Investigation of the Potential Effects of Registration Requirements on Florida Pharmacy Technician Credentials

Background: On June 23, 2008, Florida adopted regulations mandating credentialing requirements for pharmacy technicians. Objective: To investigate the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certified pharmacy technician self-report and pharmacist report of work experience, education, training, and non-PTCB certification credentials of Florida community pharmacy technicians prior to the adoption of registration requirements in that state and to predict the effects of the requirements on Florida pharmacy technicians. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 2000 Florida pharmacists and 2000 Florida PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) in 2004. Results: Of the 1230 returned questionnaires, 571 (46%) were from pharmacists and 659 (54%) were from technicians. Most of the pharmacists in the sample reported that they had supervised a CPhT, while few had supervised a technician with an AA in Pharmacy Technician Sciences. Most of the technicians sampled reported having some higher education. Less than half reported having formal technician training. Few reported having non-PTCB pharmacy technician certificates. Conclusions: Florida pharmacy technicians had some higher education or technician training credentialing, despite its not being mandatory. Pharmacists may not always be aware of the education and credentials of the technicians they supervise. The new registration requirements will most likely have little effect on existing Florida pharmacy technicians who register before January 1, 2011. Those who are CPhTs will have to complete types of continuing education that are different from those that they were required to complete for certification. Those who are not CPhTs will have to complete continuing education programs.