New Hampshire

By Kaci Gordon, CPhT-Adv, CSPT | Pharmacy Technician Lead, Supervisor and Education
Mount Carmel Health System – Columbus, Ohio – A member of the Trinity Health Network

New Hampshire is paving the way for advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and pharmacy services throughout the United States. Pharmacy technicians in the state have various opportunities to practice at different levels: Registered, Certified, or Advanced. Each level adheres to a regulatory framework designed to ensure the highest standards of patient care, safety, and professionalism, underscoring their pivotal role in the healthcare system.

Licensure and Registration

Registered Pharmacy Technicians in New Hampshire must be registered with the state's Board of Pharmacy. Those without certification need to be at least 16 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent or be actively working toward these goals. Their scope of practice includes entering prescription orders, counting, weighing, measuring, pouring, and reconstituting non-parenteral medications. They are also allowed to stock products into automated dispensing machines, subject to verification by a pharmacist or certified pharmacy technician, with barcode scanning being mandatory during stocking, unless a licensed healthcare professional checks the medication beforehand. If in training for certification, registered technicians can perform certified technician duties under the direct supervision of a pharmacist or certified pharmacy technician.

Certified Pharmacy Technicians in New Hampshire must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and maintain national certification through organizations such as PTCB or NHA. Their responsibilities extend beyond those of registered technicians and include accepting new verbal telephone orders, communicating prescription transfers, clarifying prescriptions, transcribing a prescription from a recorded message, and participating in sterile and non-sterile compounding activities if they have completed an ASHP, PTCB, or other nationally recognized training program. Duties may also include accepting oral refill authorizations, communicating information recorded in a patient’s profile that does not require professional judgement and performing data entry of a prescription or medication order into the computer.  Verifying stock replenishment and the preparation, verification, and sealing of an emergency kit is also permitted.

The Advanced Pharmacy Technician role in New Hampshire opens significant opportunities for professional growth. To attain this title, technicians must accrue over 2000 hours as a certified technician in good standing, successfully complete four advanced technician assessment-based programs to include two assessment-based programs on product verification and immunization administration, secure an attestation from a licensed pharmacist, and pass a board-approved law exam. In addition, advanced technicians who wish to engage in the administration of additional vaccinations must hold a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a nationally recognized issuer such as the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, furnish proof of professional liability insurance, and undergo training specific to the administration of the respective vaccinations through a board recognized program.

Upon meeting these rigorous training and application prerequisites, advanced technicians gain the authority to administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, conduct product verification, process refills, oversee drug repackaging, and undertake various pharmacist tasks that do not necessitate a licensed pharmacist's direct involvement. Those who seek to administer additional vaccines beyond COVID-19 and influenza, must complete additional requirements as noted above and must comply with the relevant policies and procedures required to engage in vaccination, including record-keeping, managing adverse reactions, addressing anaphylaxis incidents, handling needle sticks, and more.

The Advanced Pharmacy Technician role not only offers a pathway to increased professional responsibilities but also mandates a comprehensive skill set and commitment to maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety.

Other requirements for all pharmacy technicians in the state include renewing registration every two years, passing a background check with no pharmacy or drug-related felonies or misdemeanors, and working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Continuing education (CE) is not required by the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy, but certified and advanced technicians must fulfill the CE requirements associated with their PTCB or NHA certification.

Conclusion

New Hampshire's clear standards for licensure and advanced roles ensure that pharmacy technicians actively contribute to delivering high-quality patient care. As the healthcare landscape evolves, the ongoing advancement of pharmacy technicians remains crucial for patient well-being and the continued success of the pharmacy profession.

References

1. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (2023).  Survey of Pharmacy Law.
2. New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy  Ph 100-700 (state.nh.us).

Published: March 2024