title: Enactment of mandatory pharmacy technician certification in Kansas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The successful enactment of mandatory pharmacy technician certification in Kansas is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2004, Kansas began requiring registration of all pharmacy technicians with the state board of pharmacy. Registration identified individuals working as pharmacy technicians but did not require any specific education or certification. In September 2012, the Kansas Board of Pharmacy created a task force of key stakeholders including pharmacists from multiple areas of practice, the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, organizational leaders from the Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists (KCHP) and Kansas Pharmacists Association, and professional lobbyists. The goals of this task force were to research practices of technician certification in other states and to make recommendations to the state board of pharmacy on how Kansas could accomplish mandatory technician certification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The task force outlined the steps needed to achieve legislation that could be supported by the members. These topics included the creation of a technician trainee category, grandfathering certain technicians who had been practicing for a designated period of time, state board-approved exemptions, training requirements, age and education requirements, continuing-education requirements, and pharmacist:technician ratio. The recommendations were finalized at the August 2013 Kansas Pharmacy Summit, and the proposed legislation was introduced and passed during the 2014 legislative session. KCHP members learned many valuable lessons about advocacy and the legislative process with this initiative, including building relationships, working with legislators, and working with other professional organizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The formation of a task force led to the successful passage of a bill granting the Kansas Board of Pharmacy the authority to issue regulations regarding mandatory pharmacy technician certification.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Neonatology, Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, KS. amber.lucas@olathehealth.org.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Wichita, KS.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, KS.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Jeff D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce