After months of coordination and planning, the 17th Certified Pharmacy Technician Course (CPTC) has kicked off on 27-Oct-2009. The first module was rolled out at Toa Payoh HDB Hub, Biz Three under PSS’ adjunct training partner Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS).

This CPTC has now been endorsed by Workforce Development Agency as being Workforce Skills Qualificaitons (WSQ)-compliant. That simply means the candidates sponsored by employers will now be eligible for up to 80% funding for trainees below 40 years old; and up to 90% funding for candidates 40 years and above. The funding is only eligible to Singapore citizens & PRs. Additionally, absentee payroll will also be offered to employers if their staff have to be away for the course during working hours.

Due to the overwhelming response from our institutions, the training places for the 17th CPTC has been "oversubscribed". As a result, PSS has advised the pharmacy managers to defer sending some of the candidates to this 17th CPTC; and in order to address the training needs of the remaining candidates, the Council has decided to bring forward the 18th intake of CPTC to Jan 2010 before FY 2009/10 ends.

 
With the funding, one condition imposed upon PSS is to significantly revamp the course in terms of method of instruction and assessment. The WSQ system mandates that each trainee be assessed individually & confidentially to ensure attainment of competencies based on the prescribed performance criteria and underpinning knowledge in order to be proficient in carrying out their functions effectively & professionally.

For the past 16 consecutive years, CPTC has been the de facto training programme for PTs and with this WSQ accreditation, the status of the CPTC has now been elevated to a nationally recognized skills qualifications scheme.

Many thanks to all of you who have steadfastly supported this programme over the years; and we would encourage all to continue supporting the CPTC more so now with very attractive funding model.

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