64B16-26.351: Standards for Approval of Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule promulgation to provide the standards for approval of registered pharmacy technician training programs.
SUMMARY: Standards for approval of registered pharmacy technician training programs will be provided.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: A Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost has been prepared and is available by contacting Rebecca Poston, Executive Director, at the address listed below. The following is a summary of the SERC:
• Beginning January 1, 2011, an estimated 10,000 persons will be required to complete a pharmacy technician training program approved by a nationally recognized pharmacy technician accrediting agency or by the Board of Pharmacy.
• The agency will incur costs for rulemaking.
• The cost for the applicant attending a required pharmacy technician training program is indeterminate due to the variation in fees charged per credit hour, curriculum, and course description.
• The proposed change is not expected to impact small business, small counties or small cities.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 465.014 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 465.014 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Rebecca R. Poston, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
64B16-26.351 Standards for Approval of Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.
(1) Pharmacy technician training programs approved by a nationally recognized pharmacy technician accredited agency, American Society of Healthsystem Pharmacists, Accreditation Council of Pharmaceutical Education, United States Uniformed Services, Florida Department of Education, or Florida Commission of Independent Education are deemed approved by the board.
(2) All other pharmacy technician training programs must be pre-approved by the board and shall contain a minimum of 160 hours of training, extending over a period not to exceed 6 months. The period of training must include time allocated for didactic and practical experience. The following objectives must be met:
(a) Program content:
1. Introduction to pharmacy and health care systems:
a. Confidentiality,
b. Patient rights and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),
2. Pharmacy law:
a. Federal law,
b. State law,
c. State rules,
d. Pharmacy technician rules and law,
3. Pharmaceutical – medical terminology, abbreviations, and symbols:
a. Medication safety and error prevention,
b. Prescriptions and medication orders,
4. Records management and inventory control:
a. Pharmaceutical supplies,
b. Medication labeling,
d. Medication packaging and storage,
e. Controlled substances,
f. Adjudication and billing,
5. Interpersonal relations, communications, and ethics:
a. Diversity of communications,
b. Empathetic communications,
c. Ethics governing pharmacy practice,
d. Patient and caregiver communication,
6. Pharmaceutical calculations.
(b) Program faculty qualifications:
1. The faculty for the training program shall be competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, and
2. An appropriate number of program faculty for each activity shall be utilized.
(c) The program must make provision for evaluation of the participants’ attainment of the stated objectives through in-process activities that provide a measurable demonstration of the learner’s achievement(s).
Rulemaking Authority 465.014 FS. Law Implemented 465.014 FS. History–New________.