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters: CPhT!

>

>

> Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are no longer

> specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT means certified pharmacy

> technician just as RPh means registered pharmacist or RN means

> registered nurse.

>

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

>

> From this point on which ever the test you take to certify you as a

> pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a certified pharmacy

> technician.

>

> However your state will determine which test or tests you may take to

> become certified.

> Here is an example:

>

> Currently in the state of Oregon you may become certified by taking

> either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

>

> Currently in the state of California you may graduate from a state

> approved pharmacy technician program or you may take PTCB's PTCE exam

> to become certified.

>

> Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a state training

> program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

>

> The NEWS Release can be read at:

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> Find the following headline and click on the appropriate 'button':

> CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified Technicians

> Learn More... (PDF)

>

>

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Pharm Tech Educator

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

by Jeanetta

> Karin, I am sooooooooooo glad you said that! In my circle of

educators, many have embraced the PTCE or PTCB exam as the only exam

to allow one to call him or herself a certified pharmacy technician.

To even breath a word otherwise may make you sound like a 'traitor'

when in fact you are just airing your opinion on fairness.

> No one owns the title registered nurse or certified plumber.

> And I agree until I KNOW which of the tests both or one (if so

which one) is psychometrically sound and if the tests are comparable I

can no say if one, both or none should be used. What I can say is that

both companies or organizations claim to be psychometrically sound.

>

> I do hope that an independent THIRD party becomes the overseer of

nation's certification of pharmacy technician, especially if we see

more than Oregon and Montana allow for ExCPT.

> This third party should oversee all certification data coming from

the independent certification exams so that we can have a true

national certification process.

> I foresee ONE certification paper that would list the date and

'SERVICE ' that provided the test if in fact they are deemed equal.

They also should not have anything to do with testing!!! They MUST be

a neutral party that houses data, oversees pharm tech or consumer

complaints of the testing organizations, sites, accreditation (if

any), use of the term CPhT, comparability and 'soundness' of the exams

no matter how many more exams crop up!!! Currently ther eare three

exams. Only two that I know of are accepted by any of the states.

>

> I do not wish to loose site! We MUST applaud PTCB for the start of

something BIG and necessary: competency testing for pharmacy

technicians. This led to continued education for techs and that led to

more accredited pharmacy technician schools and programs.

> But now the evolution of this process has made a competitor: ExCPT.

And this competitor can NOW use the initials behind the names of all

who pass their exam. This only means we need to know if the two are

comparable.

>

> If not the writing is on the wall:

> Act I Break room

> Susie CPhT: " I am a PTCB certified pharm tech, I am better than

you and I should get $2.00 more an hour than you do " .

> CPhT: " But I have taken the NEWEST exam ExCPT and I am

going to ask for more money than you because I am an ExCPT certified

pharmacy technician.

> Darlene RPh: 'Hold it hold it! you are both certified pharmacy

technicians, what is the difference? I will not pay one more than the

other! " .

>

> Act II - RPh Staff meeting

> Tim RPh: Yes Darlene, my brother in law works for " U-Choose It

Testing " and said the " U Choose It " test made by " UDose it " is the

better test. So we should pay Susie/ (Your Choice!) more than

Susie/ (Your Choice)

>

> Act III

> CPhT: Darlene!!!! #$%**%^ Susie's pulling my hair!

> Susie CPhT: Darlene!!!#$ %**% is socking my arm!

> CPhT: YES! because I am an ExCPT CPhT I can sock harder than

you!

> Susie CPhT: Yeah! Well I am a PTCB CPhT and because of that I can

pull anyone's hair harder than you!

> Darlene RPhT: Stop it Stop it! There is enough work for both of

you. But I will have to make an exam and test you myself to see what

you both know since I don't know which of your exams is better or if

they are the same!

> Final Act!

> Dunt Dunt' D DA! Presto! A new test is born!

> And suddenly we learn that RPh owns the testing company!

> or is it the Final Act?.......

>

> Okay people we NEED oversight of the certification process NOW!

