PROPOSED RULES
(Board of Pharmacy)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 11-17-101.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-901-061 Pharmacy technician certification, adding new rules to establish continuing education (CE) requirements for pharmacy technicians.
Hearing Location(s): Highline Community College, Mt. Constance (Building 8), 2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198, on June 7, 2012, at 3:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 7, 2012.
Submit Written Comments to: Kitty Slater-Einert, P.O. Box 47863, Olympia, WA 98504-7863, web site http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-2901, by June 1, 2012.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Kitty Slater-Einert by May 30, 2012, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rule requires pharmacy technicians to complete ten hours of CE or 1.0 CE unit annually. One hour must be in pharmacy law and the remaining nine hours must be in pharmacy technician related education. The proposed rule mirrors the national CE standards for pharmacy technicians set by the pharmacy technician certification board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: HB 1353 (2011) requires the board of pharmacy (BOP) to develop rules to establish CE requirements for pharmacy technicians. Requiring pharmacy technicians to obtain CE to maintain a credential will ensure they stay current with professional practice standards.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.64A.020.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.64A.020 as amended by HB 1353 (2011).
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: BOP, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Kitty A. Slater, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4861; Implementation and Enforcement: Steve Saxe, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-2902.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule would not impose more than minor costs on businesses in an industry.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Kitty Slater, 310 Israel Road S.E., Olympia [Tumwater], WA 98501, (360) 236-4861, fax (360) 236-4901, e-mail kitty.slater@doh.wa.gov.
May 2, 2012
Steve Saxe
Interim Executive Director
Board of Pharmacy
OTS-4468.2
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-901-061
Pharmacy technician -- Continuing
education requirements.
(1) A pharmacy technician certified
under this chapter shall complete a minimum of ten continuing
education (CE) hours or 1.0 continuing education unit (CEU)
every renewal cycle following their first certification
renewal. One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU.
(2) For each renewal cycle, continuing education must include:
(a) A minimum of one hour of course work in pharmacy law; and
(b) Nine hours in any course work that relates to pharmacy practice.
(3) Approved continuing education credits must be earned through a board approved continuing education program or course. Board approved continuing education includes:
(a) Courses and programs that are accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
(b) Courses and programs as established in WAC 246-861-050, that have been submitted by a pharmacist and approved by the board of pharmacy for purposes of pharmacist education. The course or program must be submitted on a form provided by the board and the course work must be directly related to the scope of practice of a pharmacy technician.
(4) A pharmacy technician must obtain a certificate of participation from a board-approved continuing education provider for each course completed. The certificate must be kept for a minimum of four years from the date of course completion. The certificate must contain:
(a) The participant's name;
(b) Course title;
(c) Course date; and
(d) The number of continuing education hours or CEUs.
(5) In lieu of a certificate of participation, approved courses can be verified through the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) central repository of continuing pharmacy education CPE monitoring system.
(6) Continuing education hours or CEUs may not be carried over from one reporting cycle to another.
(7) A pharmacy technician may request to be excused from meeting the continuing education requirements if the inability to satisfy the requirements was due to extenuating circumstances. The board determines if the requirement can be waived.
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