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Virginia

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Virginia

By Diane Halvorson, RPhTech, CPhT-Adv | Pharmacy Buyer/ Board of Pharmacy Member
Sanford-ND BOP, Fargo, North Dakota

State Regulations

The definition for a pharmacy technician means a person registered with the Board to assist a pharmacist under the pharmacist’s supervision.

To register as a pharmacy technician, an individual shall submit:

  • An application and fee specified in regulations of the Board.
  • Evidence of successful completion of a training program that is (i) an accredited training program, including an accredited training program operated through the Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education program or approved by the Board, or (ii) operated through a federal agency or branch of the military; and
  • Evidence of successfully passing a national certification examination administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

The definition for a pharmacy technician trainee means a person registered with the Board for the purpose of performing duties restricted to a pharmacy technician as part of a pharmacy technician training program in accordance with the provisions of subsection of 54.1-3321.

Pharmacy technician registrations expire on December 31 and shall be renewed annually prior to that date by the submission of a renewal fee, renewal form, and an e-profile number issued by NABP. A pharmacy technician newly registered on or after July 1 shall not be required to renew that registration until December 31 of the following year. Failure to receive the application for renewal shall not relieve the pharmacy technician of the responsibility for renewing the registration by the expiration date.

Roles and Responsibilities

The registered pharmacy technician and registered pharmacy technician trainee roles are outlined in 54.1-3321 as follows:

  1. The entry of prescription information and drug history into a data system or other record keeping system;
  2. The preparation of prescription labels or patient information;
  3. The removal of the drug to be dispensed from inventory;
  4. The counting, measuring, or compounding of the drug to be dispensed;
  5. The packaging and labeling of the drug to be dispensed and the repackaging thereof;
  6. The stocking or loading of automated dispensing devices or other devices used in the dispensing process;
  7. The acceptance of refill authorization from a prescriber or his authorized agency, so long as there is no change to the original prescription.

Ratio

Consistent with patient safety, a pharmacist shall exercise sole authority in determining the maximum number of pharmacy technicians that he shall supervise; however, no pharmacist shall supervise more pharmacy technicians than allowed by Board regulations.

Continuing Education/Certification

Requirements for continued competency consist of a pharmacy technician shall be required to have completed a minimum of 0.5 CEUs or five contact hours of approved continuing education for each annual renewal of registration. Hours in excess of the number required for renewal may not be transferred or credited to another year.

Advocacy Efforts / Advanced Roles and Responsibilities

  • A registered pharmacy technician, working under the direct supervision of a qualified nuclear pharmacist, as defined by regulations of the Board, may accept oral prescriptions for diagnostic, nonpatient specific radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with subsection C of 52.1-3410.1

  • Under the supervision of a pharmacist, meaning the supervising pharmacist is at the same physical location of the technician and consistent with the requirements of 54.1-3301.1, administration of the following drugs and devises to persons three years of age or older as set forth in regulation of the Board: vaccines included on the Immunization Schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and vaccines for COVID-19.

Summaries

Virginia requires the passing of a national certification exam in order to register and be a current practicing pharmacy technician.  Virginia is just starting to expand the role of the pharmacy technician, one example would be the ability for pharmacy technicians to administer vaccinations. 

References

  1. Chapter 33 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, Article 4. Registration of Pharmacy Technicians
  2. Commonwealth of Virginia REGULATIONS Governing the Licensure of Pharmacists and Registration of Pharmacy Technicians
  3. Virginia Vaccine protocol for 18+
  4. Virginia Vaccine protocol for Ages 3-17

Published: March 2024