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Ha Thanh Tran (Thanh) is always looking for a new challenge. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree, she discovered an interest in pharmacy, so she joined a pharmacy team as an unregulated member. After a few years, Thanh realized she wanted to do more behind the pharmacy counter and decided to work towards becoming a pharmacy technician.
“I saw everything that pharmacy technicians were able to do in the pharmacy and I was really inspired,” said Thanh. “I saw how they helped patients and how they supported the pharmacy team and I thought, ‘that’s what I want to do.’”
Thanh enrolled in the pharmacy technician program at Robertson College and committed herself to learning as much as she could about pharmacy.
“I found so much value in my education, the instructors had a lot of knowledge about all of the aspects of compounding, patient care, documentation, and leadership,” said Thanh.
Completing a pharmacy technician program is only the first step towards becoming a regulated pharmacy technician. Before becoming a pharmacy technician, Thanh completed the entry-to-practice requirements, including the successful completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s (PEBC) qualifying exams.
“The exams are such an important milestone and I was stressed about making sure I did well on them,” said Thanh.
A few weeks after completing the exams, Thanh received an email that took her by surprise—she learned that she had earned the highest marks across the province on the PEBC exams.
“I was shocked,” said Thanh, “I wanted to reach out to make sure I wasn’t being pranked!”
Once Thanh confirmed that she was not, in fact, being pranked, she learned that this remarkable accomplishment earned her ACP’s 2026 Pharmacy Technician Achievement Award, which includes a prize of $1,000.
Thanh said that she credits her experience in different pharmacies to helping her succeed.
“I think having experience in different pharmacy settings was a big help,” said Thanh. “There is so much to learn in a smaller community practice and in a busier and more demanding practice—I am grateful I had the chance to learn in different settings. I think that really helped me succeed.”
Looking towards the future, Thanh is eager to practise to her full scope as a pharmacy technician.
“I am so excited to apply all of the skills I learned from school and embrace the full scope of practice that pharmacy technicians have,” said Thanh. “I want to do my part to support patients and do as much as I can as a pharmacy technician.”
