This chronology makes no attempt to update the terminology historically used to describe pharmacy technicians and their work. The reader is encouraged to note how changes in terminology parallel the maturation and evolution of the pharmacy technician workforce and the corresponding recognition of pharmacy technicians by ASHP and others.
April 1957
The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists’ (ASHP) Annual Meeting includes a presentation about qualifications and responsibilities of "lay help" in hospital pharmacy. The presentation, along with a position description for "pharmacy helper-storekeeper" will be published in the American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy in March 1958 (Am J Hosp Pharm. 1958; 15:210-5).
October 1958
ASHP’s Executive Committee (the predecessor of the ASHP Board of Directors) discusses proposals by “certain hospital organizations” for pharmacy technician training programs and alerts ASHP’s affiliates to beware any proposals that could lead to a “substandard program of pharmaceutical education.” ASHP requests that the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), theAmerican Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) investigate the proposals.
October 1959
ASHP's Executive Committee approves the creation of a joint committee of the ASHP and the AACP. This joint committee (whose first meeting is March 1960) will become the vehicle for much of ASHP’s work on pharmacy technicians for the next decade.
January 1966
The ASHP-AACP Joint Committee approves the Statement on Hospital Pharmacy Technician-Helpers.
December 1966
ASHP's Board of Directors approves the idea of convening an invitational workshop on hospital pharmacy technician-helpers. The workshop will be held in January 1969.
January 1967
The ASHP-AACP Joint Committee recommends that the national pharmacy organizations "explore and study the need for, the use of, and the educational and training requirements of subprofessional pharmacy personnel." Representatives of ASHP, AACP, the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), and the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) meet to discuss technicians. They recommend that APhA "…initiate a crash program to study the role technicians should have in the profession of pharmacy."
January 1969
ASHP hosts the "Invitational Workshop on Subprofessional Personnel in Hospital Pharmacy." The workshop defines professional and non-professional tasks for hospital pharmacy services and recommends education and training for non-professional personnel. A key conclusion of the workshop is that it is the responsibility of the pharmacy profession to use supportive personnel in a manner that ensures patient safety.
May 1969
The ASHP Board of Directors refers the Statement on Hospital Pharmacy Technician-Helpers (dated January 14, 1966) to the ASHP-AACP Joint Committee for revision pursuant to the invitational workshop, requesting that work be completed by December 1969.
November 1969
The ASHP Board of Directors votes to support the Report of the Task Force on Roles of the Practitioner of Pharmacy and the Subprofessional in Pharmacy (APhA).
January 1970
The ASHP-AACP Joint Committee finishes revisions to the Statement on Hospital Pharmacy Technician-Helpers.
March 1970
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the revised ASHP-AACP Joint Committee statement. The ASHP Board of Directors amends the document in October 1970, and it is published as the ASHP Statement on Supportive Personnel in Hospital Pharmacy. (Am J Hosp Pharm. 1971; 28:516) This statement supersedes the 1966 ASHP-AACP statement and will be superseded by the 1996 White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians.
April 1970
The ASHP Board of Directors requests that the ASHP Council on Education and Manpower develop complementary guidelines to the ASHP Statement on Supportive Personnel in Hospital Pharmacy. (These guidelines, titled the Training Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacy Supportive Personnel, will be completed in 1975.)
April 1971
The ASHP House of Delegates resolves to establish a mechanism to accredit pharmacy technician training programs in U.S. hospitals.
November 1972
The ASHP Board of Directors encourages the ASHP Council on Education and Manpower to develop educational programs for supportive personnel.
May 1973
The ASHP Board of Directors emphasizes the importance of the development of training guidelines for supportive personnel in hospital pharmacy, and requests the ASHP Council on Professional Affairs to develop a position paper on the functions of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
July 1973
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the ASHP Commission on Goals’ Proposed Statement of Objectives, which includes a recommendation that “the structure of the Society as a membership organization should accommodate individuals at all levels of training who are involved in the drug component of health care delivery in organized settings.”
November 1973
The ASHP Board of Directors studies the possibility of a special membership category for supportive personnel (who have always been allowed associate membership).