> That THIRD entity CAN NOT have any private or personal interest in

the selling, developing, promoting of PTCB/PTCE exams or ICPT/ExCPT

exams or any other pharm tech exams being administered! It cannot be a

technician organization. It can not be a pharmacist organization with

tech division! It cannot be the foundation of a tech or RPh

organization. It cannot be an educators organization! It must be an

independent impartial non-biased third party/entity that may have

consultants from each test org/biz involved. How do we finance this? I

don't know! I got it this far, someone with a better business acuity

needs to do the rest! I am just stating that this is an ETHICAL ISSUE

at best! And since we are an ethical society of pharmacists and techs

" Let's Get Ethical! Ethical! Let's Get Ethical! "

>

> It MUST be an independent ENTITY with the BEST interest of the

PUBLIC and Pharmacy at its core!

>

> Okay, I am sure that someone from one or both of the organizations

will want to shoot me now! But at least I won't have to worry about

which one can do it better! I don't think they are certified for that

and I probably won't care when I am six foot under! (here's a thought!

maybe they can BOTH pull the trigger!) They shoot horses don't they?

Don't Shoot the messenger folks!

>

> If any biz/org that makes CPhT tests out there is reading or

listening, please know this is an exaggerated scenario on purpose, to

get your attention to see what is yet to come if we do not get this

act together!

>

> I am not criticizing anyone or any one organization here. I am just

in hopes that you all have a plan, a really, really good one! If you

need any help from me or this site please let me know. I will do what

ever it takes to avoid having to answer FAQ;s on which is the better

test? (resembling what is the difference between the generic and the

Trade?)

>

> I you are an educator being bullied into accepting things you have

a chance to make yourself heard! Go to the APhA and ASHP conferences,

write a letter to ACPE! Hell post on this site! I don't really care as

long as you do something about what you are concerned about! PTEC I

hope you are reading this! Get it on your boards! Discuss it and be

ready to meet this potential disaster head on!

>

> All is said with a doomsday attitude because the writing is ON

the WALL!

> Yet it is in sarcasm! In fun and in jest. Without malice to anyone

or harm. It is to provoke thought and action!

>

> If some one can point out WHY this won't happen PLEASE let me know!

May be there is already a plan out there! Come on let us in on it!

>

> With GREAT Respect to PTCB, ICPT, ASHP, APhA, PTEC , ACPE and CPT;

> With all sincerity that possible problems will be and can be

avoided by stimulation of this topic amongst you all amiably with a

compromising effort for a workable solution,

>

> Thank you in advance for your efforts,

>

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry,

> PharmTech Educator/Director

> Founder/Owner of this site

> PS Don't shoot the messenger! Just remember if I had not said it

some one would have OR we will/would be experiencing this as a prophecy.

>

> karin h <hockeykatbird_27@...> wrote:

lets hope this extends into canada as well, as from

> what I remember (and any canadians on here can verify)

> there is an exam in ontario that is only given there,

> yet no one else in canada can say they are CPhT

> without their exam! even if they took the PCTB! I

> totally agree with this new ruling, even if i'm not

> entirely sure the exams are completely equal at this

> point in time.

> --- Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

> <rxjm2002@...> wrote:

> Dear All,

> A NEW PRESS RELEASE discusses the use of the letters:

> CPhT!

> Designation of the letters CPhT behind your name are

> no longer specific to PTCE/B exam test takers. CPhT

> means certified pharmacy technician just as RPh means

> registered pharmacist or RN means registered nurse.

> http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> >

> > From this point on which ever the test you take to

> > certify you as a

> > pharmacy technician will allow you to be called a

> > certified pharmacy

> > technician.

> >

> > However your state will determine which test or

> > tests you may take to

> > become certified.

> > Here is an example:

> >

> > Currently in the state of Oregon you may become

> > certified by taking

> > either ICPT's ExCPT or PTCB's PTCE exam.

> >

> > Currently in the state of California you may

> > graduate from a state

> > approved pharmacy technician program or you may take

> > PTCB's PTCE exam

> > to become certified.

> >

> > Currently in the state of Texas you must complete a

> > state training

> > program and pass PTCB's PTCE.

> >

> > The NEWS Release can be read at:

> > http://www.nationaltechexam.org/default.shtml

> > Find the following headline and click on the

> > appropriate 'button':

> > CPhT An Appropriate Designation for All Certified

> > Technicians

> > Learn More... (PDF)

> >

> >

> >

> > Respectfully,

> >

> > Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> > Pharm Tech Educator

> >

> >

>

> " If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. "

> - Yogi Berra

>

> ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING

>

> like myspace? try yuwie! http://r.yuwie.com/katbird_27

>

> if you have the time to click on an e-mail link like this one:

http://www.sendmoreinfo.com/ID/2425657

> you really can earn some extra cash!

