Pharmacy-based Test and Treat Certificate Training Program

The Pharmacy-based Test and Treat certificate training program is a practice-based curriculum based on national educational standards that prepares pharmacists to provide point-of-care testing (POCT) and diagnostic services for minor, nonchronic health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment or self-care. Learners gain experience in identifying opportunities to expand patient-centered services across pharmacy settings with POCT, describing and performing appropriate physical assessments, and applying this information to patient cases. Newly added is a complimentary module on the treatment of COVID-19 with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) to supplement your test and treat training!

Upcoming scheduled sessions are:

Saturday, November 8, 2025 - Live virtual session from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Pricing

Member Price: $255
Nonmember Price: $475

If your company or organization is interested in offering this program to your pharmacists and/or student pharmacists, please contact Chris McKerrow.

Learning Objectives & Module Details

Self Study

Test and Treat Description
Test and Treat Pre-Course Knowledge Assessment
Module 1: An Overview of Test and Treat and Point-of-Care Testing
Module 2: Pharmacotherapy for Point-of-Care Testing, Part 1
Module 3: Pharmacotherapy for Point-of-Care Testing, Part 2
Module 4: Implementing Test and Treat Protocol Supervision
Ancillary Module: Treatment of COVID-19 with Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid)
APhA Education Evaluation

Module 1: An Overview of Test and Treat and Point-of-Care Testing

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Describe the role of pharmacists and opportunities for expanded roles for pharmacists.
Identify opportunities for pharmacists to use point-of-care testing (POCT) under an established protocol in pharmacy practice.
Describe research findings regarding pharmacists’ use of POCT to test and treat minor nonchronic conditions such as influenza and Group A Streptococcus.
Describe the steps for developing a pharmacy-based CLIA-waived laboratory.
Develop processes to meet the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards.
Apply criteria to select point of care devices.
Develop policies and procedures for a CLIA-waived laboratory.
Summarize Good Laboratory Practices for preparing the testing site, sample collection, testing, and recording and reporting test results.
Describe the basic process of specimen collection for point-of-care testing.
Describe the technique involved for the specimen collection types discussed.

Module 2: Pharmacotherapy for Point-of-Care Testing, Part 1

Common Viral and Bacterial Infections (mild acne, burns, vaginal candidiasis, tinea infections, headlice, and bite prophylaxis)

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Identify patients who should receive treatment according to current recommendations.
Perform patient assessment, including identification of “red flags” indicating more severe illness and appropriate actions.
Conduct appropriate point-of-care testing.
Select safe and effective treatments.
List contraindications to treatment and exclusion criteria for testing and treating in the pharmacy setting.
Identify when referral to a physician is necessary.

Module 3: Pharmacotherapy for Point-of-Care Testing, Part 2

Skin Conditions, Fungal Infections, and Uncomplicated Viral and Bacterial Infections (allergic rhinitis, cough, urinary tract infection, herpes zoster, and cold sores)

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Identify patients who should recieve treatment according to current recommendations.
Perform patient assessment, including identification of “red flags” indicating more severe illness and appropriate actions.
Conduct appropriate point-of-care testing.
Select safe and effective treatments.
List contraindications to treatment and exclusion criteria for testing and treating in the pharmacy setting.
Identify when referral to a physician is necessary.

Module 4: Implementing Test and Treat Protocol Supervision

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Explain the purpose of a business plan.
List the core components of a typical business plan.
Describe the elements required for an effective patient-focused point-of-care testing and treatment service.
Discuss considerations and preparations needed prior to performing point-of-care testing.
Identify issues related to billing insurers for point-of-care testing in a pharmacy.
Review successful business models for point-of-care testing in the pharmacy, best-practice billing techniques, and patient and provider communication strategies.

Ancillary Module: Treatment of COVID-19 with Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid)

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Describe the following characteristics of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir:
- Pharmacology
- Mechanism of action
- Dosing
- Potential side effects
Identify potential drug-drug interactions
Describe the role of pharmacists in utilizing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19

Live Program

This course contains the following contents:

Test and Treat Live Session Agendas
Pharmacy-Based Test and Treat Worksheets
Test and Treat Student Slides

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Review considerations, preparations, and successful business models for performing point-of-care testing.
Identify opportunities for expanding patient-centered services in the community pharmacy setting, using point-of-care testing.
Discuss the value and limitations of patient-reported symptoms, medical history, and drug allergies.
Describe and perform physical assessments, when appropriate to patient care, which may include but are not limited to: blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygenation, cervical lymph node inspection, body temperature, and examination of throat and lungs.
Perform the following specimen collections used in point-of-care testing: Throat swab, Oral Fluid Collection, Nasal Swab, Finger Stick.
Apply this information to patient-specific cases.

Post-Live Activity

This course contains the following contents:

Test and Treat Final
Test and Treat Instructor Evaluation
Test and Treat Course Evaluation
APhA Education Evaluation

How to Obtain a Certificate of Completion

Complete 4 self-study modules, which consists of video modules, module assessments, achieving a passing grade of 70% or higher on each self-study module assessment.
Attend the full live seminar, performing physical assessments and techniques, and achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the final assessment.
Complete all course evaluations.
Credit must be claimed for each course (self-study, live seminar, and post-live training) in order to obtain credit.
Participants will need to have a valid APhA (pharmacist.com) username and password, as well as a CPE Monitor account to claim credit. After credit has been claimed, please visit CPE monitor for your transcript.
The Certificate of Completion will be available online upon successful completion of all activities on the participant’s My Training page.
APhA continuing pharmacy education policy provides you with two opportunities to successfully complete a continuing pharmacy education assessment. Please note that you will not be permitted to submit an assessment a third time. The current policy of the APhA Education Department is not to release the correct answers to any of our CPE tests. This is intended to maintain the integrity of the CPE activity and the assessment.

Accreditation Information

The American Pharmacists Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. APhA's Pharmacy-based Test and Treat Certificate Training Program is approved for a total of 20 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit (2.0 CEUs). The ACPE Universal Activity Numbers (UAN) for this activity are listed below.

Self-study component is approved for 12 hours (1.2 CEUs) of CPE credit. ACPE UAN 0202-0000-22-135-H01P
Live component is approved for 8 hours (0.8 CEUs) of CPE credit. ACPE UAN: 0202-0000-22-136-L01-P / 0202-9999-22-136-L01-P
Activity Type: Certificate Program
Target Audience: Pharmacists
Release Date: March 18, 2022
Expiration Date: March 18, 2025 - PLEASE NOTE: NO Home Study credit granted after this date; Live Credit can only be granted within 60 days from the day of the seminar attended.

Technology Requirements and Tips

Computer and Internet access are required to complete this activity. If you experience technical difficulties, try a different web browser.

Please be aware that if the system detects no activity for an extended amount of time while the screen is open in the interactive activity, the Next button may freeze, and you will need to Restart that activity again.

The recommendation is that if you cannot complete the activity within one sitting and need to step away, close the activity so that your place is bookmarked.

If you continue to experience difficulties, please reach out to education@aphanet.org with the name of course, detail of your experience, which web browser(s) used and if possible, screenshots.