Washington State Pharmacy Association

What Washington State Pharmacy Association does

The Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) is a 501(c) nonprofit professional trade association founded in 1890 and headquartered at 411 Williams Avenue South, Renton, Washington. It represents pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists, and pharmacy businesses across all practice settings in Washington State, serving as the profession's primary advocate in legislative and regulatory matters in Olympia. WSPA monetizes its role through a tiered individual membership structure ($5–$260 annually depending on category), tiered corporate memberships for pharmacy businesses and health systems ($550–$1,100 base plus per-Washington-license fees), ACPE-accredited continuing pharmacy education delivered live and via the LecturePanda on-demand platform, certification programs (Ambulatory Care, Clinical Community Pharmacist, Immunization, Hormonal Contraception, Tobacco Cessation, Billing for Patient Care Services), event registration across the Annual Meeting, Northwest Pharmacy Convention, Technician Day, and New Drugs New Laws, and corporate sponsorship/endorsement arrangements via Pharmacy Marketing Group and direct partners including McKesson, IPC, and Pharmacists Mutual.

The organization's product surface extends beyond advocacy and CE into a structured community ecosystem of six practice academies and six-plus special interest groups, a recovery-assistance program (WRAPP), a Pharmacy Practice Guidebook updated for 2025 coding changes, a PBM-reform advocacy toolkit, the Washington Pharmacy PAC, and a Career Center job board operated through Association Career Network. Technology infrastructure consists of the YourMembership.com association-management platform for membership, invoicing, email, events, and private online community; LecturePanda for on-demand CE; and Association Career Network for job postings — no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via wsparx.org and a small inside-sales motion for complex business memberships (425-228-7171), with in-person events serving as the principal mid-funnel engagement channel.

The business model is subscription-recurring across all primary revenue streams (memberships, CE programs, career center) with professional-services revenue layered on for events. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization operates with 1–10 staff, is governed by an elected member Board of Directors, and has affiliated nonprofit entities including the Washington State Pharmacy Foundation (WSPF, scholarships and research) and the Washington State Pharmacy Technician Association (WSPTA). Strategic alliances span quality-improvement (APMS, PQC), GPO/distribution (IPC, McKesson), insurance (Pharmacists Mutual, First Financial Bank), technology (PrescribeWellness, TouchPoint Studio), and training (Aztec PassAssured, CEI), positioning WSPA as a multi-vertical aggregation point for the Washington pharmacy profession.

