Technicians
The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy requires registered pharmacy technicians to renew their registration and report continuing education by March 31 of every even year (i.e., 03/31/2020, 03/31/2022). Certified pharmacy technicians must renew their registration with the board of pharmacy by September 30 of every even year (i.e., 09/30/2020, 09/30/2022).
All registered technicians need to complete 10 contact hours (1.0 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the technician’s registration. Of the 10 contact hours, two hours (0.2 CEU) must cover the subject of pharmacy jurisprudence and two hours (0.2 CEU) must cover patient or medication safety topics. One-third of the continuing education requirements may be met by volunteering with an approved in-state provider of volunteer healthcare services (see ORC 4745.04 for more information).
Certified pharmacy technicians must complete all CE requirements to maintain their certification by an organization recognized by the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Currently, technicians certified by PTCB or ExCPT exams must complete 20 hours of CE every two years, including one hour each of law and patient/medication safety.
For more information on Pharmacy Technician registration, visit the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
March 29 - September 1: The Spring Technician Series Virtual Seminar
Registration is OPEN! The Spring Technician Series Virtual Seminar will be available MONDAY, March 29 through September 1 in an online, on-demand format.
The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has recognized the crucial role pharmacy technicians have played across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the opioid crisis nationwide, providing reassurance, safety, and leadership. OPA is excited to present The Spring Technician Series CE Seminar, which was made possible through a grant from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). This virtual seminar will provide relevant continuing education to further increase technician involvement in patient care. The seminar includes three 60-minute (0.1 CEU) sessions on the following topics:
- Filling Meds and Filling Gaps, Identifying Pharmacy Leadership Opportunities for Technicians
Beth Collier LSW, CPhT, Patient Services Manager, Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio - The Technician's Role in Successful Vaccination Programs
Megan Muhleman R.Ph., PharmD, PGY1 Community Resident, The University of Toledo and Kroger Pharmacy - The Pharmacy Technician's Role in the Opioid Epidemic
Kayla Nagy R.Ph., PharmD; Kristy Nguyen R.Ph., PharmD; Kelly Tomcsanyi R.Ph., PharmD; University of Cincinnati, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
The seminar fee is $25 for a total of three contact hours (0.3 CEU), and will be available on-demand from March 29 to September 1, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the virtual technician CE series is being offered in place of a live spring technician seminar. Register today.
Note: There is no pharmacist continuing education associated with this program.
Continuing Education
Home-Study CE
The purchased CE lesson(s) will be sent to the email address on the order form after payment is processed.
Pharmacy Technician Home-Study PATIENT/MEDICATION SAFETY CE
Strategies to Prevent Vaccine Errors
ACPE Program #0129-0000-18-064-H05-T
Credit: 0.1 CEU release date: 5-9-18 expiration date: 5-9-21
This lesson provides information on identification of vaccine errors, including "errors of omission," and strategies to prevent them. This lesson qualifies for patient/medication safety CPE credit for pharmacy technicians.
Medication Safety: Understanding and Preventing Medication Errors
ACPE Program #0129-0000-20-061-H05-T
Credit: 0.1 CEU release date: 1-20-20 expiration date: 1-20-23
This lesson provides a review of medication errors, including medication error definitions, common errors, categories of errors, and strategies to prevent them. This lesson qualifies for patient/medication safety CPE credit for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Home-Study LAW CE
Pharmacy Technician Updates to Ohio Pharmacy Laws and Rules
ACPE Program #0129-0000-18-13-H03-T
Credit: 0.1 CEU release date: 11-15-18 expiration date: 11-15-21
This lesson provides information on updates in the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code regarding the requirements for registration, educational requirements and permitted activities of pharmacy technicians.
Click Here to Order Home-Study CE
On-Demand Virtual Programming
Virtual Pharmacy Technician Education Seminar - Available through November 25, 2020!
The Fall 2020 Virtual Pharmacy Technician Education Seminar will be in an online, on-demand format. Hosted by the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation (OPF), the seminar will offer 6 hours (0.6 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit for technicians, including one hour of pharmacy law and one hour of patient/medication safety. OPF is an ACPE-accredited provider and this CE credit can be used by certified pharmacy technicians who need to maintain a pharmacy technician certification (ExCPT or PTCB), as well as Ohio registered pharmacy technicians for their registration renewal which has been extended to December 1, 2020.