November 1974
The ASHP Board of Directors votes to support the development of regulations permitting “the safe and effective use of pharmacy supportive personnel” and requests a review of the implications of supportive personnel membership, recruitment, and involvement in ASHP. The Board of Directors also urges the Council on Education and Manpower to develop educational programming for supportive personnel in hospital pharmacy.
November 1975
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the Training Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacy Supportive Personnel. (Am J Hosp Pharm.1976; 33: 646-648), the companion document to the ASHP Statement on Supportive Personnel in Hospital Pharmacy.
March 1976
The ASHP Board of Directors encourages the Council on Education and Manpower to develop minimum standards of practice, minimum standards of competency, mechanisms to assess competency, and minimum standards for training of hospital pharmacy supportive personnel. The Board of Directors also encourages the Council to develop an outline series of continuing education training programs for supportive personnel.
April 1976
The ASHP House of Delegates approves the Training Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacy Supportive Personnel.
June 1977
ASHP publishes the Manual for Hospital Pharmacy Technicians: A Programmed Course in Basic Skills.
November 1977
The ASHP Board of Directors approves Competency Standards for Pharmacy Supportive Personnel in Organized Health Care Settings, which defines the qualifications of entry-level hospital pharmacy supportive personnel. (Am J Hosp Pharm.1978; 35:449-51). The Board of Directors requests ASHP staff to develop specimen examinations for these competencies and outlines of continuing education programs for hospital pharmacy supportive personnel. The ASHP Board of Directors approves an associate membership category for pharmacy supportive personnel.
March 1978
The ASHP Board of Directors approves ASHP position statement Types of Pharmacy Supportive Personnel Required to Meet Society’s Future Needs.
May 1978
The ASHP House of Delegates approves an associate membership category for individuals who (1) are employed in an organized health-care setting; (2) work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist; and (3) assist in preparing, distributing, or administering medications.
November 1978
The ASHP Board of Directors expands ASHP services available to pharmacy supportive personnel associate members.
November 1979
The ASHP Board of Directors initiates a survey of hospital pharmacy supportive personnel. (This survey, the National Survey of Hospital Pharmacy Technician Use, will be published in August 1981.) The Board of Directors approves the ASHP Long-Range Position Statement on Pharmacy Manpower Needs and Residency Training(Am J Hosp Pharm. 1980; 37:1220)
March 1980
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the ASHP Statement on Goals for Institutional Pharmacy, which states that one of ASHP’s objectives is to “help provide an adequate supply of qualified supportive personnel for institutional pharmacy.”
June 1980
ASHP publishes the Manual for Hospital Pharmacy Technicians, Unit 6: Intravenous Solutions and Admixtures.
November 1980
ASHP creates the Minimum Competencies for Institutional Pharmacy Technicians with Training Guidelines by merging the Training Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacy Supportive Personnel and the Competency Standards for Pharmacy Supportive Personnel in Organized Health Care Settings. The ASHP Board of Directors also expands ASHP services available to pharmacy supportive personnel associate members.
May 1981
The ASHP Board of Directors states that ASHP should develop an accreditation standard for pharmacy technician training programs, using theMinimum Competencies for Institutional Pharmacy Technicians with Training Guidelines as a basis.
August 1981
ASHP publishes the National Survey of Hospital Pharmacy Technician Use (Am J Hosp Pharm. 1981; 38:1133-7).
November 1981
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the ASHP Technical Assistance Bulletin on Outcome Competencies and Training Guidelines for Institutional Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.(Am J Hosp Pharm 1982; 39:317-20).
April 1982
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Hospital Pharmacy Technician Training Programs initially developed by the ASHP Commission on Credentialing. (Published in Am J Hosp Pharm 1982; 39:1210). Revisions will be approved by the Board of Directors on 11/85 (Am J Hosp Pharm 1986; 43:712) and 4/87 (Am J Hosp Pharm 1987; 44:2741). Not published in Best Practices after 1998.
November 1982
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the ASHP Accreditation Standard for Pharmacy Technician Training Programs initially developed by the ASHP Commission on Credentialing (Am J Hosp Pharm 1984; 41: 333). Revisions will be approved by the Board of Directors on 11/85 (Am J Hosp Pharm 1986; 43: 714) and 9/92 (Am J Hosp Pharm 1993; 50:124). The Board of Directors also agrees to allow technical and academic institutions to seek ASHP accreditation of their pharmacy technician training programs.
