Healthcare is changing and pharmacies are increasingly expected to do more than dispense medications.
Patients today need support navigating challenges that directly impact their health outcomes:
- Food insecurity
- Transportation barriers
- Housing instability
- Mental health concerns
- Financial hardship
These non-medical drivers of health affect medication adherence, chronic disease management, and overall patient wellbeing every single day.
Pharmacy teams see these challenges firsthand.
The question is:
How can pharmacies realistically address them without overloading pharmacists or expanding payroll?
The Answer: Community Health Worker (CHW)-Trained Pharmacy Technicians
A growing number of pharmacies are discovering the value of training pharmacy technicians as Community Health Workers (CHWs).
CEimpact’s Pharmacy-Based Community Health Worker Certificate Program equips technicians with practical, pharmacy-specific skills to help identify and address the barriers preventing patients from achieving better health outcomes.
This is not about adding more tasks to an already stretched team.
It’s about building a smarter, more patient-centered workflow that allows pharmacies to:
✔ Improve patient outcomes
✔ Expand patient engagement
✔ Strengthen medication adherence
✔ Support value-based care initiatives
✔ Increase community trust and loyalty
What a CHW-Trained Technician Can Do
CHW-trained pharmacy technicians can support:
- Social needs screenings
- Care coordination and follow-up
- Patient outreach
- Immunization workflows
- Community resource navigation
- Health equity initiatives
This creates more capacity within the pharmacy while allowing pharmacists to focus on higher-level clinical services.
One technician shared:
“After the training, I was able to help a cancer patient with funding options and meal delivery services. I also helped a prediabetic patient find resources for fresh fruits and vegetables.”
That’s community impact that strengthens both patient relationships and pharmacy outcomes.
Why This Matters for Pharmacy Technicians
Technicians are looking for opportunities to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact in their communities.
CHW training helps technicians:
- Expand their role within the pharmacy
- Build stronger communication and advocacy skills
- Gain confidence supporting patients
- Earn a nationally recognized credential
- Become more engaged and retention-ready team members
As one participant shared:
“My greatest learning from the CHW training is to be an advocate—listen to the needs of your community and do the best you can to help.”
When pharmacies invest in technician development, everyone benefits:
- The patient
- The technician
- The pharmacy
- The community
A Small Investment with Long-Term Return
CEimpact’s Pharmacy-Based CHW Certificate Program is designed specifically for working pharmacy technicians and pharmacy teams.
Program Details
Cohort 12: June 16 – September 1
5 live Zoom sessions + flexible online modules
60 hours of experiential learning tailored to pharmacy practice
Nationally recognized CHW certificate
Tuition
💲 $1,500 per participant
For pharmacy owners and managers, sponsoring a technician through CHW training is more than a professional development expense, it’s an investment in:
- Better patient care
- Stronger workflow support
- Team retention and engagement
- Future-ready pharmacy services
- Community impact
As healthcare continues shifting toward whole-person care, pharmacies that can address both medical and non-medical patient needs will be positioned to lead.
The Future of Pharmacy Care Starts with Your Team
The pharmacies making the biggest impact tomorrow are investing in their teams today.
If you’re a pharmacist or pharmacy manager, consider what a CHW-trained technician could bring to your pharmacy.
If you’re a pharmacy technician, this may be the opportunity that helps you grow your career while making a deeper difference in your community.
or
