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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
pharmacy technician trainees; pharmacists; compounding
Purpose
Removes the licensure requirement of a pharmacy technician trainee and requires a pharmacy technician trainee applicant to register with the Board of Pharmacy (Board). Allows a pharmacist to distribute drugs to a licensed veterinarian and removes outlined acts from the definition of unprofessional conduct.
Background
The duties of the Board include: 1) establishing bylaws and adopting rules necessary to protect the public regarding the practice of pharmacy, including the training and use of pharmacy technicians and support personnel and the lawful performance of its duties; 2) examining and licensing all qualified applicants as pharmacists and pharmacy interns; and 3) requiring each applicant for an initial license to apply for a fingerprint clearance card (A.R.S. § 32-1904).
A pharmacy technician trainee licensure applicant must: 1) be of good
moral character;
2) be at least 18 years of age; 3) have a high school diploma or the equivalent
of a high school diploma; and 4) submit a Board-prescribed fee, that does not
exceed $100, with the application (A.R.S. §§ 32-1923.01
and 32-1924).
A pharmacy technician trainee must be under the supervision of a pharmacist and may assist a graduate intern, pharmacy intern or pharmacist with various tasks including: 1) entering and recording outlined prescription medication information; 2) initiating or accepting refill authorization; and 3) under pharmacist supervision and verification, preparing and prepackaging drugs and typing and affixing a prescription medication label (A.A.C. R4-23-1104).
Unprofessional conduct in the practice of pharmacy includes: 1) committing
an act that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties
of a permittee and that demonstrates either a lack of good moral character or
unfitness to hold a permit in light of the public's safety;
2) violating a federal or state law or administrative rule relating to the
manufacture, sale or distribution of drugs, devices, poisons, hazardous
substances or precursor chemicals; 3) failing to report any evidence that a
pharmacist or pharmacy intern is or may be professionally incompetent, be
guilty of unprofessional conduct or may be mentally or physically unable safely
to engage in the pharmacy practice or in the pharmacy technician or pharmacy
technician trainee permissible activities; and 4) failing to report any
evidence that appears that a permittee or permittee's employee is or may be
guilty of unethical conduct, violating pharmacy practice rule or may be
mentally or physically unable safely to engage in employment duties related to
manufacturing, selling, distributing or dispensing drugs, devices, poisons,
hazardous substances, controlled substances or precursor chemicals (A.R.S.
§ 32-1901.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Pharmacy Technician Trainee Registration
1. Removes the licensure requirement of a pharmacy technician trainee.
2. Requires a pharmacy technician trainee applicant to:
a) register with the Board via an online application; and
b) apply for a pharmacy technician licensure within 36 months after registering as a pharmacy technician trainee.
3. Removes the requirement that a pharmacy technician trainee applicant have a high school diploma or diploma equivalent.
4. Decreases, from $100 to $25, the maximum pharmacy technician trainee application fee.
Distribution to Veterinarians
5. Allows a pharmacist to distribute drugs, including compounded drugs, to a licensed veterinarian.
6. Allows a veterinarian to possess and maintain stock of the drugs for administering and dispensing as part of a nonpatient-specific regimen that is prescribed or ordered by the veterinarian.
7. Specifies that there is no limit on the quantity of compounded drugs that a pharmacist may distribute to a veterinarian.
Miscellaneous
8. Removes from the definition of unprofessional conduct failing to report, in writing to the Board, any evidence that:
b) appears that a permittee or permittee's employee is or may be guilty of unethical conduct, violating pharmacy practice rule or may be mentally or physically unable safely to engage in employment duties related to manufacturing, selling, distributing or dispensing drugs, devices, poisons, hazardous substances, controlled substances or precursor chemicals.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 14, 2022
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