Re: In Full - Re: Best math book for me

[Guest guest]

This is a wonderful reply! It made me smile because of the way it mirrored my

feelings on the subject. There is something about the bureaucratic and litigious

feel of the whole PTCB culture that, while control of this environment is

understandable, the end result leaves me wanting. I also spent money on their

practice exams and like you the only value I felt I received was that of the end

score as a final gauge. I however have not since recommended these tests to

anyone, and would actually discourage their use, because I don't feel there is

an adequate return on the investment. At any rate, thank you for the very

pragmatic look at a subject that I believe is at times laughable due to the way

it is managed.

At another level I have to say I also understand why PTCB has made the

security attempts they have. The exam is one of the only nationally

formalized tool(s) used to quantify, and document the baseline competency of

technicians. This is where the bar is set and while that is never perfect it may

still cull out some less qualified candidates that could end up as a lost cost

to an institution and/or society. With that said, I have watched during my short

time as a technician how the CE program is abused and cheated by Technicians and

even some Pharmacists only to add the required metric to maintain a certificate

or license. I am sure others are well aware of this shortcoming and in some way

that is why PTCB goes to the length they

have in regard to the practice exams. It is that age old contradiction

between trying to make money and do what is intended as good and proper.

I am sure they want to keep the test as secure as possible, even if they can't

control the maintenance of the certificate later on.

Still I again applaud your comments. I am glad to see there are some out there

still capable to think independently and are not absorbed into the collective.

On still another note however, there are some well meaning people that would

like to believe that the role of the pharmacy technician is something more than

it actually is. In my opinion, it is an entry level position that may be used as

a stepping stone to a career requiring a higher education, or it can be a stable

job as a functionary for someone that either cannot or has no desire to progress

further. While critically important in certain regards, it is not really more

than a health care version of the traditional " factory job " of the

manufacturing world. I

sometimes feel it is very naive or idealistic when some people feel that is not

the reality.

[Guest guest]

Dear kirkparent,

 

Yes, you have posted on this subject before about 9 months ago wasn't it!

 

Jeanetta