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Fall 2010
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Headline Articles
ICE 2010, taking place November 16-19, in Atlanta, will bring together practitioners, experts, and public members within the credentialing community, to focus on the latest industry best practices. Members and nonmembers can learn more and register for this premier event at the ICE 2010 Annual Conference Web site.
“Our conference committee has organized an event that truly offers the top tier of credentialing practices,” said Jim Kendzel, ICE Executive Director. “The education sessions will cover all aspects of credentialing, including program management, organizational administration, regulatory issues, and the latest testing procedures.”
The 2010 conference will feature several new and improved elements, including a program for public/consumer members of credentialing organizations. ICE is offering free registration to one public member per organization, to attend sessions and network in a setting designed specifically for them.
ICE is also offering a Virtual Conference, to allow fellow employees of attendees to participate in select sessions from their own offices. Virtual Conference attendees can hear live presentations, see session slides, ask questions to presenters, and will receive session recordings afterwards. The Virtual Conference is only available to employees at organizations where at least one person has registered for the full conference.
Attendees will see updates to popular features from previous years, including notable dynamic speakers, Special Interest Groups and other networking opportunities, and a look at the latest products and services on the expo floor.
Margo Fuerst, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and are accountable to the supervising pharmacist who is legally responsible through state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by the pharmacy. The evolving relationship of the pharmacist and technician prompted the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) to sponsor a study to better understand pharmacists’ perceptions about technician certification and the role it plays in enhancing work environments.
To conduct the study, PTCB enlisted the assistance of Drs. Shane Desselle and Michael Schmitt, both of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. The researchers administered a mail-based survey to a random sample of over 3,250 pharmacists licensed in six states. Survey results were unveiled at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and found that lead pharmacists perceive pharmacy technician certification as an essential component in reducing medication errors, ensuring patient safety, and increasing positive health outcomes.
“These data show that the majority of pharmacists—in fact, over 80 percent of those surveyed, agree that pharmacy technician certification is associated with a reduction in medication errors,” said Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. “This survey provides the data to support something we have known for years but not been able to quantify: Well-trained and PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians make a positive impact on patient care.”
The survey data showed that pharmacists recognized the value of Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) as part of the pharmacy team, with 83 percent agreeing that working with CPhTs allowed them to spend more time on direct patient care. As the population ages, and medication regimens become more complex, direct patient care will play an increasing role in medication safety. Knowing that the surveyed pharmacists recognize the value of PTCB certification for pharmacy technicians who work alongside them provides positive reinforcement for the PTCB certification program.
Jane Weissman, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
This is a very exciting time for renewable energy and energy efficient practices. Clean, green energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal and other distributed generation resources, are becoming viable parts of our energy mix. A combination of market conditions including changing economics, state and federal policies and incentives, media attention, and a national dialogue has propelled renewable energy into the spotlight. But, with this new market placement comes the need to proceed cautiously by developing a workforce and markets with standards and assurances. This translates into training that covers the right skill sets and third-party verification of job proficiency and product performance.
The following article takes a look at solar energy as a case study of lessons learned and challenges ahead.
There are a number of solar technologies. Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) produce electricity. Solar Thermal systems produce heat, and in some cases cooling, for water, space and pools.
In 2002, the solar industry took the lead in creating competency standards and assessment when they formed the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). NABCEP first launched a professional certification for the PV Installer followed by credentials for Solar Thermal and Small Wind Installers. As NABCEP has grown, the credentialing body has found that in order to avoid confusion in the market and to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions, it has to be nimble and responsive.
Certification, certificate, accreditation, licensing – all terms we hear and use. However, each one is different, conveying that a different set of criteria and requirements have been met. There is often confusion among these designations as they are used interchangeably and frequently incorrectly. We’re seeing training providers offer a “certification” which is really a certificate and we’re seeing certificate holders claiming they are certified. Confusing? You bet it is. And where it falls the hardest is on the consumer who expects that a “certification” claim implies good workmanship. For this reason, NABCEP re-named its PV Entry Level Certificate program removing the word "certificate" and has clearly defined its purpose in marketing material.
The continued rapid expansion of PV markets is leading to a more diverse workforce with differentiation in job classifications requiring different skill sets. Not that long ago, a solar installer handled many facets of the job – it was not unusual that “one guy did it all.” But today, there is differentiation in job categories as markets grow; systems are moving from small residential ones to larger, commercial projects requiring a variety of contractors and crews. Potential new credentials are being considered beyond the PV installer classification -- for the PV designer, the solar installation operations manager, and the solar salesperson. But, as these new designations are defined, the challenges include finding the resources to design, develop and launch new credentialing schemes in alignment with international standards.
Then there is the emergence of multiple credentials and potential conflicting standards. In addition to NABCEP, there are now three other organizations offering certifications for the solar installer: the Electronics Technicians Association International, UL University, and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). UL University's certification is for the licensed electrician; NRCA is focusing on roofing professionals. To date, NABCEP is the only organization that has been accredited by ANSI to ISO/IEC 17024 for its PV Installer Certification program.
With the heightened attention to renewable energy and the opportunities these “green” resources bring to our economy, the environment and to our security, competency assessment plays a large and significant role to promote quality and public trust. All stakeholders – the industry, educators, government, and consumers – are important players to monitor and make sure that there is substantiated evidence that credentialing programs offer reliable and impartial evaluations.
Jane Weissman has been the Executive Director of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) (www.irecusa.org) since 1994. IREC is a nonprofit organization celebrating its 28th anniversary. The Council is the North American Licensee for the ISPQ Accreditation of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Training Programs and the Certification of Trainers. Weissman serves as the Vice Chair of the North American Board of Certified Energy
ICE News is published by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, 2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. For more information call (202) 367-1165 or email info@credentialingexcellence.org. Jim Kendzel , Executive Director.
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