Name

Washington State Pharmacy Association

Legal name

Washington State Pharmacy Association

Website

https://wsparx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Washington State Pharmacy Association is a 135-year-old nonprofit trade association based in Renton, WA, representing pharmacists, technicians, students, and pharmacy businesses in Washington State through advocacy, ACPE-accredited continuing education, certifications, events, and corporate membership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Renton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual and monthly subscription dues from pharmacists, technicians, student pharmacists, and associates. Revenue is recurring on annual or monthly basis with annual commitment required for monthly plans.
2. Business/Corporate Membership Dues: Tiered corporate memberships (Basic, Standard, Premium) for pharmacy businesses and health systems, with additional fees per location.
3. Continuing Education Programs: ACPE-accredited CE programs for pharmacists and technicians, including live events, online courses, and certification programs. Members receive discounts.
4. Annual Meeting and Events: Annual Meeting (November at Suncadia Resort), Northwest Pharmacy Convention (June in Coeur d'Alene, ID), New Drugs New Laws, Technician Day, and various webinars generate registration revenue.
5. Career Center: Job posting fees for employers; members receive 20% discount on career center packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) is a professional trade association that delivers paid individual and business memberships to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists, and pharmacy/health-system organizations in Washington State. Its core deliverables are ACPE-accredited continuing pharmacy education (live events, on-demand courses, and certification programs), legislative and regulatory advocacy in Olympia, the WSPA Career Center job board, practice academies and special interest groups for networking, and recognition awards. Revenue is generated primarily from recurring membership dues, CE/event registration fees, career center job postings, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) is a professional trade association founded in 1890, offering a comprehensive suite of member services organized around advocacy, education, and professional development. The core offerings include ACPE-accredited Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) programs delivered through LecturePanda's online platform and live events; certification and training programs (Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Certificate, Clinical Community Pharmacist Training, Immunization Provider Training, Hormonal Contraception Training, Tobacco Cessation Certificate); and the WSPA Career Center job board. WSPA provides member tiers including Individual Membership (pharmacist, technician, student, new practitioner, retired categories) and Business Memberships for pharmacy and health-system organizations. The association supports its members through Practice Academies (Ambulatory Care, Community Practice, Health Systems, Independent Pharmacy, Long Term Care, Students) and Special Interest Groups (Behavioral Health, Compounding, Diabetes, New Practitioners, etc.). Additional services include WRAPP (recovery assistance program), PBM Reform advocacy, Legislative advocacy with Bill Tracker, Washington Pharmacy PAC, Annual Awards of Distinction, and the Washington State Pharmacy Foundation scholarship program. The WSPA also partners with TouchPoint Studio for pharmacy mobile apps and PrescribeWellness for clinical documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WSPA Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) ACPE-accredited continuing professional development and educational activities for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists, designed to advance pharmacy practice and enhance patient care quality.
• WSPA Certifications and Training Programs Comprehensive suite of certificate programs for pharmacists, including Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Certificate, Clinical Community Pharmacist Training, Immunization Provider Training, Hormonal Contraception Training, Tobacco Cessation Certificate, and Billing for Patient Care Services training.
• WSPA Live CE Events Recurring live continuing education events for pharmacists and technicians, including the Annual Meeting at Suncadia Resort, New Drugs New Laws, Northwest Pharmacy Convention in Coeur d'Alene, ID, Immunization Training, and Technician Day.
• WSPA On Demand CE Center Online portal hosted on LecturePanda offering on-demand ACPE continuing education programs including Pharmacy Law for Washington State, Preventing Opioid Deaths with Naloxone, Suicide Awareness and Referral, and Tobacco Cessation, plus credentialing resources.
• WSPA Technician CE Programs Continuing education developed specifically for pharmacy technicians, including the Technician Law Certificate (8 hours), Immunization Training for Technicians, 10 hours free annually with WSPA Membership via the CEI partnership, and a 300-hour interactive training program with Aztec PassAssured to prepare students for national certifying exams.
• WSPA Career Center Custom-tailored job board for the pharmacy industry, operated via the Association Career Network, connecting Washington pharmacy employers with qualified professionals; members receive a 20% discount on job-posting packages.
• WSPA Individual Membership Tiered individual membership for pharmacists, new graduates/residents/fellows/technicians (first full year complimentary), new practitioners, retired pharmacists (65+), pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, technician students, and non-pharmacy professional associates, with benefits including advocacy, CE discounts, and access to member-only resources.
• WSPA Business Membership — Pharmacy Three-tiered corporate membership (Basic, Standard, Premium) for pharmacy businesses, with benefits including complimentary staff memberships, CE discounts, legislative committee participation, and Career Center discounts; priced at $550–$1,100 base per year plus per-additional-license fees.
• WSPA Business Membership — Health System Tiered corporate membership (Basic, Standard, Premium) for hospital and health-system pharmacy departments, with benefits including complimentary staff memberships, access to the Hospital Pharmacy Directors listserv, and discounted CE offerings.
• Washington State Pharmacy Technician Association (WSPTA) Chapter of WSPA dedicated to advancing the practice and profession of pharmacy technicians across Washington State, providing resources, advocacy, networking, and CE opportunities including Fall and Spring Technician Days.
• WRAPP (Washington Recovery Assistance Program for Pharmacy) Confidential assistance program providing intervention, referral to treatment, recovery support, and rehabilitation services for impaired pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and student pharmacists in Washington State.
• WSPA PBM Reform Advocacy Initiative Advocacy initiative addressing Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices, including regulatory oversight, transparency, and accountability; includes a PBM Appeals Toolkit and resources for member pharmacies navigating PBM issues.
• WSPA Legislative Advocacy Services State legislative advocacy representation for the pharmacy profession in Olympia, including legislative session tracking, bill monitoring via the WSPA Bill Tracker, priority-bill identification (e.g., SSB 5924 prescriptive authority, SB 5981/HB 2145 340B protection), and legislative day events.
• Washington Pharmacy PAC Political Action Committee established to identify, educate, and support Washington State candidates and elected officials who support the pharmacy profession through nonpartisan contributions.
• WSPA Practice Academies Professional networking and best-practice-sharing groups for members, segmented into six practice settings: Ambulatory Care, Community Practice, Health Systems, Independent Pharmacy, Long Term Care, and Students.
• WSPA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Focused networking and resource groups for members with specific professional interests, including Behavioral Health, Compounding, Technician Academia, Diabetes, New Practitioners, All Voices Alliance, and Industry SIGs.
• WSPA Provider Status Billing Resources Resource center helping pharmacists enroll in health plan provider networks, implement medical billing, and access contracting and credentialing support, following Washington SB 5557 provider status legislation.
• WSPA Pharmacy Practice Guidebook Reference guide for documentation and coding when billing medical services in pharmacy practice, including CPT and ICD-10 codes; available in digital and print formats with 2025 coding updates.
• WSPA Annual Awards of Distinction Annual honors recognizing accomplishments of pharmacy professionals, including Fellow of WSPA, Bowl of Hygeia, Washington State Pharmacist of the Year, Student Pharmacist of the Year, Outstanding Technician, Distinguished Young Pharmacist, Mentor Award, and Rod Shafer Distinguished Leadership Award.
• Washington State Pharmacy Foundation (WSPF) 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with WSPA that supports pharmacy education, practice research, and innovative practices, including student scholarships at UW and WSU, research funding, and pharmacy history preservation.
• WSPA Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship program with platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels acknowledging sponsors as trusted experts in the pharmacy community and providing access to pharmacy professionals and healthcare decision makers.
• WSPA Virtual Town Halls and Webinars Recurring virtual town hall discussions and webinars for pharmacy professionals, addressing current impacts, practice challenges, and member concerns on advocacy and patient care topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members save nearly $200 on Northwest Pharmacy Convention registration alone, which can cover annual membership cost
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• APMS (Alliance for Patient Medication Safety)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPMS helps pharmacy professionals participate in continuous quality improvement through Pharmacy Quality Commitment+ (PQC+) program. Enables quality assurance reviews, patient safety event reporting, corrective training, and risk mitigation under confidential process.
• IPC (Independent Pharmacy Cooperative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent Pharmacy Cooperative is a group purchasing organization and secondary pharmaceutical wholesaler serving community pharmacies. Provides profitable programs, services, legislative advocacy, and education opportunities. Distribution centers in Wisconsin and Arizona.
• McKessoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMcKesson Corporation is an American company distributing pharmaceuticals and providing health information technology, medical supplies, and care management tools. One of the major pharmaceutical distributors in the US.
• PAAS NationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAAS National is an advocate for community pharmacies providing timely advice and support. Fights for fair and equitable treatment in third-party dealings with proactive education on safe filling and billing methods.
• PACE AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPace Alliance, founded in 1985 and owned by 19 State Pharmacy Organizations, is a national independent pharmacy support organization. Partners with Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and McKesson to empower independent pharmacies.
• Pharmacy Marketing Group (PMG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPMG secures endorsements for pharmacy insurance products, third-party prescription drug information, and other products marketed to pharmacy community from state pharmacy associations. Generates non-dues revenue through endorsement and marketing fees.
• Pharmacists MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor over a century, Pharmacists Mutual has provided specialized insurance solutions for pharmacists including professional, business, and personal policies. Offers competitive rates and comprehensive protection.
• PQC Quality ImprovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPQC is a coalition of healthcare providers dedicated to guaranteed, affordable, high quality healthcare. Includes public, private, religious, teaching and nonprofit hospitals and health systems with over a million healthcare workers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA): National association representing independent community pharmacists with advocacy and education programs. Competes for the same independent pharmacy segment WSPA serves in Washington.
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP): National association for health-system pharmacists offering CE, certifications, and advocacy. Overlaps significantly with WSPA's Health Systems Academy members.
• American Pharmacists Association (APhA): National professional society for pharmacists offering advocacy, ACPE-accredited CE, and member programs. Competes with WSPA for member attention at the national level, especially among pharmacists with multi-state interests.

