Federal Pharmacy Technician Act proposed

What is you opinion about the mandatory regulation of pharmacy technicians?

Washington -- U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)introduced federal legislation that will mandate training, education, registration and certification requirements for pharmacy technicians nationwide. 2/28/2008

Dony in Canton, Michigan said: What is you opinion about the mandatory regulation of pharmacy technicians?

Washington -- U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)introduced federal legislation that will mandate training, education, registration and certification requirements for pharmacy technicians nationwide. 2/28/2008

I think it's a great idea. Standardize the training so you don't have a pill-counter/cashier and an IV tech called the same thing. It would make the chains pay more for trained personnel and give the profession the respect it deserves.

TimothySkowronek420@msn.com in Indianapolis, Indiana said: I think it's a great idea. Standardize the training so you don't have a pill-counter/cashier and an IV tech called the same thing. It would make the chains pay more for trained personnel and give the profession the respect it deserves.

I agree too. Beside I would like to see a specialized certification in IV admixture, and in chemotherapy, as well as an Associate degree as the minimum requirement for pharmacy technicians.

That sounds good and all, but I doubt that will fly around here in TN. I personally think techs are very underpaid, especially in hospitals! I work in one of the most major hospitals in the area and do both IVs and answer phones and run meds to the floors. Things can get very stressful!! The schedules we have tell us what we are designated to do that day, so everybody does everything pretty much, just take turns. Most of the people there came from retail chains like CVS and because of that prior experience they are getting hired in at more than what I make; even with a 3rd shift diff. Because I came out of school with no experience I'm not going to get the pay I'd have unless I have atleast like 3+ yrs experience. AND! the only raises I'll ever get is hospital-wide cost of living raises. So to make money there, you need to go somewhere else, work for a few years, then come back. It's so not fair.

Amber in Chattanooga, Tennessee said: That sounds good and all, but I doubt that will fly around here in TN. I personally think techs are very underpaid, especially in hospitals! I work in one of the most major hospitals in the area and do both IVs and answer phones and run meds to the floors. Things can get very stressful!! The schedules we have tell us what we are designated to do that day, so everybody does everything pretty much, just take turns. Most of the people there came from retail chains like CVS and because of that prior experience they are getting hired in at more than what I make; even with a 3rd shift diff. Because I came out of school with no experience I'm not going to get the pay I'd have unless I have atleast like 3+ yrs experience. AND! the only raises I'll ever get is hospital-wide cost of living raises. So to make money there, you need to go somewhere else, work for a few years, then come back. It's so not fair.

oh yes, life is not fair... do your time/exp like everyone else, and like everyone else move on to a better paying job...

and if this becomes national it will not matter if TN likes it or not..
just like Radiology Techs, no matter where you go, it is a 2 year program..why do you think rad techs make so much more money??? Not everyone will go to school, they will take the least easy route to get a job, and right now, its pharmacy tech...wait til it becomes a 2 year requirement...you will actually see standards, and pay will increase big time as people will not jump into it as quickly...most people will take the path of least resistance to get a job...

employers will not want this to happen as they can keep wages low...by requiring a 2 year degree to become a pharmacy tech, less, and less people will enroll, and wages will increase probably a good amount
then what is paid now.

The proposed legislation is long over due! A specific knowledge base and certification will help reduce the number of errors made by unqualified technicians. In all the years I have worked in different pharmacy settings, I have seen many "techs" that are unqualified and unprofessional. We are paraprofessionals and with the proposed legislation we will gain much needed credentialing. Most pharmacists I have worked with prefer a well trained and knowledgable technician. We will be rewarded financially for that credentialing. Any good tech should support this bill. Get involved folks! This is our future!

Kateocpht in Flint, Michigan said: The proposed legislation is long over due! A specific knowledge base and certification will help reduce the number of errors made by unqualified technicians. In all the years I have worked in different pharmacy settings, I have seen many "techs" that are unqualified and unprofessional. We are paraprofessionals and with the proposed legislation we will gain much needed credentialing. Most pharmacists I have worked with prefer a well trained and knowledgable technician. We will be rewarded financially for that credentialing. Any good tech should support this bill. Get involved folks! This is our future!

Im for it.. a person is only going to learn so much in any
school setting, school or no school, errors are still going to happen, by the time you get out of school, you forgot what you did on the first day of school. the most exp comes while you are on the job, and being trained, school is only a small part of your learning process, and just because a person went to school does not make them qualified...they become qualified on the job as they are learning, and as being professional, thats on the individual. If a person wants to be proffesional then he will if he doesnt then he won't, no school will change that. Its only common sense to be professional no matter what you are doing, and only some
knowledge comes from schooling, the most part of knowledge
comes from the job as you are getting experiance.

