Check back here for updates to our COVID-19 Resource Page

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

Updates from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board can be found here.

January 8, 2021

ASHP Releases New COVID-19 Vaccine Security, Storage, and Handling Resource Guide

As part of ASHP’s continuing work to support pharmacy professionals on the front lines of a historic mass immunization effort, ASHP has developed a new resource guide on the security, storage, and handling for the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This resource guide provides current information and guidance from ASHP and hospital and health-system pharmacy practitioners on the security, storage, and handling for the COVID-19 vaccines. It incorporates information from the respective FDA emergency use authorization letters and Healthcare Provider Fact Sheets for the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, as well as general best practices for cold chain storage and monitoring, management of the vaccines in preparation for administration, and safety and security measures for drugs prone to errors in mishandling (e.g., temperature excursions) or diversion.

With pharmacists, pharmacy residents and students, pharmacy technicians and many other healthcare professionals playing  pivotal roles in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, ASHP’s new resource serves as a current reference document to support our members and other providers who are serving on front lines of the vaccine rollout. 

March 23, 2020

Message from PTCB Executive Director and CEO Bill Schimmel on COVID-19

Together with PTCB’s Board of Governors and staff, I want to thank and commend the more than 288,000 PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) for their energy and dedication as they face an unprecedented event. Pharmacy technicians are on the front lines in the national effort to battle the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many are bearing a heavier load and carrying increased responsibilities to support essential care services and serve patients during this time.

Our thoughts are with those whose families and communities have been directly affected by the pandemic, and particularly with pharmacy technicians across practice settings working tirelessly to manage evolving demands. The COVID-19 situation is changing by the hour and continues to challenge our nation’s pharmacy teams.

We are committed to serving CPhTs, as well as employers, educators, and the pharmacy community during this challenging period so they can continue to advance patient care. Below are some of the actions we are taking.

For those who have applied and/or have scheduled to test:

• Pearson VUE has suspended test delivery at its company-owned US and Canada-based testing centers until at least April 16 or whenever conditions are safe to reopen. Technicians who have scheduled test appointments will be able to reschedule their exam appointments in the future through Pearson VUE.

• For those who are preparing to become CPhTs, we have extended our practice test sale for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through May 31.

For recertification candidates:

• We have extended recertification deadlines for 60 days for CPhTs and Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technicians (CSPTs) who have March 31, April 30, and May 31 expiration dates to allow them extra time for completing CE and submitting applications.

• We just launched a listing of free continuing education programs so pharmacy technicians have easier access to the resources they need.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we will do our best to keep you informed. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage frequently at ptcb.org/covid19 for PTCB updates.

We continue to work to keep our mission to advance medication safety and patient care as our top priority.

Sincerely,
Bill Schimmel

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Updates

March 27, 2020

This email message provides notice from the Oregon Health Authority that the Health Systems Division is temporarily amending and adopting administrative rules.

It is the Authority's intention to begin the process to make these rules permanent.

The temporary rulemaking notices include:

1.     The Rule Caption, Rulemaking Action and Rule Summary
2.     The Statement of Need and Justification
3.     The Adopted Rule(s)

Click on the links in the left column to access the administrative rule documents.

 
You can also view all recent temporary rulemaking notices at www.oregon.gov/OHA/HSD/OHP/Pages/Temp-Rules.aspx.

Brean Arnold
Rules Manager, Medicaid Programs Unit
Legislative Coordinator, Health Systems Division
OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY
[email protected]