>

> even easier just get paid to surf! http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBP9226

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

>

> Hi All-

>

> As long as anybody off the street---without a lick of pharmacy

> experience or education---can take the exam, the CPhT credential is

> essentially meaningless. Granted, many chains/facilities will give a

> small pay raise to those w/ the CPhT designation, but its really chump

> change when you think of what we COULD be earning. We need NABP to

> require rigorous training and educational requirements for all

> technicians on a national level. That would cull our numbers and

> produce better trained more highly qualified individuals.

> As many of you know, I have strong opinions on this topic---but duty

> calls...

> I owe, I owe, its off to work I go

>

> Dora

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

>

> Perhaps this is why the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

(NABP)

> decided to endorse only one certification standard for pharmacy

technicians,

> The PTCB examination.

>

>

>

> In my humble opinion, having two certifying organizations awarding

the CPhT

> credential is going to do more harm than good to the status of certified

> techs. Especially since the organizations, and the test they

provide, may

> not be of equal quality.

>

>

>

> I do not have any ties, financial or otherwise, to the PTCB Board, but I

> favor their examination. Why? First, even though it is (again in my

opinion)

> a more difficult examination, it is more representative of the

profession as

> a whole. The material that must be learned to successfully pass the exam

> covers a much broader array of subject material. Secondly, the

professional

> make-up of the organization appears to be superior. The PTCB has a much

> clearer history of its creation - through professional groups

involved in

> the practice of pharmacy - , as well as its current governing body.

>

>

>

> When I look at the competing certification organization, I do not

find these

> same attributes. I can not find where the need was for the second

certifying

> organization. I can not see a valid purpose for a competing

organization,

> and I do not see the same professionalism.

>

>

>

> Until we have such time that we have separate certifications (which

would

> also be a mistake) for retail, and a separate certification for

hospital,

> and a separate certification for mail order, etc, there should be one

> standard examination and one certification body.

>

>

>

> Each technician certification candidate must make up their own mind

as to

> which test to pursue. The technician should take a long look at each

> organization and choose the one that they feel will provide the most

benefit

> to their career. But I urge them to look much farther then the exam

price or

> how quickly they can take the test. Study the web sites of both,

looking for

> things other than " how much " and " when " . Look for evidence to the

support

> the organization has given to the technician profession.

>

>

>

> Are there things that could be better about the PTCB process? Sure. But

> these can be addressed, and improved, without the confusion caused by

> multiple certifying organizations.

>

>

>

> The folks at ExCEPT are happy about the news that they can share the

CPhT

> credential. But they also should also be worried since it now opens the

> field for scores of other " certification " organizations who can also

use the

> same credential. How many should we have? Why just two? Maybe five, six,

> ten......

>

>

>

> Mark

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

>

> Hi Joe,

>

> Well stated!

>

> I believe it is high time that we stop placing so much value on the

> acronym “CPhTâ€. When PTCB began the certification process for

> pharmacy technicians over a decade a ago I thought it was a step toward

> standardizing competencies that would later lead to standardized skills

> and education for pharmacy technicians. Reflecting back, I certainly

> think this is a perfect example of putting the cart before the horse.

> But something needed to be done.

>

> It is time that we who represent the pharmacy technician profession say

> enough! Enough to those who have decided that competency for pharmacy

> technicians only means passing an exam. It doesn’t matter that we are

> certified if we do not understand the basic fundamentals of why we do

> what we do. To declare competency in our profession we must possess the

> skill, knowledge and ability to not just to do the job but to do it well

> and with the of greatest integrity. How can we do that if we are

> satisfied with a few initials behind our name that only represent

> passing an exam with no pursuit of higher education. How can we feel

> good about the quality of service and care that we provide for the

> patients if we do not demand more of our profession than a designation

> of CPhT or any other acronym without formal education and training

> pharmacy.

>

> For the record, let me say that I am PTCB certified. However, I

> received formal education and training from an ASHP accredited program

> long before I was certified. I am of the belief that certification by

> any means will only have true value when formal education and training

> become a pre-requisite to the exam.

>

>

>

>

> >>> " Joe Medina " <joemedina@...> 1/16/2008 11:22 AM >>>

> Hi Mark,

>

> Excellent posting!

