Pharmacy tech certifications pass half-million mark, PTCB says

WASHINGTON — The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has issued more than half a million certifications, the group said Wednesday.

The PTCB said the number of certifications it had granted was 503,620 as of June 30. Last year alone, 39,729 candidates passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.

"Passing the half-million mark is an exciting milestone in the growth of PTCB's nationwide certification program," PTCB executive director and CEO Everett McAllister said. "The PTCB [Certified Pharmacy Technician] credential represents an excellent pathway to employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians. It enables them to stay current and be prepared to meet the requirements of the occupation as our healthcare system evolves."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, pharmacy technician employment is likely to increase more than 32% between 2010 and 2020, compared to the bureau's projected 14% growth for all occupations during the same period.