The hour requirements for Pharmacy Technician education programs should be reduced, restoring alignment with prior Virginia requirements and national norms.  In addition, implement a simulation-based learning model eliminating the externship component. The current externship requirement imposes a significant financial burden on students, places additional strain on employers who are already understaffed and struggling to train externs and limits the number of students that can enroll which makes the program financially unsustainable. With high-quality simulation, we can ensure students gain the necessary skills in a controlled, consistent environment while improving program accessibility and reducing stress on the healthcare workforce.