OVERVIEW

Pharmacy-Based Test and Treat Certificate Training Program is organized by California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and will be held on Apr 25, 2026.

Description:
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.

Pharmacy-based Test and Treat empowers pharmacists to perform diagnostic tests in an in-person clinical setting. This pharmacist-led service increases patients’ access to health care by allowing pharmacists to perform appropriate physical assessments and diagnostic tests and to treat patients based on a combination of physical and diagnostic test results. This on-site, pharmacist-led clinical service uses Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-waived (CLIA-waived) laboratory tests and increases patients’ access to clinical care and treatment in addition to potentially reduce the number of patient sick days by increasing access to health care services.

Goals and Learning Objectives:
Educate pharmacists about

Pharmacists’ ability to effectively provide point-of-care and diagnostic services
Appropriate POCT for minor, nonchronic health conditions
Contraindications to treatment, exclusion criteria for testing and treating, and physician referral criteria
Good Laboratory Practices for preparing the testing site, sample collection, testing, and recording and reporting test results
Pharmacist-led POCT and diagnostic services
Best practices related to the pharmacists’ patient care process
Development and maintenance of a relationship with clinicians

Prepare pharmacists to

Advance public health and patient care through improved access to POCT and diagnostic services.
Select, recommend, and/or prescribe effective treatments.
Discuss CLIA-waived laboratory requirements.
Safely administer and perform POCT services.
Partner with physicians to increase patient-centered care.

Direct pharmacist to resources necessary to

Effectively communicate with patients and other stakeholders about health resources.
Provide POCT and diagnostic services in compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
Access regularly updated information about CLIA-waived diagnostic tests.