>

> The emergence of the ExCPT exam reminds me of the arrival of NPTA

> eight years ago, which was not founded by any other organizations,

> but was solely a million dollar business entity using its wealth to

> market itself as the National organization to belong. There was no

> history of relevance in this organization as actually serving the

> individual Pharmacy Technician needs and in the beginning there was

> much disconcern as to its validity by many non-profit Pharmacy

> organizational entities. Today, we find NPTA successfully has become

> " our national organization " to belong. Not by doing anything of

> value, but by using its financial assets to create a monopoly of which

> now mainly involves multiple offerings to make money off of the

> individual Pharmacy Technician.

>

> With this in mind, As with NPTA, I think the ExCPT is more about money

> that can be made and yes it does open the door for other business

> entities to do the same thing. Imagine offering a national exam with

> the initial fee to take the exam along with a fee being charged every

> two years by the individual Pharmacy Technician for a lifetime. Add

> hundreds of thousands of Technicians; you can see where a great deal

> of money can be made. Oh need we forget, ExCPT also offers review

> manuals, study aids, practice exam, etc to prepare for their

> exam....all for a fee.

>

> Besides the issue of both PTCB and ExCPT making money off of our

> vocation, what about the individual Pharmacy Technician who pays for

> this service? What value is passing an exam that does not require

> anyone to have any experience at all in the pharmacy setting? What is

> the true worth in having the " CPhT " behind an individual's name? What

> does being nationally certified actually mean?

>

> Looking at it logically, today, being nationally certified means that

> one passed an exam but may or may not know a thing about working in

> the Pharmacy setting. To simplify it more.... one paid for the right

> to wear the " CPhT " behind their name and nothing more. Which

> ultimately leads to the individual customer/patient who believes that

> a certified Pharmacy Technician means better patient care.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

> This message has been scanned for viruses and

> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is

> believed to be clean.

>

[Guest guest]

This is a repost to get back on topic!

>

> Hi All-

>

> Vickie nailed it! We need to stop the infighting and start focusing

> on the bigger picture. National standardization of training and

> practical requirement.

>

> I'm pretty sure that the Quaid family,'s family, or anyone else

> who has been on the receiving end of a medication error could give a

> rat's ass about which tech organization I belong to.

> HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure they would have some very strong opinions

> if they knew that the " certified " tech stocking/preparing the meds

> for their loved ones---may little or no pharmacy education or

> training!

>

> Enough said about the virtues and flaws of the various organizations.

> Please move on to a new topic.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Dora

> group mod

>

[Guest guest]

I purposely did not repost any mudslinging! I tried hard.Some of you

had reference to it even though your other parts of your sposts hd

great information. I suggest that you repost it. I have to get to work!

Jeanetta

> >

> > Hi All-

> >

> > Vickie nailed it! We need to stop the infighting and start focusing

> > on the bigger picture. National standardization of training and

> > practical requirement.

> >

> > I'm pretty sure that the Quaid family,'s family, or anyone else

> > who has been on the receiving end of a medication error could give a

> > rat's ass about which tech organization I belong to.

> > HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure they would have some very strong opinions

> > if they knew that the " certified " tech stocking/preparing the meds

> > for their loved ones---may little or no pharmacy education or

> > training!

> >

> > Enough said about the virtues and flaws of the various organizations.

> > Please move on to a new topic.

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > Dora

> > group mod

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I want to ask you about the following:

" However your state will determine which test or

> tests you may take to

> > become certified. " from an earlier posting of Jeanetta's

Jeanetta, I believe you are referring to which certification exam your

state recognizes??

New York does NOT recognize my certification, but that in no way means

that I am not a certified pharmacy technician.

On to my comments about ExCPT vs PTCB:

In my opinion, there are much bigger fish to fry than to decide who's

test determines what...(of course I come from a state with a LONG way to

go!)

1. All technicians should be registered. (your history as a technician

should be just as easy to confirm as any pharmacists) If you were

caught stealing narcotics in Tennessee, your new employer in Iowa should

be able to get that information!

2.All technicians should have some sort of formal education (or

acceptable number of years in practice to exempt this requirement)

-we can spend years debating how long education programs should be,

or how long a tech has to have been practicing to meet an education

requirement...but bottom line, there needs to be something CONSISTENT in

this country! In a state with very few education programs and NO

accredited ones, we will see a real shortage of techs, if suddenly

everyone is going to have to go through an accredited program.

