October 21, 2021

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation’s first and most trusted pharmacy technician credentialing organization, has announced that the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved PTCB’s Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician^® (CSPT^®) Certification Exam as eligible for reimbursement through the VA’s education benefits. In accordance with the GI Bill, more veterans, active duty service members, dependents/survivors, and national guard/reservists are now able to receive payment for their exam fees. 

“PTCB’s credentials are a highly valued differentiator in a fast-growing pharmacy technician field. Earning the CSPT Certification is a way technicians can demonstrate expertise and distinguish themselves for meeting PTCB’s rigorous requirements,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. “We welcome the VA’s decision to allow greater numbers of veterans, service members, and their families to be reimbursed for their CSPT testing fees. This action creates new opportunities for aspiring technicians who are eligible for these benefits.”

“PTCB’s sterile compounding certification creates opportunities for qualified technicians to get sterile compounding training to bolster pharmacy teams across the country and provide crucial patient care services,” said Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs at the American Pharmacists Association. “Making this important credential program available to more veterans and service members and their families is a significant advancement for patient safety.”

Many pharmacy technicians are responsible for sterile compounding, the preparation of medications in a sterile environment to prevent contamination. Earning a CSPT demonstrates a technician’s knowledge and skill as a specialized pharmacy technician and their commitment to ensuring medication safety. A passing score on the CSPT Exam is required to earn PTCB’s CSPT Certification. 

Learn more:

• CSPT Certification

• Who is eligible and how to get reimbursed