Pharmacy Technicians

(1) Any person acting as a pharmacy technician shall register with the Board by submitting a complete application on a form prescribed by the Board accompanied by the following: (a) An affidavit signed by both the applicant and employer attesting that the applicant has read and understands the laws and rules relative to pharmacy technicians and the practice of pharmacy in Tennessee. (A copy of this affidavit shall be retained at the applicant’s place of employment); (b) Registration fee established in Rule 1140-01-.10; and (c) The result of a criminal background check, which the applicant shall pay for and cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s registration application materials. (d) Any application submitted which lacks required information or reflects a failure to meet any of the requirements for registration will be returned to the applicant with written notification of the information that is lacking or the reason(s) the application does not meet the requirements for registration and will be held in “pending” status until satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed one (1) year from date of initial application. (2) The following individuals are exempt from registration as a pharmacy technician: (a) Any individual performing tasks that may be performed by a pharmacy technician who is classified by the employer as a probationary employee. The exemption shall not exceed ninety (90) days from the date of employment. (b) A student enrolled in a formal pharmacy technician training program while performing experiential rotations as a part of the academic curriculum. The student shall wear a school-issued identification badge. (3) The pharmacist in charge at each pharmacy practice site is responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter by pharmacy technicians at that pharmacy practice site. (4) A registered pharmacy technician may, under the supervision of a pharmacist, perform those tasks associated with the preparation and dispensing process except those tasks identified in Rule 1140-02-.01(13) that must be personally performed by a pharmacist or pharmacy intern under the personal supervision and in the presence of a pharmacist, and those tasks identified in 1140-02-.02(5). (5) Certified pharmacy technicians may also: (a) Receive new or transferred oral medical and prescription orders; (b) Receive and transfer copies of oral medical and prescription orders between pharmacy practice sites; PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES CHAPTER 1140-02 (c) Verify the contents of unit dose carts/automated dispensing systems prepared by other registered technicians when an additional verification by use of bar code technology or a licensed health care professional is performed prior to administration to the patient; (d) Under the supervision of a pharmacist licensed by the Board who has authorized the administration of a vaccine, administer United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) authorized or FDA-licensed vaccines to patients pursuant to a valid medical or prescription order after the following qualifications are met by the certified pharmacy technician: 1. Complete a practical training program that is ACPE-approved or approved by the Board. This training program must include hands-on injection technique and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines; 2. Possess a current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and 3. Complete a minimum of two (2) hours of ACPE-approved or Board-approved immunization-related continuing pharmacy education during each Board registration renewal cycle; and (e) Administer tests cleared by the FDA for home use or those tests approved for a waiver under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (“CLIA”) to patients at a pharmacy practice site and under the supervision of a pharmacist pursuant to a medical or prescription order, when required, after completion of the following qualifications by the certified pharmacy technician; 1. Complete a practical training program that is ACPE-approved or approved by the Board. This training must include hands-on training in point-of-care testing, including the following types of specimen collection: oral swab, nasal swab, throat swab, and finger stick; and 2. Complete a minimum of two (2) hours of ACPE-approved or Board-approved point-of-care testing related continuing education during each Board registration renewal cycle. (f) The supervising pharmacist at the pharmacy practice site where the vaccination is administered shall be readily and immediately available to the certified pharmacy technician who is administering the vaccine. (6) No prescription drugs and devices and related materials may be released to a patient unless all of the functions performed by a pharmacy technician are verified by a pharmacist. (7) Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist Ratio (a) The pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio shall not exceed 6:1; however the ratio may be removed if the additional pharmacy technicians beyond the 6:1 ratio are certified pharmacy technicians. However, the pharmacist in charge may request a modification of the ratio from the Board in writing which addresses: 1. The pharmacy technician’s experience, skill, knowledge and training; and 2. The workload at the practice site; and 3. Detailed information regarding the numbers of pharmacy technicians and the specific duties and responsibilities of each of the pharmacy technicians; and PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES CHAPTER 1140-02 4. Justification that patient safety and quality of pharmacy services and care can be maintained at the pharmacy. (b) Requested modifications of the established ratios may not be implemented until the written request is considered and approved by the Board. (8) Pharmacy technicians must wear appropriate identification showing name and appropriate title (e.g. pharmacy technician, certified pharmacy technician). (9) All pharmacy technician functions shall be performed under the supervision of a pharmacist, who shall direct and verify the accuracy of all pharmacy technician functions. (10) A registered technician shall maintain his or her registration certificate at the pharmacy practice site; additionally, all certified technicians shall display in like manner evidence of certification. Pharmacy technicians shall possess at all times, while on duty, proof of registration and proof of certification, if applicable. (11) All registered technicians shall immediately notify the board in writing of any change of address or employer. (12) For purposes of this rule, a pharmacy intern is not considered to be a pharmacy technician. (13) Upon request, the Board may waive selected portions of these requirements so long as any waiver granted is consistent with the Board’s authority under Tenn. Code Ann. Title 63, Chapters 1 and 10, and Tenn. Code Ann. Title 4, Chapter 5.