From tech to pharmacist: employers ramp up career pathways

A 2025 Rx Report by CVS Health revealed that 40% of pharmacy technicians surveyed were interested in becoming pharmacists, up from 23% in 2024. And 77% said that tuition assistance would increase their likelihood of pursuing a career as a pharmacist.To support techs in this goal, the pharmacy chain—the U.S.’s largest employer of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians—is providing structured internships and training, tuition assistance and continuing education opportunities.CVS recently opened a newly remodelled training laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina, designed to simulate the layout and workflow of a community pharmacy. There, students can get hands-on experience, practising tasks like compounding medications, dispensing and labelling, counselling patients, administering immunizations, and using pharmacy software and technology to enhance patient safety. The lab will support student competency in both clinical and technical skills, patient care, communication, critical thinking, ethics and interprofessional collaboration.Additionally, through a partnership with Duquesne University, students will have the opportunity to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree online at a reduced cost. Because the program is offered remotely, students can still care for their communities at the pharmacy while continuing their education. An assistance program provides the following: up to $20,000 per school year for fifth- and sixth-year CVS Pharmacy interns; an annual benefit of $1,500 that can be applied toward select non-degree certificate programs through the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; and a scholarship offered in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.CVS isn't the only U.S. pharmacy chain supporting techs who wish to become pharmacists, either. Last year Walgreens, the largest independent community pharmacy provider, teamed up with talent development company Guild to launch PharmStart, a fully funded online education program designed to help eligible pharmacy technicians meet the prerequisite requirements for pharmacy school, and eliminate barriers to pursuing a PharmD.Some Canadian chains also offering assistance programs. For one, the Rexall Tuition Bonus Program is designed to provide annual bonuses to qualified individuals who aspire to practice pharmacy, with the condition that they are willing to relocate within the province or select city they are hired for upon graduation. Meanwhile, across the Pond, NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) is providing financial support to address the ongoing pharmacy technician shortage. This month, it launched the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Program (CPTAP), an initiative that offers pharmacy contractors a training contribution of £31,010 (approximately $57,000 CAD) to help staff members train to become pharmacy technicians through a publicly funded program. WT&E is offering a training contribution of £15,505 per trainee per year for two years, to support community pharmacies in developing an employer-led work-based training program. Successful applicants must have their pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician (PTPT) enrolled in the program by Sept. 30.

From tech to pharmacist: employers ramp up career pathways

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