Direct peers

• Oregon Pharmacy Association: Neighboring Pacific Northwest state pharmacy association offering advocacy, CE, and member programs. Directly comparable in scale and scope, useful as a regional benchmark.
• Florida Pharmacy Association: State pharmacy association in Florida providing advocacy, CE, and member benefits. Same trade association structure and revenue model as WSPA.
• California Pharmacists Association: State pharmacy association for California pharmacists and technicians. Directly comparable as a state-level professional trade association offering advocacy, ACPE-accredited CE, and tiered memberships — WSPA's primary peer category.
• Texas Pharmacy Association: State pharmacy association serving Texas pharmacists, technicians, and students with advocacy and continuing education. Same member model, same scope of services, same direct comparability.
• Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association: State pharmacy association providing advocacy and CE for Pennsylvania pharmacists. Comparable as a state-level trade association offering tiered membership and ACPE-accredited CE.
• Illinois Pharmacists Association: State pharmacy association serving Illinois pharmacists with advocacy, education, and networking. Directly comparable professional association structure.

Others

• PACE Alliance: National independent pharmacy support organization owned by 19 state pharmacy organizations including WSPA. Partner and quasi-peer — provides GPO and shared services to members that WSPA offers individually.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wspa.rx
• Xx.com/wsparx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wsparx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington State Pharmacy Association