1983
ASHP develops a model amendment to state pharmacy acts on the topic of technician use.
September 1983
ASHP accredits the first technician training program: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 1984
The ASHP Board of Directors encourages ASHP to explore the development of teaching materials for a core curriculum in pharmacy technician training.
November 1985
The ASHP Board of Directors approves revisions to the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Hospital Pharmacy Technician Training Programs(Am J Hosp Pharm 1986; 43:712) and the ASHP Accreditation Standard for Pharmacy Technician Training Programs (Am J Hosp Pharm 1986; 43: 714). The revised standard is broadened to provide guidance for programs conducted either by hospitals or by academic institutions. The Board of Directors also directs ASHP to work toward removal of legislative and regulatory barriers that prevent pharmacists from delegating certain activities to pharmacy technicians. (This policy will become final as ASHP policy position 8610, which is still current.)
September 1986
The ASHP Council on Professional Affairs and Council on Organization Affairs recommend creation of a task force to examine and make recommendations that will foster expanded roles for and recognition of pharmacy technicians.
November 1986
The ASHP Board of Directors creates the Task Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy, which will have a technician member and be chaired by future Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Henri R. Manasse, Jr. The Board of Directors also directs ASHP to increase educational and training programs for pharmacy technicians.
April 1987
The ASHP Board of Directors approves revisions to the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Hospital Pharmacy Technician Training Programs (Am J Hosp Pharm 1987; 44:2741) and expands the accreditation cycle from two to four years. The Board of Directors also initiates a pilot program in which state affiliates provide the onsite inspection of technician training programs.
September 1987
ASHP Council on Educational Affairs recommends the creation of anational voluntary certification program for pharmacy technicians. ASHP councils review a discussion paper prepared by the Task Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy.
November 1987
The ASHP Board of Directors reviews the discussion paper prepared by theTask Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy, and refers the Council on Educational Affairs’ recommendation for a national voluntary certification program to the task force.
September 1988
The ASHP Board of Directors reviews the progress of theTask Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy.
October-November 1988
The ASHP Research and Education Foundation conducts a national consensus conference on technical personnel in pharmacy attended by representatives of national pharmacy organizations. An important idea ratified at that event is that there should be a national voluntary certification program for pharmacy technicians. The conference proceedings are published in the March 1989 edition of AJHP (Am J Hosp Pharm.1989; 46:491-557).
March 1989
The Task Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy submits its final report to the ASHP Board of Directors (Am J Hosp Pharm. 1989; 46:1420-9). The recommendations in this report will be the focus of ASHP activities for much of the next decade.
September 1990
The ASHP Board of Directors reviews the progress of ASHP in implementing the recommendations of theTask Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy.
November 1990
The ASHP Board of Directors agrees to pursue jointly with other national pharmacy organization the creation of anational voluntary certification program for pharmacy technicians as recommended by the Task Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy. The Board of Directors also agrees to support a JCPP working group recommendation to develop a manual that offers advice to pharmacists on which tasks can be delegated to technicians and what management controls should be in place to ensure patient safety.
1991
ASHP creates a staff Committee on Pharmacy Technician issues, which is designed to implement the recommendations of theTask Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy. ASHP also becomes one of four co-sponsors of the Scope of Pharmacy Practice Project, which is created to conduct a task analysis of pharmacy technician duties.
June 1991
The ASHP House of Delegates votes to pursue development of a voluntary national certification program for technicians as recommended by the Invitational Conference on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy conducted by theTask Force on Technical Personnel in Pharmacy.
November 1991
The ASHP Board of Directors agrees to increase educational and training opportunities for pharmacy technicians. The Board of Directors reaffirms ASHP’s commitment to a voluntary national certification program for technicians, and opposes state licensure of pharmacy technicians as a potential barrier to expansion of the technician workforce.
1992
ASHP participates as a partner in the national Scope of Pharmacy Project for the purpose of developing a task analysis of pharmacy technicians. This task analysis is used as the basis for a national certification program and for revising accreditation standards for technician training.
June 1992
ASHP publishes another edition of the Manual for Pharmacy Technicians. In addition, the ASHP House of Delegates encourages ASHP to explore avenues for increased pharmacy technician representation and participation.
