WASHINGTON — The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) has held back the implementation of its planned 2020 accredited education requirement for pharmacy technicians who seek PTCB certification.

PTCB said this week that the requirement, originally announced in 2013, would take effect in 2020 as part of a road map of program changes to keep pace with the evolving role of the pharmacy technician.

“We have determined that additional deliberation and research are needed to address stakeholder input, develop supporting policy and conduct further study of technician roles,” Larry Wagenknecht, chair of the PTCB Board of Governors and chief executive officer of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, said in a statement.

PTCB said it recently completed a job analysis study to gather data on current roles and duties of pharmacy technicians across practice settings to update the PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and is now developing advanced certification programs.

In February, PTCB is slated to host an invitational conference in which pharmacy leaders and stakeholders will examine entry-level standards and provide information to help determine future plans for implementation of PTCB program changes.

“The pharmacy community is prepared to engage in a thoughtful discussion regarding the potential for an education requirement for pharmacy technician certification,” stated PTCB executive director and CEO Everett McAllister. “PTCB is part of the broad pharmacy community, and we listen to those invested in and affected by our policies. Ultimately, this deliberative approach serves patients and advances our common missions to improve medication safety and advance patient care.”

Since its founding in 1995, PTCB has granted more than a half-million pharmacy technician certifications.

“PTCB is studying the many roles and responsibilities of today’s pharmacy technicians at different levels and in varying settings,” McAllister added. “This information needs to be taken into consideration as we determine the appropriate requirements for initial certification applicants.”