A newly-created community health worker certificate training program, offered through the USC Mann Office of Continuing Professional Development and the California Right Meds Collaborative, has been recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Developed in direct response to the approval by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) of more than $200 million in annual funding for community health worker services, the program is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to address the social determinants of health, connect patients to essential resources, and enhance healthcare outcomes.
The first part of the three-part training took place on Tuesday, November 28. Program highlights include:
- 12 hours of continuing education (7.5 hours self-study, 4.5 hours live) for Part 1
- Coursework covers a wide range of topics, including an overview of measuring vital signs such as blood pressure, collecting blood glucose value, and teaching proper use of asthma devices
- Participants will learn to identify social determinants of health and develop strategies to address healthcare disparities within diverse populations
The training will be offered three times per year, with up to 28 hours of continuing education credit (8.5 hours live and 19.5 hours self-study) for the three-part series.
Individuals who complete the PTCB-recognized training are eligible to apply for the Pharmacy Technician Training Certification Exam (PTCE), provide community health worker services in community pharmacies and be paid by California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) funding through health plans.
For more information, please click here or email pharmce@usc.edu.