Alabama Pharmacy Technicians
Requirements:
• Work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist licensed in Alabama;
• Be of seventeen (17) years of age or older;
• Submit a written pharmacy technician application to the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy requesting a registration as a pharmacy technician, pay appropriate registration fee, and receive registration certification BEFORE working in a pharmacy;
• Obtain three (3) hours of continuing education with one (1) of the hours being a “LIVE” credit hour. Technicians can receive CE credit for any continuing education hour that is ACPE-T approved.
• An Alabama technician’s registration certificate MUST be displayed in the pharmacy where the technician is working at all times.
• A technician MUST wear a nametag identifying them as such at all times.
• Perform only pharmacy functions NOT requiring professional judgment.
• Comply with ALL Federal Law, State Law, and Board of Pharmacy Rules.
• It is a rule that three (3) technicians, one (1) of which has certification by any credentialing organization approved by the Board are sufficient in the prescription area for each licensed pharmacist on duty.
• Notify the Board within 10 days of the change of employment.
A Technician Can:
• Check in orders from the wholesaler that DO NOT contain controlled substances.
• Place NON-CONTROLLED drugs into the pharmacy inventory.
• Under direct supervision of a pharmacist a technician can
1. Type the prescription label
2. Count and pour
3. Place a label on the bottle.
• Perform any task that that does not require the professional judgment of a pharmacist. The pharmacist should make those tasks clear in order to adequately supervise any technician.
A Technician Cannot:
• Communicate, ORALLY or in WRITING any of the following information:
1. Medical, therapeutic, clinical or drug information;
2. ** Accept by oral communication a new prescription of ANY nature. It should be understood that a technician CAN NOT call a physician or have a discussion with his agent regarding a new prescription; receive OR transcribe an orally transmitted voice message left to a recording device for the pharmacist.
3. Prepare a copy of a prescription, or read a prescription to another person.
4. Counsel a patient on medications or perform a drug utilization review.
5. Provide a prescription or medication to a patient without a pharmacist’s verification as to the correctness of the prescription or medication. Verification shall mean that the licensed pharmacist shall be aware of the patient profile, DUR, computer overrides and drug interactions as well as the correctness of the selected medication and labeling.
6. Place CONTROLLED drugs into the pharmacy inventory.
680-X-2-.14 (4) In order to adequately protect the public health, technicians shall not:
(c) Accept by oral communication a new prescription of any nature.
Source from:Alabama State Board of Pharmacy