How to Renew

A certification needs to be renewed to stay active. When you become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), a Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician® (CSPT®), and/or an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician™ (CPhT-Adv™), you must complete required continuing education (CE) and submit a renewal application to keep your credential active. CE helps you stay up to date on the latest in pharmacy practice, expand your knowledge, and advance your professional growth.

CPhT and CPhT-Adv recertification is required every two years, while CSPT recertification is required every year. CPhTs can renew in minutes, subject to PTCB review. Be sure to review the process carefully.

Why renew your certification? 

Meet employer and state board requirements. By renewing your certification promptly, you can provide yourself the freedom to work where you choose. PTCB works with many employers who require their pharmacy technicians to maintain their PTCB Certification. In addition to requiring initial certification, some State Boards of Pharmacy also require maintaining your certification.

Save time and money. It is easier and less expensive to maintain your certification than to reinstate or retake the Pharmacy Technician Certification ExamⓇ; CPhTs and CSPTs must recertify on time or take the exam again. For employers, making sure employees complete CEs and renew their certification is the best decision for advancing safety and for their bottom line.

Advance your career. Maintaining an active certification sets you apart in a rapidly growing profession and positions you for career advancement. Many employers require technicians to maintain active certification before considering them to fill advanced and specialized roles in the pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians report higher pay, title changes, and expanded job responsibilities for maintaining their certifications

Advance patient safety. Maintaining your certification demonstrates your dedication to medication safety and commitment to pharmacy, allowing you to keep up with the latest advances in the field.

Enter Your CE Hours

To renew your certification, you must submit an application that lets PTCB know that you’ve completed the required CE. You can include your earned CEs in two ways:

  1. For ACPE-accredited CE: Use CPE Monitor, a service of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and/or
  2. For non-accredited CE: Manually enter these hours and upload documentation of CE completion to your PTCB application. 

Learn more.

 Renewal Resources: