Pharmacists ascribing value of technician certification using an organizational behavior framework

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Professions Education
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Pharmacy technician roles are evolving, necessitating a skilled workforce.
• Understanding the perceived value of current certification is crucial for future credentialing development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pharmacists' perspectives on the value of pharmacy technician certification.
• To identify areas for improvement in technician credentialing.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative focus groups conducted with 33 pharmacists across 4 states with varying regulations.
• Utilized an organizational behavior perspective to assess technician readiness for practice change.
• Employed rapid qualitative analysis for data coding and theme identification.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists perceive certification as more impactful on technician maturation, socialization, and commitment than on direct job skills.
• Certification was seen as complementary to on-the-job training.
• Interest was expressed in enhancing certification exams with soft skills and developing specialty certifications.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists recognize the value of technician certification but view it as one part of overall workforce readiness.
• Suggestions were provided to enhance the impact and scope of technician certification.