Ohio’s certified pharmacy technician registration renewal will begin in August 2020. As part of the renewal process and as a condition of maintaining a valid Ohio registration, a certified pharmacy technician is required to maintain a pharmacy technician certification (ExCPT or PTCB). Currently, technicians certified by PTCB or ExCPT exams must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years, including one hour each of law and patient/medication safety.
This seminar is designed to meet the educational needs of pharmacy technicians and offers up to 6 contact hours (0.6 CEU) of CE credit for technicians. Topics include pharmacy law, patient/medication safety, asthma, COVID-19 pandemic, new drug update, and e-cigarette impact. This is a great opportunity to learn about the most recent information and network with other pharmacy technicians from across the state.
Program details can be found at the following links:
Pharmacy Technician Program Brochure
Pharmacy Technician Learning Objectives
Our secure registration system is Smart-phone and Mobile-device friendly! This convenient online registration process is the fastest, easiest way to register, and you'll automatically receive your confirmation receipt with details via email.
Click Here to Register for the 2020 Fall Pharmacy Technician Program
For Ohio rules on pharmacy technician continuing education requirements, visit: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4729%3A3-5 .
For FAQs on pharmacy technician CE, visit: https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Documents/Licensing/PTech/General/Pharmacy%20Technician%20Continuing%20Education.pdf
Note: There is no pharmacist continuing education associated with this program.
This program is presented by the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation.
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
PTCB Certification Brochure
PTCB 20-Year Anniversary Film
2215 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20037-2985
Tel: 202-429-7576 or Toll-Free: 800-363-8012
Fax: 202-429-7596
Employer-Based Technician Training Program
Employer-Based Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
Are you an employer who needs to train technicians and wonders how to meet the board of pharmacy requirements for an employer-based training?
OPA now offers two Employer-Based Pharmacy Technician Training Programs for purchase by a pharmacist.
1. OPA’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program
The OPA Pharmacy Technician Training Program will help walk your pharmacy technician trainees through the steps of becoming a Registered Pharmacy Technician in Ohio. You can buy this program complete with a training protocol, worksheets for major areas of testing and a program satisfaction survey, this program will help make sure your technicians are adequately trained to meet state board standards. A sample exam and template for certificate of completion of the training are also included.
The materials in this training program supplement resources you may already use for teaching medical and pharmaceutical terminology, symbols, federal and state laws/regulations that affect pharmacy practice, your pharmacy’s QA training, etc. If you need resources for medical terminology and symbols, law, etc. the Pharmacy Certified Technician Training Manual is available for purchase on the OPA website under Study Resources under the Technician tab.
OPA Member price: $99 OPA Non-member cost: $150
Order OPA's Pharmacy Technician Training Program Now
Reference: The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy requirements for an employer-based training program can be found in rule 4729:3-3-02 of the Ohio Administrative Code (http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4729:3-3-02v1)
2. PassAssured Employer-Based Pharmacy Technician Training Program
Tech Certification by PassAssured!
OPA is pleased to announce the availability of a Pharmacy Technician education resource to aid technicians in achieving the goal of becoming a PTCB or ExCPT certified pharmacy technician. The PassAssured Pharmacy Technician Training Program features:
Interactive Multimedia, Self-paced Learning Experience
240 Hours of Curriculum
1,200 Question Sets in Testing Database
Computer and Tablet based
Completely Online
Completely preps for the national certifying exams
Use wherever there is internet
Meets the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s didactic requirement for on-the-job training
The supervising pharmacist has the ability to track the technician’s progress while he/she is completing the program
The PassAssured product is also used in the Ohio public school system
The cost of the PassAssured program is only $299, tax included.
Order Employer-Based PassAssured Pharmacy Technician Training Program Now
Additional home-study training resources are also available
to order in the "Continuing Education" tab.
Exam Information
Exam Dates and Application
Go to www.ptcb.org for information regarding dates for computer-based examinations, content, practice exam, and registering on line; also includes a salary survey.
On Demand Continuous Testing for PTCB is available Monday-Friday at the following locations.
