ASHP/ACPE revise accreditation standards for pharmacy technician programs

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recently modified accreditation standards for pharmacy technician education and training programs.

The newly revised standards were based on recommendations from the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), which ASHP and ACPE created in 2014 to ensure and enhance the quality of technician education and training programs. The commission is made up of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in addition to staff and board liaisons from the ASHP and ACPE.

The changes that will go into effect on Jan. 1 involve requirements related to student experiential activities. While two different types of contemporary pharmacy experiences used to be required, now only one is required with two being preferred.

The other change, which was also approved by board members from the ASHP and ACPE, enables accredited programs to decide whether they want to offer hands-on training in sterile compounding, non-sterile compounding or both. Programs are still required to include didactic education.

The modified standards are expected to produce diverse, high-quality education and training programs that will prepare pharmacy technicians for a variety of patient care situations.

PTAC periodically updates standards and policies associated with the accreditation of pharmacy technician programs.