-that doesn't mean that we shouldn't aim for that...I just don't

want to see an all or nothing situation.

And finally, she's about to answers the question (sort of)...hope you

kept reading this far: []

3.In addition to this education, some measure (test) should be required,

just like it is for any other profession (after the required schooling)

-does it matter who offers it? Probably far less than how much its'

content should matter! (Again this is only MY opinion) Certification

exams should be FAR more comprehensive than they currently are, perhaps

even with some sort of practical. I do not mean to insult anyone who

did not pass the exam or who had extreme difficulty, but come on, I have

personally seen new techs prep for the exam in a few short hours of

memorizing a couple of laws and drug names!

-I dream of a day where we can receive additional " certification " in

the specialty areas of pharmacy. (IV prep, compounding, chemo, inventory

management, billing, etc...you know, all of those specialized areas we

devote our careers to) Make these exams difficult...I want my countless

hours of study and practice to be represented in my " certificate. "

We are all over the map when it comes to what we a required to do in

order to become and remain a technician.

Let's start there!

Of course, these are MY opinions.

Vicki

New York

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanetta,

Just noticed ExCPT along with PTCE are recognized as an acceptable

certification exam for Technicians in the state of Utah.

Joe Medina, CPhT

-----------

Let's take a look at Oregon and Montana: both allow the tech to take

either PTCB's PTCE or ICPT's ExCPT to become certified and thus

allowed to practice as a technician in those two states. Montana you

may recall is one of the original five states that first ever required

CPhT to work! the FIRST state being UTAH in 1998, NOT Texas 2000/1 as

everyone seems to think. So in those two states an employer could NOT

say that he/she wants you to be PTCB certified when you have ICPT

/ExCPT certification.! The State board has spoken! Employers have no

RIGHT TO BREAK THE LAW! They may however say that they want you to

take another exam in addition to the states requirements.

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your teaching at Delgado!

Say Hello to my dear friend Anne!

Could not agree with you more about your thoughts on education!

I realize your post is SOFT by comparison to others' recent posts, but

I am trying to get on with the topic and dispense with the 'personal'.

I ask that Joe not to respond to this, I ask others not to respond to

this part of your post. I ask only that you all who are reading this

to respond to Callysta's positive points made about pharmacy education.

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

I wish I could say that what your post is of new enlightenment (no

disrespect), but both Jeanetta and I (and many others on this site)

have been proposing the same thing for at least the past ten years. I

could try to find fault with PTCB on this one, but the truth-be-told,

they cannot do anything about criteria necessary in taking their exam

because our states differ so much in the roles their own Technician's

play, let alone thinking about standardization. So nothing has changed

in the ten years PTCB has offered their national exam as far as

criteria besides being physically alive when taking the exam.

Jeanetta's idea of a third entity to oversee technician certification

may be an answer. But could it impose federal changes to all states?

In my other forum we have tossed around the concept of " certification "

and find that for the Pharmacy Technician it only means that a fee was

paid to take an exam. This would also include IV Certification as

the majority, if not all, involve open book exams and maybe a few

hours on the practical side.

One of my forum members indicated that he was ASE certified in auto

mechanics and that the criteria was not only a live body, but showing

proof of an AA degree in automotive mechanics through a trade school

with minimal amount of years experience. They also require a

recertification exam every 5 years that is more difficult than the

initial certification exam.

Jeanetta also had pointed out to PTCB on their message board over 7

yrs ago that she is also a cosmetologist (hair dresser) and that they

all have harder board exams to take including a live model with

practical. She suggested way back then that PTCB should add a

practical component as she puts it. And you know that very point was

used by ACPE in its investigation in 2003/4 and call for

comments.

So now we have a newbie on the block: ExCPT, of which they too

require only an individual to be physically alive when taking the exam

and nothing more.

My suggestion is instead of posting what should be done, as this has

been repeated over and over again for the past ten years with no

action taken... we should inform the consumer or customer/patient that

95% of prescription/hospital medication and IV admixture orders are

being made by the Pharmacy Technician and more importantly….the " CPhT "

on his/her name tag, does not necessarily mean the Technician knows

what they are doing. Results can be better obtained from public

outcry than trying to persuade apathetic Technicians that they have a

voice.

