CHAPTER 10 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN REGULATIONS. These regulations are promulgated as authorized by the Act.

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1 CHAPTER 10 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN REGULATIONS Section 1. Authority. These regulations are promulgated as authorized by the Act. Section 2. Definitions. Direct supervision means that a licensed pharmacist shall be physically present within the facility and capable of overseeing the actions of a Technician; Institutional Pharmacy means a pharmacy within a hospital, nursing home, extended care facility, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or any other pharmacy providing pharmaceutical services to patients in other than a retail pharmacy setting. (c) Technical functions means those functions performed in a pharmacy department which do not require the professional judgment of a licensed pharmacist; (d) Technician means a pharmacy technician who is an individual other than an intern, who has been licensed by the Board to assist a pharmacist in the practice of pharmacy, as defined in W.S , under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. (e) Technician-in-training means an individual who is in on-the-job training preparing to be licensed as a Technician and has a permit under Section 8. This status may be held for no longer than two years. Section 3. Responsibilities of the Pharmacist. Only a registered pharmacist shall: law. Receive a new prescription order verbally from a prescriber or other person authorized by Perform evaluations and interpretations of a prescription and obtain any needed clarifications prior to filling. (c) Interpret any clinical data in a patient s medication record system. This may include, but is not limited to, drug usage, refill frequency and drug interactions.

2 (d) Perform professional consultation with any prescriber, nurse, other health care professional or any patient/customer. (e)issue the new prescription medication to the patient or an agent with counseling. Section 4. Supervisory Responsibility of Pharmacist for Technician. Where a Technician performs one or more functions in the dispensing process, a pharmacist shall be responsible for the filled prescription including, but not limited to, the following: Verifying drug selection, strength, dosage form and labeling against the prescription and the contents of stock container. If, due to the nature of the product dispensed, the pharmacist can not verify what the Technician has done, the task shall not be done by a Technician. Supervising the packaging of drugs and checking the completed procedure and product. (c) Drafting written procedures to be used as guidelines for the Technician to follow. Guidelines shall be filed with the Board. (d) Being responsible for all activities of Technicians to insure patient safety. Section 5. Pharmacist/Technician Employee Ratio. Pharmacists are permitted to be direct supervisors of: one (1) Technician in a non-institutional setting or two (2) Technicians in institutional settings. A non-institutional pharmacy may petition the Board to allow a one pharmacist to two technician ratio. The Board will review the petition at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. The pharmacy will be notified of the Board s action within 30 days of the meeting. The petition must include the following elements before the Board will consider the petition: (c) Current Staffing; Explanation of staff changes (if any), if the Board grants the change in ratio, and; Explanation of program changes if the Board grants the change in ratio. If the Board grants an increase in ratio for a non-institutional pharmacy, the pharmacy will be subject to compliance inspections by the Board s staff to verify compliance with the pharmacy s petition. A Technician shall not perform technical functions in the prescription department unless under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Section 6. Legal and Professional Responsibilities of Pharmacist. The pharmacist-in-charge is responsible, legally and professionally, for the control of all drugs issued or dispensed in a pharmacy, including conduct of all Technicians.

