Assessing pharmacy technician certification: A national survey comparing certified and noncertified pharmacy technicians. 2019

James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier

To compare viewpoints of nationally certified and noncertified technicians and explore the perceived value of technician certification in the job performance domains of medication safety, skills and abilities, experience, engagement and satisfaction, and productivity. A cross-sectional survey of pharmacy technicians, from 6 states representing 4 regions of the United States, was conducted. Technician mailing lists were purchased from Boards of Pharmacy, and randomly selected technicians were sent survey invitations. Surveys were completed via Qualtrics and analyzed with the use of SAS. Six hundred seventy-six technicians (547 certified, 103 noncertified, and 26 previously certified) responded to the survey (9.4% response rate). Certified technicians reported significantly higher confidence rating for desire to take on new responsibilities (P < 0.01; Cohen d 0.45) and plans to remain in the pharmacy field (P = 0.01, Cohen d 0.35), lower rating for leaving the job in the next 12 months (P < 0.01; Cohen d 0.35), and perceived lower rate of medication errors (P < 0.01; Cohen d 0.35) compared with other technicians in the work setting. The majority of respondents stated confidence in performing the "final check" on another technician's preparation of a new or refill medication if allowed. Both certified and noncertified technicians noted dissatisfaction with pay. The majority of respondents reported that they spent none of or less than 10% of their workday assisting pharmacists with medication therapy management (MTM) sessions, immunizations, or point-of-care tests; however, 71 respondents specifically described how they assist pharmacists with MTM. Results from our survey sample indicate that certified technicians have a stronger organizational and career commitment and desire to take on new roles. A majority of respondents noted dissatisfaction with pay but feel a sense of pride in their work. Both groups were confident in their abilities needed for tech-check-tech product verification.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007588 Job Satisfaction Personal satisfaction relative to the work situation. Work Satisfaction,Job Satisfactions,Satisfaction, Job,Satisfaction, Work,Satisfactions, Job,Satisfactions, Work,Work Satisfactions
D010593 Pharmaceutical Services Total pharmaceutical services provided by qualified PHARMACISTS. In addition to the preparation and distribution of medical products, they may include consultative services provided to agencies and institutions which do not have a qualified pharmacist. Pharmaceutic Services,Pharmaceutical Care,Pharmacy Services,Services, Pharmaceutic,Services, Pharmaceutical,Services, Pharmacy,Care, Pharmaceutical,Pharmaceutic Service,Pharmaceutical Service,Pharmacy Service,Service, Pharmaceutic,Service, Pharmaceutical,Service, Pharmacy
D010596 Pharmacy Technicians Persons who perform certain functions under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacists' Aides,Aide, Pharmacists',Aides, Pharmacists',Pharmacist Aides,Pharmacist's Aides,Pharmacists Aides,Pharmacists' Aide,Pharmacy Technician,Technician, Pharmacy,Technicians, Pharmacy
D010604 Pharmacy The practice of compounding and dispensing medicinal preparations. Forensic Pharmacy,Pharmacy Practice Patterns,Forensic Pharmacies,Pattern, Pharmacy Practice,Patterns, Pharmacy Practice,Pharmacies, Forensic,Pharmacy Practice Pattern,Pharmacy, Forensic,Practice Pattern, Pharmacy,Practice Patterns, Pharmacy
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002568 Certification Compliance with a set of standards defined by non-governmental organizations. Certification is applied for by individuals on a voluntary basis and represents a professional status when achieved, e.g., certification for a medical specialty. Certification Level,Certification Levels,Certifications,Level, Certification,Levels, Certification
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004512 Education, Pharmacy Formal instruction, learning, or training in the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of drugs in the field of medicine. Pharmacy Education,Education, Pharmaceutic,Education, Pharmaceutical,Pharmaceutic Education,Pharmaceutical Education
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

Related Publications

James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
July 2017, American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
January 1989, The Journal of pharmacy technology : jPT : official publication of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
June 1999, Oncology nursing forum,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
September 1995, American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
October 2008, American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
January 2008, Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
January 2006, Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
September 1998, American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
August 1981, American journal of hospital pharmacy,
James S Wheeler, and Chelsea P Renfro, and Junling Wang, and Yanru Qiao, and Kenneth C Hohmeier
January 2002, Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington, D.C. : 1996),
Copied contents to your clipboard!