Glossary of Terms

Accrediting Body

An accrediting body is an independent, authoritative entity that assesses, evaluates and recognizes the competence of organizations providing conformity assessment services, such as certification, testing, inspection, and calibration services against established standards. The primary function of an accrediting body is to ensure that organizations meet specific standards, demonstrating their competence, impartiality, and performance capabilities. Meeting the standards of an accrediting body results in accreditation, which helps build trust in the services provided by accredited organizations.¹

ACPE

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy, and accreditation of pharmacy continuing education providers.² 

Advocacy

Advocacy is the act of supporting, promoting, or speaking out on behalf of a particular cause, idea, group, or individual. It involves actively and passionately working to influence decisions, policies, or public opinions in order to bring about positive change or address specific issues. 

ASHP

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies. For over 80 years, ASHP has championed innovation in pharmacy practice, advanced education and professional development, and served as a steadfast advocate for members and patients. In addition, ASHP is the accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs and provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals through every stage of their careers.  

Bill

A bill is a formal, written proposal to create a new law or change an existing law. A bill has no legal authority on its own, but represents an idea submitted for consideration, debate, review, and approval. Bills can only be introduced by elected members of a legislative body, such as Congress or a state legislature. A legislature must vote on and pass a bill for it to become law.³

Certified

Certification is a national credential awarded to an individual who has proved their competence in a specialized task or field. Pharmacy technicians gain certification by successfully passing one of the two recognized certification exams: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Certification demonstrates a standardized level of knowledge and competency and is often required or preferred by employers and state boards.⁴

CE

Continuing Education (CE) refers to a broad range of educational activities aimed at improving professional knowledge, skills, and competence. CE can encompass formal courses, workshops, seminars, and online learning. Certifying organizations (such as PTCB and NHA) specify the number of hours and the specific topics that certified individuals must complete to maintain certification.⁵

CEU

A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a standardized measure used to document a professional's participation in ongoing education and training, with one CEU equaling 10 hours of instruction. CEUs are essential in fields like healthcare, where professionals must stay current with evolving practices, technology, and medical knowledge. Unlike Continuing Medical Education (CME), which is specific to physicians, CEUs apply to all licensed healthcare professionals including pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, psychologists, and medical technologists and more as part of their licensure and professional development requirements.⁶

ExCPT

The Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) is a nationally recognized pharmacy technician certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The exam is composed of 120 multiple choice questions covering topics such as the role, responsibilities, and general duties of the pharmacy technician, pharmacy law, drugs and drug therapy, the dispensing process, and patient safety.⁷

Licensed

Licensing is a process by which a government agency grants permission to an individual to practice. A licensed pharmacy technician has met additional state-specific requirements beyond registration. This often includes completing an approved training program, passing a state-administered or nationally recognized exam, and fulfilling continuing education obligations.⁴

NHA

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is one of the two organizations that offers national pharmacy technician certification.⁸

PTCB

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the nation’s first and most trusted nonprofit organization for certifying pharmacy technicians, established in 1995 to set the standard for credentialing in the U.S. focused on advancing medication safety. PTCB offers the most widely accepted credentials and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), with renewals in 2011, 2017, and 2021.⁹

PTCE

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is a nationally recognized pharmacy technician certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The exam is composed of 90 multiple choice questions covering topics such as medications, federal requirements, patient safety, and order entry.¹⁰

Registered

Registration is a means to safeguard the public and track individuals who are practicing in certain fields. A registered pharmacy technician has met criteria established by the State Board of Pharmacy and is legally permitted to perform pharmacy technician duties within that state. Registration typically involves submitting an application and meeting basic eligibility criteria, such as age and background checks, and may require formal education or examination.⁴

Regulation

A regulation is a rule created by a government agency—such as a state board of pharmacy or federal agency—under authority granted by law. Regulations explain how laws will be applied and are legally enforceable.¹¹

Regulatory Authority

A public organization responsible for legally regulating the details of how people carry out processes. Their fundamental role is establishing standards and ensuring consistent compliance through rules, monitoring, and penalties for violations.¹²

Scope of Practice

A set of guidelines that defines what actions an individual is legally permitted to perform. The scope of practice for a pharmacy technician is defined by the regulatory authority within their state.¹³

Statute

A statute is a law enacted by a legislative body. In the context of pharmacy, statutes are formal written laws passed by federal or state legislatures that govern the practice of pharmacy, including licensure, drug dispensing, and professional conduct.  Statutes are also referred to as acts, such as the Controlled Substances Act or the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.¹⁴

Contributors:

• Amanda Abernathy MBA, CPhT, CPTEd
• Ryan Cook, LPhT, CPhT-Adv
• Sandirria Harris, BS, CPhT
• Josie Quick, RPhT, CPhT-Adv, CSPT

REFERENCES 

1. International Accreditation Forum (IAF). What is an accreditation body? Published April 20, 2021. Accessed October 21, 2025. https://iaf.nu/en/faq/what-is-an-accreditation-body/  
2. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Joint Accreditation. Published January 17, 2023. Accessed October 21, 2025. https://jointaccreditation.org/joint-accreditation/accrediting-organizations/acpe/  
3. GovFacts. Bills vs. Laws: The Legislative Journey in the United States. Published May 17, 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://govfacts.org/explainer/bills-vs-laws-the-legislative-journey-in-the-united-states/ 
4. Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy (CCP). Pharmacy Technician Credentialing Framework. Published August 2009. Accessed October 14, 2025. https://www.pharmacycredentialing.org/Files/CCP%20technician%20framework_08-09.pdf 
5. Learn at Pinnacle. Learn. Published January 23, 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://learnatpinnacle.com/education/info/ceu-vs-ce 
6. CMEmeeting.org. What is a CEU and What’s the Difference Between CME and CEU? | Continuing Education. Published February 27, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://www.cmemeeting.org/articles/what-is-a-ceu-and-whats-the-difference-between-cme-and-ceu 
7. National Healthcareer Association (NHA). ExCPT Summary Examination Outline DOMAINS/SUBDOMAINS # of Items on Examination. Published May 9, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://knowledge.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/2023%20ExCPT%20Test%20Plan.pdf 
8. AscendBase. About NHA, the National Healthcareer Association. Published 2025. Accessed October 21, 2025. https://www.nhanow.com/about-nha 
9. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). About PTCB. Published June 13, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://ptcb.org/about-ptcb/ 
10. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Published July 25, 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://ptcb.org/credentials/certification/certified-pharmacy-technician/ 
11. GovFacts. Laws Made Simple: Statutes vs. Regulations in America. Published July 12, 2025. Accessed November 17, 2025. https://govfacts.org/explainer/laws-made-simple-statutes-vs-regulations-in-america/ 
12. GovFacts. Federal Agencies vs. Regulatory Bodies: How the U.S. Government Works. Published July 12, 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://govfacts.org/explainer/federal-agencies-vs-regulatory-bodies-how-the-u-s-government-works/ 
13. American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). White Paper: Credentialing and Privileging of Pharmacists. Published November 2010. Accessed October 14, 2025. https://www.accp.com/docs/positions/misc/CCPwpCredentialing_11-2010.pdf 
14. Legal Information Institute. Statute. Wex, Cornell Law School. Accessed October 14, 2025. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/statute