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Pharmacy Times
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Real change often begins within pharmacies.
The pharmacy technician profession is experiencing unprecedented opportunities for growth as state regulations expand their responsibilities, but regulatory change alone cannot drive transformation. Technicians and their employers must actively champion these expanded roles within their workplaces.
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Although the expansion of state regulations provides the foundation for new responsibilities, the real change often starts within pharmacies. Technicians must take the initiative to demonstrate their value and advocate for enhanced roles that improve patient care and pharmacy operations.
Ryan Burke, PharmD, is senior director of professional affairs for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, where he serves as a liaison to state and national pharmacy associations, state boards of pharmacy, and pharmacy technician organizations. He closely follows state legislative and regulatory changes that may impact pharmacy technician practice and monitors trends related to pharmacy technician education, training, and certification requirements.
The Leadership Institute for Pharmacy Technicians, offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board in partnership with the Pharmacy Leadership and Education Institute, is a program focused on empowering technicians with leadership and communication skills to influence change and advocate for themselves and their teams. By teaching technicians how to navigate challenges, present ideas, and lead projects, this program helps them become innovation champions within their workplaces.
Kristen Snair’s career exemplifies how advocacy and preparation can lead to transformative opportunities. She credits the Leadership Institute for Pharmacy Technicians with helping her refine her career direction, giving her the confidence to enter a new role.
Today, Snair thrives in her new role at Olympia Pharmaceuticals, where she contributes to licensing and regulatory affairs. Her journey demonstrates how professional growth can lead to both career fulfillment and meaningful contributions to the pharmacy profession.
Snair encourages other technicians to advocate for themselves and their teams. “We must be our own champions. We need to ask questions, speak up, support each other, and take a seat at the table even if it feels uncomfortable,” she said.
Employers play a key role in empowering technicians to embrace these opportunities. By supporting leadership programs and technicians’ involvement in professional organizations and fostering a culture of advocacy, employers can unlock the full potential of their teams, driving innovation and improving patient care. Technicians who take ownership of their growth and development are the ones shaping the future of pharmacy. Employers that invest in these resources and strong advocacy enable the pharmacy profession to continue evolving to meet the needs of patients and the health care system.
