NHA News Center

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) has formed a unique, nationwide Pharmacy Technician Coalition. The coalition is focused solely on bringing pharmacy technician organizations, industry leaders, and associations together to advocate for and implement changes to expand the role of certified pharmacy technicians (CPhT), allowing them to help with needs during COVID-19. As pharmacies continue to provide more direct patient care services and are faced with increased workload during the pandemic, CPhTs have an opportunity to help with some of the pharmacists’ duties, to be more efficient in delivering patient care.

The US has seen a sharp increase in total death due to the opioid overdose in recent years, with 70,200 overdoses alone in 2017. Nationwide, some states have been disproportionately affected by opioid addiction that resulted in a different rate of death. Pharmacy technicians along with pharmacists are the front line in receiving prescriptions and dispensing medication assisted therapy (MAT). Previous studies have detailed the expanding role of pharmacist involvement in substance abuse treatment and recovery. Despite often being the first point of interaction in community pharmacy, little is known about pharmacy technicians’ views and roles in reducing stigma when patients receive medication assisted therapy (MAT).  

Recently the Governor of Virginia approved amended language regarding pharmacy technicians. This new legislation becomes law on July 1, 2020. The most substantial changes were made to the registration requirements for technicians going forward (currently registered pharm techs are exempted).

As of January 1, 2014, the Board no longer renews the registration of a pharmacy technician who was initially registered after January 1, 2013, or who was initially registered prior to that date but did not maintain continuous registration unless the individual has completed a pharmacy technician training program. There are several types of training programs that will be acceptable, including:

Temporary or emergency licensure can be facilitated via the NABP Passport for Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians. The Passport is a temporary authorization that facilitates pharmacists and pharmacy technicians practicing in another state. The program was developed in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and it allows states to efficiently grant temporary or emergency licensure. Boards of Pharmacy can leverage the NABP passport in two ways:

The US has seen a sharp increase in total death due to the opioid overdose in recent years, with 70,200 overdoses alone in 2017. Nationwide, some states have been disproportionately affected by opioid addiction that resulted in a different rate of death. Pharmacy technicians along with pharmacists are the front line in receiving prescriptions and dispensing medication assisted therapy (MAT). Previous studies have detailed the expanding role of pharmacist involvement in substance abuse treatment and recovery. Despite often being the first point of interaction in community pharmacy, little is known about pharmacy technicians’ views and roles in reducing stigma when patients receive medication assisted therapy (MAT). 

NHA, the leader in allied health certification, preparation and training, and Pharmacy Times®, a leading multimedia resource in today's pharmacy market have partnered to collaborate on advocacy initiatives that support the pharmacy technician profession. Together they will work to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of pharmacy technicians and to establish and grow industry partnerships and advocates that enable the pharmacy technician workforce to better serve patients and advance their career. Collaborative efforts will include the creation of a pharmacy technician specific supplement that focuses on career growth, industry trends, and market dynamics. They will also work together to develop the first ever pharmacy technician online resource center providing unlimited access to technicians training resources, news and events, thought leadership, and continuing education topics.

This week the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy accepted a presentation by NHA on PharmaSeer™, a digital learning resource built to supplement an existing pharmacy technician training or education program. Board members voted unanimously to approve PharmaSeer™ as a didactic resource for employer-based pharmacy technician training programs. NHA’s approval will be listed on the Board’s guidance document this week and can be found here.

Effective January 1, 2020, all newly registered technicians are required to complete a Board approved training program within six (6) months of the registration as set out in rule 680-X-2-.14.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has enacted a change that allows a certified pharmacy technician under the direct supervision of a pharmacy to administer clinical laboratory improvement amendments (CLIA) waived diagnostic laboratory testing.