Book excerpt: Standards of Practice for the Pharmacy Technician discusses standards of practice, scope of practice, and projections for the future practice of an emerging professional in the modern world of pharmacy. The reader will follow the developmental stages of the pharmacist from an unregulated dispenser of herbal remedies to an educated licensed professional, and the development of the technician from a pill counter to an educated technician with the ability to assist the pharmacist in providing pharmaceutical care to patients. The ultimate goal is to instill in the student a feeling of competence, an ability to utilize critical thinking skills for problem solving, and an innate comprehension of the concepts of professionalism and professional judgment. A bound-in CD-ROM and companion website include a quiz bank, video clips, pharmacy technician dispensing lab simulations, clinical simulations, and blank forms. Additional ancillaries are available for instructors.