Just some of my thoughts,

Joe Medina, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Jeanetta,

You make very good points! The news of standardization is not a new

one and has been tossed around for many years now with no results.

The same can be said for the need for criteria in the taking of the

national exam of more than just having a beating heart. As for

specialty exams, that to has been covered over and over again. Don't

get too excited about PTCB's upcoming IV Certification program as it

most likely will involve the same criteria as its national exam or

other programs offer which may or may not be indicative that one knows

what they are doing upon completion.

Your insightfulness concerning states accepting one or two exams did

not occur to me...as it appears states may have created a conundrum

for its Techs...the accepting of different exams may find some Techs

taking a national exam over again. For me that is no problem as I

take it every few years anyways, but for some it might prove to be a

difficult time.

Joe Medina, CPhT

[Guest guest]

The state points of crossing state lines will occur. It will be a CA

Pharmacist test vs NAPLEX nightmare all over again.

Let's get this comparison done once and for all instead of postponing

the inevitable.

YEARS ago you were the first to announce that education must be a

requirement for testing. I concurred. One thing about this exam is

that it appears that one must study before you take the exam. But I do

not equate that to formal classroom and lab hands on experience.

I too have supported this idea and of course recently Vicki posted on.

WHEN will we see this? 2015!

I say WHY wait???

Of course the answer is because we can not make the states do

anything. But that could be fixed if we created a Federal Agency that

oversees the certification of pharmacy technicians. One agency that

would allow the states to choose their own test of choice, but that

the test must come from a list of tests that must be compared to a

standard and be psychometrically sound and a valid exam of tech duties

tasks and applicable knowledge.

CE's should also be accredited or approved by the same agency or one

agency. No one test should have a monopoly of where the CE's should

come from meaning their own CE's.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

-- In , " Joe Medina "

<joemedina@...> wrote:

>

> Jeanetta,

>

> You make very good points! The news of standardization is not a new

> one and has been tossed around for many years now with no results.

> The same can be said for the need for criteria in the taking of the

> national exam of more than just having a beating heart. As for

> specialty exams, that to has been covered over and over again. Don't

> get too excited about PTCB's upcoming IV Certification program as it

> most likely will involve the same criteria as its national exam or

> other programs offer which may or may not be indicative that one knows

> what they are doing upon completion.

>

> Your insightfulness concerning states accepting one or two exams did

> not occur to me...as it appears states may have created a conundrum

> for its Techs...the accepting of different exams may find some Techs

> taking a national exam over again. For me that is no problem as I

> take it every few years anyways, but for some it might prove to be a

> difficult time.

>

>

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Excellent point.

As a Pharmacist, I had great Techs who were trained on -the-job and

even recall comments to the fact that many fellow Pharmacy

Managers/Directors would much rather train their own than have one

from the " Diploma Mill " down the street. Not the Technician's fault,

just that they were duped into believing the education they received

was of some value.

Not to say there are good programs out there as well, but the world is

not perfect as many believe as today we find Techs who graduated from

some ASHP accredited " Diploma Mills " , (most likely take heat on this

one), with an education worth pennies on the lots of dollars spent.

But, how can the Pharmacy Technician vocation become a truly

professional or even a Para-professional one if we do not add the

standardization of formal education or at the very least, the writing

of a national exam that has substance in criteria in taking it?

Again too many use our vocation as a source of income without benefit

of offering something of value for the individual student who wants to

be a Pharmacy Technician or the certified Technician who wants to

better themselves in both professional and personal growth.

I do not profess to know it all, but I do have over 30 years

experience as both a Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacist in almost all

areas of Pharmacy, including the educational one having set up 2 ASHP

Pharmacy Technician Programs myself at two state community colleges.

I think when one has walked the walk and not just talk the talk; we

may find validity in what I say. Although some of my postings come

out as pessimistic or negative, it is mainly out of the years of

simple frustration as in all of these years, little change has

occurred. Unfortunately many view this as criticism of themselves

and/or the organization they belong to and do what is natural in

trying to discredit what I say. Too bad as much can be learned from

one who actually understands and cares and not charging you.

Joe Medina, CPhT

---------

I am going to play devils advocate here. I have worked with some

really great pharmacy technicians in my 15 or so years of

practice...technicians who did not attend an ASHP accredited program,

or didn't even attend ANY program. So, that being said, I don't care

if tech JOHN DOE went to an accredited school, or not. I care about

how competent he is in his job. Whatever test he takes, and passes

should be some measurement of his competency in pharmacy. We all know

real life is different from an EXAM, or THE EXAM.

