And MORE! Re: New Florida and Ilinois Legislation

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

CA once had the 1500 hour option. I pray that they do not bring that

back Currently CA is considering a revision of a bill that would

require all techs to be certified. Whether or not an education and

training component would be added reamains to be seen, since currently

it is an option.

The 1500 hours was REPLACED with passing the PTCB. In my opinion

neither 1500 hours OJT alone or self-study or classroom study without

hands on training is equal to eduction and training combination with

PTCB/ExCPT certification.

VERY happy to hear that Florida and Ill have new laws requiring

certification. But this is not enough! We MUST have required

education. I am disappointed that the states just don't seem to get it

right.

As far as age goes I have no problem with a 16, 17, or 18 yr old in an

externship capacity if they have had education and training BEFORE

they get placed in the externship. However I believe that there should

be a mandatory high school graduation and age 18 limit for

employment. I actually do not have a problem with employment for 17

yr old and HS graduation/GED as long as there is completion of

education and training, but I think we need a standard.

(HS graduation or GED). Not too many high school grads or GEDs that

are 16 yr olds. For employment 16 yrs old is just too close to 15 yrs

old for me, so I consider 18 the best minimum age for employment. In

addition I don't believe that any one parent wants liability for their

'child's ' medication errors. But at 18 we can have the person assume

full responsibility.

I would like to add that it is POSSIBLE and I have witnessed it, for a

42 yr old female be less responsible and mature than a 16 yr old in

the program that I teach. So MUCH depends upon the person or the

individual. However the law should be definite and have no allowance

for 'someone' to decide the maturity of an individual, which would be

a subjective perspective. And therefore the law should be cut and dry

and have a cut off age! This is WHY most stated do have a cut off age.

One of the things I HATE is that PTCB and ExCPT have a cut off age!

Why? Because It think if a student (16, 17 or 18 yr old) graduates

from my program (any accredited program) and has high school diploma

that he or she should ALSO have the RIGHT and is also qualified to

take the certification exam and I do not believe that PTCB or ExCPT

should place an age restriction on the exam. The STATES should have

the SAY as to who and what age should be allowed to be a tech. Here we

see the state of Florida saying you CAN be 17 yrs old. This means you

do not have to be PTCB or ExCPT certified! You CAN be a graduate from

a program at 17 yrs old! This is common among my high school students.

They are great students and make great techs. Some have had to WAIT

to take the PTCB exam (we require it for graduation from the program)

and or to get registered and work because California has a 18 yr old

limit. Again this is why I believe if you have HS grad/GED PLUS

graduation from a state approved program PLUS PTCB/ExCPT certification

that one should be allowed to tech if they are 17 yrs old. However the

exam rules would forbid one from taking the exam which holds up income.

Consider a high school student with honors physics,, chemistyr and

biology who is accepted to a university in the fall of SAME year that

he or she will graduate from both a pharm tech program AND high

school. NOW add the fact that the student is NOT going to be 18 until

November of that year! Now add the fact that she or he has to pay for

college expenses and needs to work. PTCB adn ExCPT just took that

ability away from them because the person is not 18 yrs old. IF the

state said one should be 18 yrs old then no contest. But if the state

says 17 yrs old (like Fl or solely a high school graduate) then

he/she still would not qualify to register because he or she is not

allowed t take the exams. My biggest pet peeve!

Do I think all 16 or 17 yr olds are mature enough? NO!I do not! But I

certainly know of MANY who are. Again this is why I think 18 yr old

with PTCB or ExCPT only OR 17 yr old with HS Diploma/GED and

education/training is acceptable and that the exam organizations

should drop the age requirement.

Respectfully,

Jeaentta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder/Owner

> >

> > Just got an e-mail from the PTCB stating that Florida is now

> requiring

> > certification for pharmacy techs. The same has happened recently

> in

> > Illinois. FINALLY! This needs to be law in ALL 50 states.

> >

> > I, as a consumer, would feel much better if an overworked, stressed

> out

> > pharmacist doesn't have to rely on some 16 year high school kid

> filling

> > Rx's-who, of course, doesn't have a clue what they're doing. This,

> > hopefully, raises the standards for techs and that goes hand in

> hand

> > with better salaries.

> >

> > Kudos to you, Jeanetta, for this website to help new techs get

> > certified and find a meaningful, satisfying career!

> >

> > Nukes, CPhT

> >

>