PERMANENT RULES
(Board of Pharmacy)
Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2009.
Purpose: The adopted rule amendments establishes a new credentialing requirement for new pharmacy technician applicants. The rule adopts the use of board-approved pharmacy technician national standardized certification examinations as a reliable assessment of a pharmacy technician's minimum education and qualification needed to successfully contribute to the practice of pharmacy in all practice settings. The exam does not replace experiential training requirements.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-901-030 and 246-901-060.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.64.005.
Other Authority: RCW 18.64A.020 Rules -- Qualification and training programs.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-09-102 on April 21, 2008.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The adopted rule added the word "program" to WAC 246-901-030 (1)(a) filed in WSR 08-09-102 on April 21, 2008. This was a minor change to add a missing word.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Doreen E. Beebe, Washington State Board of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 47863, Olympia, WA 98501, phone (360) 236-4834, fax (360) 236-2901, e-mail doreen.beebe@doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: May 29, 2008.
Rebecca E. Hille
Board Chair
OTS-9390.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-15-081, filed 7/19/00,
effective 8/19/00)
WAC 246-901-030
Technician education and training.
(1)
((Pharmacy technicians)) Applicants must obtain education
((or)) and training from one of the following:
(a) Formal academic ((program for)) pharmacy technician
training program approved by the board.
(b) On-the-job pharmacy technician training program approved by the board.
(2) The minimum educational prerequisite for entering a training program shall be high school graduation or G.E.D.
(3) ((In order to receive certification as a pharmacy
technician, the technician must send the board the following:
(a) A state application indicating completion of board approved training program;
(b) Proof of successful completion of a)) Applicants must
pass a board-approved national standardized pharmacy
technician certification examination ((approved by the
board)).
(4) An out-of-state pharmacy technician applicant must meet the same requirements as a pharmacy technician trained in this state. The board must approve training programs approved in other states.
(5) Applicants whose academic training has been obtained in foreign countries shall meet certification requirements as listed below:
(a) Foreign pharmacy school graduates. Board approval of program completed for the degree.
(b) Foreign medical school graduates. Board approval of program completed for the degree.
(c) All foreign graduates for whom English is not the primary language shall provide proof of receiving a score of at least 173 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and a score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) prior to certification.
(d) Foreign trained applicants must earn 520 hours of supervised experience in an approved pharmacy technician training program.
(6) Prior to performing specialized functions, pharmacy technicians shall complete specialized training and meet proficiency criteria set forth by the board.
(a) Unit-dose medication checking. The training proficiency criteria requires demonstration of 99% accuracy in medication checking.
(b) Intravenous admixture preparation. The training proficiency criteria requires demonstration of 100% accuracy in intravenous admixture preparation of a representative sample of preparations provided by the facility using aseptic technique.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005, chapter 18.64A RCW. 00-15-081, § 246-901-030, filed 7/19/00, effective 8/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.050. 94-08-097, § 246-901-030, filed 4/6/94, effective 5/7/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005 and chapter 18.64A RCW. 91-18-057 (Order 191B), recodified as § 246-901-030, filed 8/30/91, effective 9/30/91; Order 141, § 360-52-020, filed 12/9/77.]
(1) Complete an approved pharmacy technician program;
(2))) apply to the board for certification. The
application must include ((a notarized)):
(1) A statement ((of program verification signed by the
program director)) signed by the program director verifying
the applicant has successfully completed the board-approved
pharmacy technician training program.
(2) Proof of passing a board-approved national standardized pharmacy technician certification examination.
It is the responsibility of the pharmacy technician to maintain a current mailing address with the board as required by chapter 246-12 WAC. Pharmacy technicians shall notify the board of any change of mailing address within thirty days of the change.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005, chapter 18.64A RCW. 00-15-081, § 246-901-060, filed 7/19/00, effective 8/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005. 93-17-097 (Order 387B), § 246-901-060, filed 8/17/93, effective 9/17/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005 and chapter 18.64A RCW. 91-18-057 (Order 191B), recodified as § 246-901-060, filed 8/30/91, effective 9/30/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64A.030. 88-14-043 (Order 217), § 360-52-050, filed 6/30/88; Order 141, § 360-52-050, filed 12/9/77.]