Why Every Pharmacy Technician Should Complete a Professional Poster.
When you think of professional posters at pharmacy conferences, you might picture pharmacists, researchers, or industry professionals presenting data-heavy research. But here’s the truth: pharmacy technicians have valuable insights and experiences to share, too — and a professional poster is one of the most impactful ways to do it.
Whether you work in a hospital, community pharmacy, long-term care, or specialty setting, developing and presenting a poster can be a powerful step in your professional growth. Here’s why.
- Highlight Your Expertise and Contributions
Pharmacy technicians are essential to medication safety, workflow efficiency, and patient care, but those contributions often go unnoticed outside of the immediate team.
Creating a poster allows you to:
- Showcase quality improvement initiatives.
- Share creative workflow solutions.
- Present patient care support projects.
- Demonstrate leadership in training or inventory systems.
A poster tells your story and gives others a chance to learn from your work.
- Build Confidence and Communication Skills
Designing and presenting a poster builds essential soft skills:
- Critical thinking: Choosing a topic, organizing information, and drawing conclusions.
- Public speaking: Through informal discussions & a formal presentation.
- Professional communication: Answering questions and explaining your role to others. Written communication is upskilled through a poster, where we flex our ability to transfer knowledge in a clear, concise and accurate method
These are transferable skills that can help in interviews, promotions, or leadership roles.
- Gain Recognition and Advance Your Career
A professional poster can set you apart in a competitive job market or when applying for advanced roles like:
- Lead technician
- Technician educator or trainer
- Compliance or quality assurance roles
- IDC or automation specialist roles
Showing initiative, professionalism, and subject matter knowledge demonstrates that you’re more than just a task-doer — you’re a forward-thinking member of the healthcare team.
- Contribute to the Profession as a Whole
When pharmacy technicians share real-world innovations, it elevates the entire field. Your project could help:
- Other technicians solve similar challenges.
- Leaders better understand technician capabilities.
- Organizations replicate your success on a broader scale.
Don’t underestimate the value of your perspective — your work could make a real impact beyond your own pharmacy.
- It’s More Accessible Than You Think
You don’t need to be a researcher to create a great poster. Many technician posters are based on:
- Workflow improvements
- Compliance or safety projects
- Cost-saving initiatives
- New technology or automation rollouts
- Education or onboarding programs
Plus, many conferences — like those hosted by PTSA, CAPT, or other pharmacy associations — offer poster categories specifically for pharmacy technicians.
Final Thoughts: Your Voice Matters
As a pharmacy technician, you are on the front lines of pharmacy practice every day. Completing a professional poster is your chance to contribute, grow, and inspire others — not just in your department, but across the profession.
Start with a simple idea, get support from a mentor and take the leap. Your work is worth sharing, and a poster is one powerful way to do it.
Did you know that PTSA has a ‘how-to’ webinar if you want to learn how to create your poster? Click here to look at the full list of courses.
Written by Loren Voice, PTSA Communication Director.