In South Carolina we are required to worked 1500 hours under a licensed pharmacist, have a high school diploma or equiv,PASSED the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam fulfilled continuing education (10 hours per year 6 being live 4 non live & 1 hour of law),a formal academic pharmacy training program that leads to a cerftificate,diploma, or higher degree. Go to this website for more details: www.scstatehouse.net/code/t40c043.htm

And even with those requirements we still aren't paid enough. We run our butts off so the pharmacists can punch orders and still don't get the credit or recognition we deserve. We get all the blame when something goes wrong. Yes we are all human and all make mistakes but the PHARMACISTS are the FINAL CHECK before a medication goes to the floor. The nurses are the final check before it is administered to a patient. If it is an IV medication the Nurse has no ideal what is in it. I am truly sorry that Emily got killed by a pharmacists carelessness! My heart goes out to that family! Why is it that the technician is the one who gets the blame? I have been a tech for 9 years (and I started out as the pharmacy cashier by the way) but I was properly trained at a retail store then in 2000 I PASSED the National Certification Board Exam and have maintained my National Certification as well as my State Board registration. We have many GREAT techs who are not getting the recognition they deserve this bill will help them to get that! We work our butts off in a high paced atmosphere our job is critical to the patients recovery. I take my job seriously and enjoy helping people. Does anyone know about the tech who comitted this error? Is she Nationally Certified? Registered with a State Board? I know that she didn't intentionally kill Emily! My heart also goes out to her! When she went to work on that March 1st she didn't say I am going to kill a helplesschild

OK OK PEOPLE CALM DOWN... FIRST OF ALL IT DOESNT MAKE MUCH SCENCE TO ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER YOU AL SEEM TO BE SAYING THE SAME THING ... TECHS ARE OVERWORKED AND UNDER PAID. RIGHT! BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO SIT AND PIDDLE AROUND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO FIX IT FOR YOU? OK I KNOW I KNOW ... WHAT CAN I DO YOU ASK WHOS GOING TO LISTEN TO ME ? IM JUST A TECH YOU SAY ... LOOK AS A TECH IVE DONE IT ALL SEEN IT ALL HEARD IT ALL FOR 16 TO 20 YEARS I LOST COUNT ALONG THE WAY. NO CHANGE HAS OR WILL COME UNLESS YOU TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS... HIGHEST SALERY 70000 HIGHEST DOLLAR/HOUR 55 ... I QUIT SO THAT I COULD TEACH.. YEP THAT WHAT I DO TEACH RX TECHNICIAN ....EVERYTHING FROM DR. TO TECHS TO NURSES LOOK I CANT TELL YOU ALL HERE CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY I HATE TYPING... E-MAIL ME AT TMACKAMACK@YAHOO.COM ... ILL TRY TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS

TONY FROM ATL in Jacksonville, Florida said: OK OK PEOPLE CALM DOWN... FIRST OF ALL IT DOESNT MAKE MUCH SCENCE TO ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER YOU AL SEEM TO BE SAYING THE SAME THING ... TECHS ARE OVERWORKED AND UNDER PAID. RIGHT! BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO SIT AND PIDDLE AROUND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO FIX IT FOR YOU? OK I KNOW I KNOW ... WHAT CAN I DO YOU ASK WHOS GOING TO LISTEN TO ME ? IM JUST A TECH YOU SAY ... LOOK AS A TECH IVE DONE IT ALL SEEN IT ALL HEARD IT ALL FOR 16 TO 20 YEARS I LOST COUNT ALONG THE WAY. NO CHANGE HAS OR WILL COME UNLESS YOU TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS... HIGHEST SALERY 70000 HIGHEST DOLLAR/HOUR 55 ... I QUIT SO THAT I COULD TEACH.. YEP THAT WHAT I DO TEACH RX TECHNICIAN ....EVERYTHING FROM DR. TO TECHS TO NURSES LOOK I CANT TELL YOU ALL HERE CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY I HATE TYPING... E-MAIL ME AT TMACKAMACK@YAHOO.COM ... ILL TRY TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS

Hey, i wanted to know since your a tech now if you could answer some questions for me about working there? im a pharmacy tech student now and am very curious

melissa in Boston, Massachusetts said: Hey, i wanted to know since your a tech now if you could answer some questions for me about working there? im a pharmacy tech student now and am very curious

sorry i took sooo long to get back to you ... now then .... working where? id like to help in any way possible but i must understand the question.

Dony in Canton, Michigan said: What is you opinion about the mandatory regulation of pharmacy technicians?

Washington -- U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)introduced federal legislation that will mandate training, education, registration and certification requirements for pharmacy technicians nationwide. 2/28/2008

I personally think it is a good thing. You do not need high school kids dispensing medication. The job is for responsible professionals and should require more than just going and taking the PTCE. With the responsibilities being taken from the pharmacist and his job going more towards counseling patients, the pharmacy technician should be Certified, and should also have education in pharmacology and pharmacy practice before being awarded a job behind the counter despensing medication.