ASHP Offers Assistance to Sponsor of Technician Registration Bill

3/11/2008

ASHP staff visited the office of Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) last week to discuss ways to strengthen recently introduced legislation that would require standardized training and registration requirements for pharmacy technicians.

The legislation, The Pharmacy Technician Training and Registration Act of 2008 (HR 5491), addresses one of the Society’s top advocacy priorities-- standardized requirements for pharmacy technician training, education, certification, and registration. 

During the meeting with LaTourette, the bill’s sponsor, ASHP staff shared concerns over a provision to require error reporting and specific technician-to-pharmacist ratios.

ASHP expressed support for many of the concepts in the bill, including state grants to establish pharmacy technician registration programs and the bill’s requirement that technicians become certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and complete ASHP-accredited training programs.

The Society is poised to launch an initiative this spring that will partner with state affiliates to advocate for state laws supporting training and certification requirements for pharmacy technicians.  Track ASHP’s progress on this issue at www.ashp.org/advocacy.