Pharmacy Technology Clubs: A Great Way to Enhance Your Students' Educational Experience

Abstract

Background: Past experience of starting and continuing a pharmacy technology club has shown that the students who participated have been able to surpass the normal boundaries of technician training and accomplish many extra activities, including community service and awareness, which were done in addition to the competencies required in an ASHP-accredited program. Objective: To discuss the role that a pharmacy technology club can play in enhancing and improving students' experience in a technician training program. Methods: The information presented was collected from past experiences of a successful organization and include ways to start such a club, the benefits a club can provide, and the actual results from an existing club. Results: The Pharmacy Technology Club at Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia, GA, was established 2 years ago and has provided 3 classes of technicians with an enhanced training experience by providing additional viable skills for the field, job opportunities before graduation, and the opportunity to take and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board examination. Conclusions: The standard curriculum for technician training programs used across the country is very successful in training technicians for entry-level employment in pharmacy through didactic, experiential, and laboratory experiences. An organized club can provide students with additional skills that will aid in communication, cultural diversity, leadership qualities, and better work ethics. This will give students who complete such a program the additional understanding of how important their role in patient care is today and enable them to adapt to continuous changes in the field.