What I am saying is...measure the technician by their job performance,

and not the exam they took. I know, sounds simple....IT IS!

that's my 2 cents

P. Crigger, CPhT

San College

[Guest guest]

-Joe,

yes, we are once again off topic, but let me address what I do feel is

somewhat directed at me:

Let's remember that it is the " enlightened " (to borrow from your

sentiment) tech that already visits such on-line technician forums as

this. I practice what I preach out in the real world by targeting the

apathetic tech...the uninvolved tech...the tech who cares little more

than when the next check arrives. I don't believe we should wait for

public outcry to necessitate change, as you have suggested. I KNOW it

is something we can accomplish for ourselves. Apathy is a learned

behavior, and just as easily can be unlearned.

I am not alone in my endless hope for future change. My greatest gift is

my ability to get others excited about my passion for technician

advancement. It sounds as though you are ready to give up...I AM NOT!

So, in a round-about-response to Jeanetta, I am going to stick to my

guns and proclaim that I, personally, am far less concerned about who

takes what exam...and what each exam allows you to call yourself, and

who has a conflict of interest, blah, blah, blah(sorry...but it really

is starting to sound like a annoying drone)

and worry more about standards and consistency for my state (for which

there is currently nothing) and all states. In a perfect society,state

autonomy fits nicely into that checks and balance sort of idea in our

country...but honestly, do all of the rules that govern our lives get

solely decided by your state legislature? NO they do not!

Personally,if I get hurt while I'm out of state, I want to know that an

MD in FL has had similar training to my own in NY. Why should we want

any less of our technicians?

In my opinion, any of the exams has become nothing more than a way for

the people who write review books to make some money. Yes, the

companies who create these exams profit in much the same way...but ask

any Pharmacist or MD, or Rn for that matter, how much they spent on

their exams...there are much bigger profits to be made.

So, no...I'm not trying to sell anything as new ideas. I'm letting you

know where I focus my efforts and energy especially out in the real

world!

So if we all basically agree to what is wrong and what needs to be done,

then why do we spend so much time bitching about it to somewhat

" like-minded " individuals? Why aren't we out preaching the ideas to

EVERY practicing or potential technician?

And honestly, I think expending energy to let everyone know you had

these ideas first and have had them for ten years

to quote:

" I wish I could say that what your post is of new enlightenment (no

> disrespect), but both Jeanetta and I (and many others on this site)

> have been proposing the same thing for at least the past ten years. "

will probably do nothing more than cause some of the more reserved of

members to not post ideas for fear that it is going to be considered " old

news. " It sure seems as though the same few members do all of the

postings...why do you think that is?

Jeanetta has, through her detailed long thought out responses, has

talked of her valiant efforts to change what she sees as wrong with the

system. She feels passionate about the education component and is

involved in a program that does exactly what she wants to see for

everyone else.

She is not part of the problem where " anyone can by a review book and

study for an exam. " Perhaps we need to look at how readily available

all of these books are? There is no way for most novice technicians to

know if the materials they are purchasing are even of reputable content

(of course,they can always refer to the glorious testimonials offered on

almost all websites.) If there is little more than minimal review

necessary to sit for one of the various exams...of course we have and

continue to have a problem.

I too, mean no disrespect, but I want to hear about your efforts to put

forth these ideas outside of both this and your own forum. How have you

gotten techs to advocate for themselves if they aren't already the ones

reading post after post? What are you doing to encourage actual

education and not just the purchase of your review book?

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED IN TEN YEARS?

Seems to me that we are struggling with all of the same problems.

Granted various states have changed their requirements for

technicians...but we can all see countless problems in the existing

system.

I have recently found renewed interest in this site, but as I have done

in the past...I feel I am spending way too much precious time here, and

should probably focus my energies on actual tangible efforts. I have a

lot of things on my plate right now...things that can only advance our

profession. I refuse to let the hopelessness of others drag me down,so

I am probably going to slip back into an observation only (okay, who am

I kidding...mostly?) position.

If anyone is interested in helping work towards the goals I have

mentioned (especially in New York) please feel free to contact me

privately!

Vicki

(CPhT and proud of it!)