Further insight into how pharmacists ascribe value to technician certification and how that value might be further...

National pharmacy technician certification in the U.S. is believed to hold a valuable place in promoting technician competence, but the views of pharmacists from varying settings and positions could help further clarify how certification could be optimized.

The aims of this study were to determine differences among pharmacists in how they view certification, the level of value they ascribe to certification, and how they might make further improvements in the certification process.

A self-administered survey was constructed and delivered in QualitricsXM in spring of 2019 to a random sample of pharmacists in 4 U S. states chosen for high proportions of both certified and non-certified pharmacy technicians and for their differences in technician regulation and scope of practice. Analysis employed a host of bivariate tests then summative backward elimination regression analyses in consideration of Type I error and in that the approach taken was to acquire a "gestalt" of events rather than test individual hypotheses.

Pharmacists' opinions on the impact of certification varied by their job position, their practice setting, and sometimes their sex and work status. Pharmacists in clinical and in supervisory positions saw the positive impact of certification in different ways than did staff pharmacists. Certain groups would like to see more support for certification from their employers, while others aim for more support from certification vendors, and some pharmacists would like to see more content on "soft skills" in the certification process. Certification is seen as most beneficial to technicians in the hospital setting.

The results of this study suggest differences among pharmacists in their perceptions of the value of certification and what might be done to further enhance that value. The results of this study will hopefully provide some clarification and direction for certification vendors, policymakers, educators, and pharmacy leaders.