November 1992
The ASHP Board of Directors approves revisions to the ASHP Accreditation Standard for Pharmacy Technician Training Programs (Am J Hosp Pharm 1993; 50:124).
December 1992
ASHP initiates a special poster session for pharmacy technician topics at the Midyear Clinical Meeting.
June 1993
The ASHP House of Delegates approves a resolution that endorses certification and registration of pharmacy technicians, but opposes state licensure as a potential barrier to expansion of the technician workforce.
December 1993
ASHP expands its Midyear Clinical Meeting technician programming to a full day of activities that includes posters, educational sessions, and round tables.
1995
ASHP, in conjunction with APhA, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), and the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), creates the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as an independent body to create and administer national voluntary certification examinations.
March 1995
ASHP holds the first meeting of a Technician Advisory Group charged with advising ASHP on actions, products, and services with respect to the development of "pharmacy technician" as a well-defined occupation in pharmacy practice.
March 1996
The ASHP Board of Directors endorses the White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians developed jointly by ASHP and APhA (Am J Health-Syst Pharm 1996; 53:1991). A second White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians will be endorsed by the ASHP Board of Directors in 2002 (Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2003; 60:37).
1996
ASHP publishes the Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training, developed in collaboration with AACP, APhA, the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT), and the Pharmacy Technician Educators Council (PTEC).
February 1998
ASHP launches a Pharmacy Technician Conference on its Web site. The Conference will be replaced by an expanded pharmacy technician section of the Web site in March 2000.
June 1998
ASHP publishes another edition of the Manual for Pharmacy Technicians.
December 1998
ASHP publishes the Pharmacy Technician Certification Review and Practice Exam to help technicians prepare for the national certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
1999
ASHP appoints two staff members to serve as liaison to pharmacy technician members and to assist with the organization's efforts to recruit and retain pharmacy technician members.
March 1999
ASHP partners with the ICHP to offer a subscription of Tech Topics free to pharmacy technician members of ASHP.
September 1999
The ASHP Research and Education Foundation announces the Award for Achievement in the Professional Practice of Pharmacy in Health Systems to a technician-pharmacist team for a co-authored published paper, "Clinically Oriented Technicians to Augment Clinical Services." The paper was written by Karen E. Koch, Pharm.D., BCPS, FASHP and Angela Weeks, CPhT from the University of Mississippi, Tupelo.
January 2000
ASHP creates the pharmacy technician section of the ASHP newsletter, News & Views. The section focuses on news and educational issues of interest to pharmacy technicians.
March 2000
ASHP launches a pharmacy technician section on its Web site.
March 2001
ASHP publishes the second edition of the Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training. The revision is a collaboration of AAPT, APhA, ASHP, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and the PTEC.
November 2001
The ASHP Board of Directors approves the establishment of a Pharmacy Technician Forum. Membership in the Forum is automatic for all pharmacy technicians who join ASHP. An Executive Committee and representative to the ASHP House of Delegates are appointed by the President of ASHP.
December 2001
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) expands its corporate partnership to include the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). PTCB's corporate partners become ASHP, APhA, ICHP, the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the NABP.
May 2002
The "Sesquicentennial Stepping Stone Summit Two, Pharmacy Technicians” is convened by the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy, NACDS, and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). It is administered by APhA and attended by the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy (comprising The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, AACP, the American College of Apothecaries, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy, PTCB, and PTEC).
August 2002
The number of ASHP-accredited technician training programs reaches a total of 91 programs in 26 states. ASHP publishes Sterile Product Preparation, a computer-based, interactive learning program that provides a thorough way to train technicians and pharmacists who prepare sterile products for patient use.
October 2002
ASHP launches a custom home page for pharmacy technician members on its Web site.
January 2003
The White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians 2002: Needed Changes Can No Longer Wait, endorsed by the ASHP Board of Directors in December 2002, is published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (Am J Health-Syst Pharm2003; 60:37). It updates the White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians from 1996 and is endorsed by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American College of Apothecaries, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, American Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, and Pharmacy Technician Educators Council.
March 2003
A pharmacy technician educator is added to the ASHP Commission on Credentialing.
April 2004
The number of ASHP-accredited/accreditation-pending technician training programs reaches a total of 94 programs.