ADDITIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIANS IN ADVANCED ROLES

To recognize that highly trained and skilled pharmacy technicians working in advanced roles regularly perform complex and critical medication-use procedures, and that a safe and effective medication-use process depends significantly on the skills, knowledge, and competency of those pharmacy technicians to perform those tasks; further,

To reaffirm that all pharmacy technicians should complete an ASHP/ACPE-accredited training program, be certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, and be licensed by state boards of pharmacy; further,

To advocate that pharmacy technicians working in advanced roles have additional training, such as an associate degree, and demonstrate ongoing competencies specific to the tasks to be performed, to ensure patient safety.

Rationale

Pharmacy technician roles have undergone a significant transformation within health systems throughout the years. In today’s intricate healthcare landscape, these pharmacy technicians take on advanced responsibilities beyond their traditional duties. These extended roles include managing information systems, sterile product preparation, handling logistics, and implementing cutting-edge technology. According to the 2022 ASHP National Survey, more advanced pharmacy technician roles are emerging, including 340B Drug Pricing Program management, responsibility for USP General Chapter 797 (USP 797) compliance, initiation of medication reconciliation, and supervision of other technicians. Pharmacy administrators have also reported a range of functions that health-system technicians perform, including sterile and nonsterile compounding, inventory management, purchasing, hazardous drug handling, controlled substance system management, medication order distribution, supervisory responsibilities, billing and reimbursement, and technician education and training. These advanced roles will require different skills and competencies, and pharmacy technicians should demonstrate competency before being allowed to perform such tasks, which will require additional, task-specific training.

The advancement of the pharmacy technician workforce includes credentialing, licensing, and on-the-job training. Moreover, engaging in formal education such as an associate degree equips pharmacy technicians with the necessary skill set to excel in these multifaceted roles, aids human resources departments in assigning an appropriate job code and pay grade, and elevates the pharmacy profession more broadly. Furthermore, other technical personnel in the healthcare sector (e.g., radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians) are moving towards requiring a minimum of an associate degree and completion of an accredited training program, and aligning pharmacy technician requirements with other professions provides another pathway for enhanced remuneration. It is recognized that these measures are synergistic with, and should not replace, existing educational requirements for pharmacy technicians working in advanced roles including the ASHP/ACPE-accredited training program, certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, state board of pharmacy licensure, professional certificate programs, and institution-based programs such as those from the military and armed services. It is the intent that these collective measures would promote recruitment and retention of the pharmacy technician workforce within hospitals and health systems.