Fifth new PTCB specialty certificate is a step toward Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv) Certification

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation’s leading credentialing organization for pharmacy technicians, today launches an Assessment-Based Certificate Program in Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention. By earning the new credential, PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) demonstrate their specialized knowledge in preventing controlled substance diversion across pharmacy practice settings. The new certificate is the first credential with formal training for pharmacy technicians in this area, and is one of five PTCB specialty certificates that count toward becoming an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv). 

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s opioid epidemic is escalating as COVID-19 continues. More than 40 states in the US have reported increases in opioid-related mortality and ongoing concerns for those with substance use disorder (SUD) or mental illness. The pandemic is exacerbating many of the conditions that contribute to a rise in SUD, according to the National Institutes of Health. Pharmacy teams face the dual challenges of addressing SUD and COVID-19.

 “Our new program contributes to addressing the escalating substance use disorder crisis during COVID-19. Pharmacy technicians are on the front lines working to serve patients during the SUD epidemic and COVID-19 simultaneously,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. “We are committed to advancing patient safety through our credential programs. In addition to recognizing CPhTs with specialty knowledge in diversion prevention, our newest certificate establishes another rung in the pharmacy technician career ladder that advances patient care and pharmacy practice as a whole.”

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