The Importance Of The Pharmacy Technician Exam
|
|
The pharmacy technician exam is the final step to give you the edge in a competitive market. A decade or so ago, you could end up working as assistant to the pharmacist with just a high school diploma as your credential. These days, employers will lean more towards those who not only completed formal training but also passed the pharmacy technician certification exam.
What is PTCE?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board to gauge your knowledge and readiness to take on the responsibilities of a pharmacy technician. It is a three-hour test, with 125 multiple choice questions and 15 additional, but non-bearing questions that each candidate must answer. The 15 are pre-test questions, the answers of which will be used as basis for future examinations. Coverage of the exam are three function areas that pharmacy technicians are supposed to have knowledge of.
It is best to answer all the questions because the final score will be based on the total number of questions answered correctly. Results are mailed after three weeks. Candidates can take the exam as many times until they pass by paying the application fee.
If you paid careful attention to the instructional portion of your education and got as many hours of practical experience, you will be better equipped to ace this test and be on your way to a certified pharmacy technician.
You can also prepare for it by visiting sites that offer pointers and even provide practice tests to condition you for the actual pharmacy technician exam.
Coverage
The three topic areas that you need to be familiar with and serves as basis for the test include:
Assisting pharmacists in serving patients
Maintaining medication/inventory control systems
Participating in administration/management of pharmacy practice
All these you should have learned during the course of your pharmacy technician training, which lasts from six to 12 months. A pharmacy assistant must be detailed oriented and this trait will be tested during the exam. You must be aware of such items as prescription dates.
As assistant to a pharmacist, your tasks and responsibilities fall under these categories. Your education, whether traditional classroom or online will have covered anatomy/physiology, computer systems, labelling and prescription information, medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations and measurements, pharmacy billing and poison or drug emergencies. These are the foundations from which you will develop your knowledge and skills at working in a pharmacy.
Review and practice
Like any test, preparation is key to passing. The pharmacy technician exam is no exception. The more focused you were in your studies and training, the higher your chances of success. But it won't hurt to get books that will help you review. Better yet, find online sites that give pointers and provide practice tests just to give you the confidence come exam day.
There is another mode of training to become a pharmacy technician. Apply with large retail pharmacies, who offer their own program. The advantage is the actual hands-on experience they get while being trained, in several stages. There is the CVS exam and passing this usually prepares you for the PTCE.
Medication plays a huge part in the health care system and more people will be turning to pharmacies for their needs. Pass the pharmacy technician exam to boost your chances of being part of this growing field.
|
