VA now requires PTCB certification for pharmacy technicians employed at grade GS-6

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now requires Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification for VA pharmacy technicians employed at grade GS-6 and above. VA's decision came after formal recommendations from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and is reflected in the VA Handbook 5005/15.

The incorporation of these new requirements parallel certification standards within the private sector and demonstrate VA's commitment to improving patient safety and rewarding PTCB certified pharmacy technicians through increased pay and new career opportunities.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) relies extensively on its cadre of pharmacy technicians to provide a world class pharmacy benefit to our nation's Veterans," said Michael Valentino, VA Chief Consultant, Pharmacy Benefits Management. "VA's adoption of PTCB certification will better equip technicians to perform their current duties; provide a platform for technicians to improve their skills to assume more complex duties; provide a career ladder for progression to more demanding positions; raise the minimum skill sets required for technicians; and reduce variation in practice across the VA system."

"PTCB certification provides a solid foundation to support the pharmacy technician services of the VA as they work to serve our nation's Veterans," said Melissa Murer Corrigan, R.Ph., Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. "We applaud the VA for incorporating PTCB certification into the standards for the over 3,800 pharmacy technicians employed by the system."

VA pharmacy technicians practice across a variety of pharmacy settings. Their work includes inpatient hospital care, outpatient care, serving as pharmacy automation technicians, manning phone advice lines, and working within the Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP), a service that provides mail order prescriptions to veterans using facilities with highly automated distribution systems at strategic locations throughout the country.

PTCB has certified over 370,000 technicians nationwide and is the only pharmacy technician certification endorsed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).