Pharmacy technician education and training: Highlighting the partnership among a state pharmacy association, local community college, and healthcare system.

Abstract

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Purpose: Well-educated and well-trained pharmacy technicians play an integral part in the operation of pharmacies. However, recently, the pharmacy technician workforce has been declining due to many factors, including low salary, limited career advancement, and increasing responsibilities. Here a pharmacy technician student education and training partnership among a state pharmacy association, a community college, and a healthcare system is described.

Summary: Through this novel partnership, the state association provides the curriculum and instructors for the community college to offer the course and the health system provides real-world experiences. The dedicated course with didactic and simulation opportunities, coupled with the experiential learning opportunity, following successful course completion, can prepare pharmacy technician students to enter the workforce and potentially address recent workforce shortages.

Conclusion: Collaboration among a state pharmacy association, a community college, and a healthcare system or pharmacy may be a viable model in providing pharmacy technician education and training programs. Partnered health systems or pharmacies may benefit from having a consistent pool of well-trained, diverse, and dedicated pharmacy technicians to add to the workforce.