Written by Amantha Bagdon

It’s been a whirlwind year for community pharmacy. The headlines read like a doomsday clock ticking forward: Rite Aide declares bankruptcy, shuttering hundreds of stores; CVS announces waves of closures while scooping up parts of Rite Aid’s former footprint; Walgreens is exploring going private, tightening operations and reducing hours at thousands of locations. Chain pharmacies, once seen as untouchable giants, are now consolidating, contracting, or collapsing under their own weight.

But let’s be clear — this isn’t just a corporate shake-up. For thousands of pharmacy technicians, these closures represent real instability. Layoffs. Reduced hours. A scramble for new jobs in an already competitive market. Patients are impacted too, losing access to care, sometimes with little notice.

Yet in the chaos, an opportunity emerges.

The Changing Landscape of Pharmacy

As big chains falter, there’s a shift toward decentralized, community-based care. Patients are rediscovering independent pharmacies. At the same time, a second wave of transformation is building momentum: the integration of clinical pharmacy services into the community setting.

Policy is catching up. Payers are realizing what we’ve always known: We are pharmacy professionals, not just pill counters. We’re educators, navigators, and frontline care providers.

Take Canada, for example. Walmart Canada recently launched in-store pharmacy clinics to expand access to healthcare services like immunizations, diabetes education, and chronic condition management. It’s move that reflects what’s already underway in California through CAlAIM, and what’s starting to take root across the U.S.

These trends point toward a future where pharmacy professionals — especially technicians — can practice at the top of their license/certification, contribute to value-based care, and grow their careers through upskilling and cross-training into roles such as community health workers (CHWs), immunization specialists, and even digital health liaisons.

From Survival to Strategy

So what does it mean for you, the pharmacy technician?

It means the game has changed. The people thriving in this new era are those who stay curious, stay connected, and keep learning.

Which brings us to the third pillar of this moment:

Professional Development Isn’t a Perk — It’s a Survival Skill.

Too often, techs wait for their employer to offer training, mentorship, or career growth. But let’s be real: most employers are stretched thin. And if you’re working in a chain pharmacy? Their priorities are often dictated by shareholders, not staff development.

You’ve got to take control of your own growth.

Your 12-Month Skill-Building Roadmap

We’ve created a month-by-month plan to sharpen your skills, strengthen your confidence, and future-proof your pharmacy career. Use this roadmap whether you’re new, mid-career, or just looking to rekindle your fire.

Pro Tip: Networking and mentorship are the secret sauce. Don’t go it alone. Join your local CPhA chapter, sign up for their newsletters, and engage with your community. Follow RxPost on socials and subscribe to our newsletter for reminders, event invites, and resource drops.

July 2025: Orientation Month

• Join your CPhA local chapter
• Subscribe to the RxPost newsletter and follow us on social media
• Join your community’s WhatsApp group
• Set your personal OKRs (objectives and key results)

Focus: Get plugged in. Build your circle. Prepare for the next 11 months.

August 2025: Networking & Mentorship

• Volunteer to serve as a delegate in the CPhA House of Delegates on September 6-7
• Post on LinkedIn about a recent win or lesson learned
• Reach out to a mentor — or become one
• Invite a friend or student into the WhatsApp group

Focus: Surround yourself with people who “get it”.

September 2025: Advocacy & Policy

• Understand California pharmacy law and how to advocate for techs
• Explore how legislation (like SB41) impacts your role
• Share stories on social media — your voice matters
• Attend a virtual CPhA town hall and the House of Delegates

Focus: Learn how pharmacy policy gets made — and how you can influence it.

October 2025: National Pharmacy Month = Career Advancement

• Review certification options (e.g., immunization, billing, CHWs)
• RSVP for the CPhA career webinar
• Write or update your pharmacy resume
• Celebrate your work — online and in your community

Focus: Make yourself visible. And valuable.

November 2025: Pharmacy Law Deep Dive

• Learn the most common legal pitfalls
• Use a compliance checklist to audit your workflow
• Attend a legal Q&A session
• Share what you’ve learned with your team

Focus: Know your rights and responsibilities.

December 2025: Insurance & Billing Essentials

• Learn how to fix common billing rejections
• Understand how to verify insurance coverage for complex patients
• Practice with mock insurance scenarios
• Bonus: help someone else learn

Focus: Improve your value as a billing-savvy tech.

January 2026: Clinical Up-Skilling

• Practice days-supply calculations
• Refresh basic pharmacology knowledge
• Take a mini-clinical case workshop
• Use the CPhA Clinical Pharmacy Toolkit

Focus: Sharpen your clinical edge.

February 2026: Mental Health & Burnout Prevention

• Reflect: What’s brining you joy at work? What’s draining you?
• Attend a virtual support circle
• Try journaling or mindfulness before each shift
• Encourage a peer to do the same.

Focus: Care for yourself the way you care for patients.

March 2026: Leadership Skills

• Take initiative at work: lead a new process or meeting
• Learn about conflict resolution and team dynamics
• Ask your pharmacist how they handle tough conversations
• Set a leadership goal
• Attend a APhA/CPhA Joint Annual Conferences on March 27-30 in Los Angeles

Focus: Become someone others trust to lead.

April 2026: Digital Tools & Automation

• Explore how AI and tech are changing pharmacy
• Try a free training on automation or workflow tools
• Suggest a tech upgrade to your manager
• Share your favorite digital trick with the WhatsApp group

Focus: Work smarter, not harder.

May 2026: Project Management

• Learn how to create a checklist, SOP (standard operating procedure), or timeline
• Help onboard a new coworker using your new skills
• Document a small process you improved
• Reflect on what your team could standardize

Focus: Turn chaos into systems.

June 2026: Reflection & Reset

• Review your OKRs — what did you accomplish?
• Share your biggest lesson learned on WhatsApp
• Celebrate your wins
• Set your new goals for the next year

Focus: Celebrate growth — and prepare for what’s next.

Final Though: Find Your People, Find Your Power

Professional development isn’t a solo journey. It’s a community practice. That’s why this column exists. That’s why RxPost partners with CPhA. That’s why we invite you — yes, you reading this — to raise your hand, find your crew, and start building the future you want to see.

Let’s uplift each other. Let’s learn together. Let’s lead together.

• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Join your CPhA chapter
• Connect with us on WhatsApp
• And most importantly, keep showing up

I can’t wait to meet more of you at local events around Los Angeles, and to celebrate the energey, resilience, and innovation of our profession at the APhA/CPhA joint annual meetings at the Los Angeles Convention Center on march 27-30, 2026.

Together, we’re not just adapting to the future of pharmacy — we’re creating it!