Perceptions on Technician Entry-Level Requirements and Workforce Implications for The Future
by Brianne K. Bakken, PharmD, MHA, Aaron N. Winn, PhD, Jacob Dyer, PharmD, Breanna Kneip, 2023 PharmD Candidate
Background: Pharmacy technician roles and responsibilities continue to evolve and expand to meet the ever-changing needs of the pharmacy profession. Developing and maintaining a robust supply of educated technicians will continue to be paramount for the pharmacy profession. At the time of this study, the state of Wisconsin was one of very few states with no education, training, or registration requirements for pharmacy technicians.
Objective: Describe the demographics, education, and training of Wisconsin technicians and explore differences in perceptions between pharmacists and technicians related to hypothetical requirements for technician registration, certification, and continuing education.
Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 Wisconsin Pharmacy Workforce Study, which utilized an online survey distributed to both pharmacists and technicians using a 3-contact approach. Statistical analyses included proportions and means, as well as t-tests and chi- squared tests for bivariate relationships comparing the perceptions of pharmacists to those of pharmacy technicians.
Results: The majority of pharmacists and technicians perceived requiring technicians to register with the state as positive, requiring technician certification as positive, and requiring technician continuing education as positive. There were no statistically significant differences in perceptions of certified versus uncertified pharmacy technicians by pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
Conclusions: The majority of Wisconsin pharmacists and technicians, regardless of their current certification status, perceived technician registration, certification, and continuing education as positive.
Keywords: United States, Adolescent, Pharmacists, Pharmacies, Technicians, COVID-19 Testing, Pandemics, Career Mobility, Uncertainty, Certification, Workforce, Schools, Personal Satisfaction, Salaries and Fringe Benefits
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2023 March/April Table of Contents
Background: Pharmacy technician roles and responsibilities continue to evolve and expand to meet the ever-changing needs of the pharmacy profession. Developing and maintaining a robust supply of educated technicians will continue to be paramount for the pharmacy profession. At the time of this study, the state of Wisconsin was one of very few states with no education, training, or registration requirements for pharmacy technicians.
Objective: Describe the demographics, education, and training of Wisconsin technicians and explore differences in perceptions between pharmacists and technicians related to hypothetical requirements for technician registration, certification, and continuing education.
Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 Wisconsin Pharmacy Workforce Study, which utilized an online survey distributed to both pharmacists and technicians using a 3-contact approach. Statistical analyses included proportions and means, as well as t-tests and chi- squared tests for bivariate relationships comparing the perceptions of pharmacists to those of pharmacy technicians.
Results: The majority of pharmacists and technicians perceived requiring technicians to register with the state as positive, requiring technician certification as positive, and requiring technician continuing education as positive. There were no statistically significant differences in perceptions of certified versus uncertified pharmacy technicians by pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
Conclusions: The majority of Wisconsin pharmacists and technicians, regardless of their current certification status, perceived technician registration, certification, and continuing education as positive.
Keywords: United States, Adolescent, Pharmacists, Pharmacies, Technicians, COVID-19 Testing, Pandemics, Career Mobility, Uncertainty, Certification, Workforce, Schools, Personal Satisfaction, Salaries and Fringe Benefits
Download PDF
2023 March/April Table of Contents