Pearson Professional Center locations for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam:
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Marion Technical College
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Pearson Professional Centers - Columbus(North)
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Mount Vernon Nazarene University
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Dublin Regional Learning Center Testing Center
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Pearson Professional Centers-Columbus (West)
To locate a center, click on the following link. Pearsonvue.com/
Study Resources and PassAssured
PassAssured
OPA is pleased to announce the availability of an additional Pharmacy Technician education resource to aid technicians in achieving the goal of becoming a PTCB or ExCPT certified pharmacy technician. The PassAssured web-based Interactive training program is now being offered in addition to the home study books currently available through the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation. The PassAssured Pharmacy Technician Training Program features:
- Interactive Multimedia, Self-paced Learning Experience
- 240 Hours of Curriculum
- 1,200 Question Sets in Testing Database
- Computer and Tablet based
- Completely Online
- Completely preps for the national certifying exams
- Use wherever there is internet
The cost of this program is only $299, which includes tax.
To order this PassAssured Pharmacy Technician Training Program or other technician homestudy training programs online:
For questions, please email Info@ohiopharmacists.org or call the OPA office at (614)389-3236.
Additional Studying Resources
The following home study books are also offered by the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation:
PCT Training Manual:
The PCT Training Manual is available to help prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. This comprehensive study guide is designed to assist technicians in reviewing terminology, abbreviations, calculations, pharmacology, unit dose and aseptic technique.
Price: $93.59
PCT Calculations Workbook:
The PCT Calculations Workbook is offered for technicians who need calculations practice, reviewing math and metric equivalents, concentrations and dilutions, dosage calculations, etc.
Price: $45.80
PCT Quick Study Guide:
The PCT Technician Certification Quick-Study Guide is a handy resource for
brushing up on key points concerning technician functions listed in the Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board's Candidate Handbook.
Price: $51.00
NOTE: Shipping and handling and Ohio sales tax are included on book order prices listed above.
Schools with Technician Certificate/Training Programs
Schools with Technician Certificate/Training Programs
American National UniversityDayton, Ohio Campus | American National UniversityYoungstown, Ohio Campus |
Ashland County - West Holmes Career Center1783 State Route 60 | Brightwood College - Dayton2800 East River Road |
Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy TechnologyContact: Tara Hannum, MA, CPhT | Columbus State Community College550 East Spring St |
Cuyahoga Community CollegeContact: Mary Ann Stuhan, R.Ph., PharmD | Daymar College - Columbus2745 Winchester Pike |
Four County Career Center22-900 State Route 34 | Mahoning County Career Technical Center7300 North Palmyra Rd |
North Central State College2441 Kenwood Circle | Pickaway-Ross Adult Education - Chillicothe1410 Industrial Dr |
Polaris Career Center7285 Old Oak Blvd | Remington College (Cleveland West Campus)Contact: Quantia Shelby |
Sinclair Community CollegeContact: David McFadden | Southern State Community CollegeContact: Carrie Deatley |
Southern State Community College100 Hobart Drive | Stark State College of TechnologyContact: Martha Doerr |
Trumbull Career and Technical Center528 Educational Highway | University of Rio GrandeContact: Keith McKinniss, R.Ph. |
Vanguard-Sentinel Joint Vocational SchoolContact: Becky Theis | Warren County Career Center - Greentree Academy Campus5757 Innovation Drive |
2-Year Associate's Degree
American National UniversityYoungstown, Ohio Campus | American National UniversityDayton, Ohio Area Campus |
Cuyahoga Community College |
Technician Organizations
American Association of Pharmacy Technicians
AAPT provides leadership and represents the interests of its members to the public as well as health care organizations; promotes the safe, efficacious, and cost effective dispensing, distribution and use of medications; provides continuing education programs and services to help technicians update their skills to keep pace with changes in pharmacy services; promotes pharmacy technicians as an integral part of the patient care team.
National Pharmacy Technician Association
NPTA, the National Pharmacy Technician Association, is the world's largest professional organization established specifically for pharmacy technicians. The association is dedicated to advancing the value of pharmacy technicians and the vital roles they play in pharmaceutical care. In a society of countless associations, we believe it takes much more than a mission statement to meet the professional needs and provide the needed leadership for the pharmacy technician profession - it takes action and results.