3 The Board may contact the County Attorney of the county of occurring violations to initiate criminal proceedings against Technicians who perform tasks or functions that require the expertise and service of a pharmacist. Such persons may be charged with practicing pharmacy without a license in violation of Section of the Act. (c) A violation of the rules on Technicians by a pharmacist shall be considered unprofessional conduct and may be grounds for revocation or suspension of the pharmacist s license or pharmacy registration. (d) The pharmacy director/manager shall assure the continuing competency of Technicians through education and training to supplement initial training. Section 7. Qualifications, Education, Training Requirements and Identification of Technicians. A Technician shall: (c) (d) (e) Be at least 18 years of age. Have no felony or gross misdemeanor conviction relating to controlled substances. Have no history of drug abuse. Hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. Complete initial training and examination for registration as determined by the Board. (f) Wear a name badge with the designation Pharmacy Technician at all times when in or near the pharmacy area. (g) Identify themselves as a Pharmacy Technician in all telephone conversations while on duty in the pharmacy. Written procedures which describe the duties performed, training of the Technician, the methods of verification, documentation of work performed and training of Technicians in a pharmacy shall be prepared by the pharmacy director/manager and shall be filed with the Board. These written procedures shall be kept on file in the pharmacy for inspection. Any revisions in the written procedures shall be filed with the Board. Educational/training programs, for Technicians in institutions, shall comply with the ASHP (American Society of Hospital Pharmacists) Technical Assistance Bulletin on Outcome Competencies and Training Guidelines for Institutional Pharmacy Technician Training Programs. Documentation of initial and continuing training of Technicians shall be kept on file in the pharmacy for inspection. Section 8. Technician-in-training registration; Technician Registration; Fees; Late Payment Fees; Expired License; Reinstatement.

4 A Technician-in-training shall apply to the Board for a training permit on an application supplied by the Board and shall pay the fee required. This permit shall be valid for two years from date of original issuance. It may not be renewed. The sponsoring pharmacy, as identified on the application, shall be printed on the Technician-in-training permit. A change in sponsoring pharmacy will require submission of an updated application, and an updated permit will be issued to the Technician-intraining. Upon completion of training and examination, the Technican candidate shall apply for a license to the Board on an official application supplied by the Board, shall pay the required fee and be licensed by the Board. (c) A Technician license shall be renewed annually, on or before December 31, upon submission of a renewal application provided by the Board; submission of copies of required continuing pharmacy education certificates, if practicing in Wyoming; and payment of the required renewal fee. The Board shall assess a late payment fee of $35.00 for any renewal application postmarked after December 31. A Technician license not renewed by March 31 shall be deemed expired. A Technician may not practice in this state with an expired Technician license. A Technican may petition the Board for reinstatement of an expired license provided the expired Technician license has not been expired for more than two (2) years. A license which has been expired for more than two (2) years may not be reinstated. Individuals with an expired Technician license of more than two (2) years, must make application for licensure and successfully complete the Technician Certification Examination administered by the Board. A Technician license which is reinstated by the Board shall include payment, including late payment fee, for those years in which the license was lapsed. Proof of continuing pharmacy education shall be required for reinstatement if the Technician will work in Wyoming. Section 9. Technican Licensed to Perform at Specific Sites. A Technician shall notify the Board of specific locations where the Technician performs technical functions. It shall be the responsibility of each supervising pharmacist to review approved guidelines with the Technician to determine that the Technician fully complies with approved guidelines at that site. If change of employment or location occurs, the Board shall be notified within 30 days of date of change by the Technician. Section 10. Issuance of Letter of Admonition, Revocation, or Suspension of a Technician License or Technician-In-Training Permit. The Board may issue a letter of admonition, suspend or revoke a Technician s license or a Technician-In-Training permit for any: Willful violation of any provision of these regulations, the Act or the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of Action which threatens the public health, safety or welfare; or

5 (c) Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. Section 11. Continuing Pharmacy Education Requirements, Certified Pharmacy Technicians. Each Pharmacy Technician licensed by the Board of Pharmacy, who practices in Wyoming, shall complete and submit, during each calendar year, a minimum of six (6) contact hours of approved, continuing pharmacy education programs to be used for the upcoming renewal year. Approved continuing pharmacy education shall be by one of the following methods: Provided by Pharmacist supervisor at place of employment, utilizing a format for documentation developed by the Board of Pharmacy Staff; Continuing education hours approved by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (P.T.C.B.); (c) Continuing education hours approved by The American Pharmaceutical Association (A.Ph.A.); (d) Continuing education hours approved by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (A.C.P.E.); (e) Continuing education hours presented by the Wyoming Pharmacists Association (W.Ph.A.)