New Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission Launched

PRESS RELEASE

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) are pleased to announce their collaboration to accredit pharmacy technician education and training programs, beginning in late 2014.

The collaboration will result in the creation of the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), which will be tasked with assuring and advancing the quality of pharmacy technician education and training programs.

The PTAC will conduct document reviews and site surveys and advise the ASHP and ACPE boards of directors, which will then agree on final accreditation actions. The establishment of the PTAC expands upon ASHP’s 31-year history as the national accrediting body for pharmacy technician training programs and incorporates ACPE’s expertise in the accreditation of pharmacy educational programs.

“The creation of this new accrediting body is a critical next step in the evolution of pharmacy technician education and training programs, helping to assure employers and pharmacists in all settings of the quality and standardization of these programs,” said Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., DSc (Hon), FASHP, ASHP’s Chief Executive Officer. “We think that the collaboration between ASHP and ACPE is the perfect blend of knowledge and oversight that this process requires.”

Established in 1932, ACPE is the preeminent national accreditation body for professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. “ACPE is pleased to engage in this important collaboration that will create synergy between ASHP’s work in accrediting pharmacy technician training programs and ACPE’s insights and deep expertise in accrediting pharmacy degree programs,” said Peter H. Vlasses, Pharm.D., DSc (Hon), BCPS, FCCP, ACPE’s Executive Director. “We believe that this team effort will augment the needed quality and consistency in the education of pharmacy technicians and help technician graduates meet the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession in all sectors of practice.”

There are currently 258 programs in the ASHP accreditation process. Through the work of its Commission on Credentialing, ASHP will continue to accredit pharmacy technician programs until the PTAC officially begins its work in the fall of 2014. ASHP will also provide ongoing accreditation support for the PTAC.