A qualitative analysis of opportunities to strengthen pharmacy technician career pathways across practice settings.

This article examines pharmacy technician career pathways across various practice settings to identify challenges and opportunities for strengthening and expanding these pathways. Based on interviews with 17 stakeholders from national pharmacy organizations, community pharmacies, health systems, and academia, seven key themes emerged related to career entry, recruitment and retention, and professional advancement. Findings highlight that inconsistent entry-level requirements, low compensation misaligned with job demands, and a weak professional identity hinder workforce sustainability, while career ladders or lattices and scope-of-practice policies that allow task delegation could enhance advancement. The study underscores the need for proactive promotion of pharmacy technician careers, cultivation of a distinct professional identity, and policy advocacy to support technician roles, which are essential for addressing workforce shortages and ensuring quality patient care.