AB 281

Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, no person may engage in the

practice of pharmacy unless the person is licensed as a pharmacist by the Pharmacy

Examining Board. One such exception is for a person who is providing services as

directed, supervised, and inspected by a pharmacist who has the power to direct,

decide, and oversee the implementation of the services rendered, subject to any rules

promulgated by the board. Current rules of the board govern the practice of

pharmacy technicians, which are defined as non-pharmacists or non-pharmacist

interns who, under the general supervision of a pharmacist who regularly

coordinates, directs, and inspects the activities of the pharmacy technician, assist

the pharmacist in the technical and nonjudgmental functions related to the practice

of pharmacy in the processing of prescription orders and inventory management.

The rules regulate the activities of pharmacy technicians, but pharmacy technicians

are not, under current law, required to be credentialed by the board in order to

practice.

This bill instead requires pharmacy technicians to be registered by the board

and prohibits any person from engaging in the practice of a pharmacy technician, as

defined by the board, or using the title “pharmacy technician” or “pharmacy tech”

unless the person is registered as a pharmacy technician by the board. Registration

requires submission of an application listing the applicant's employer, if any, and

address, and a fee, and requires that the applicant have graduated high school or an

equivalency or be enrolled in a pharmacy technician youth apprenticeship program.

The bill allows a person who has applied for a pharmacy technician registration to

practice as a pharmacy technician under the direct supervision of a pharmacist

during the period before the board takes final action on the person's application.

Pharmacy technicians are required under the bill to notify the board of any home

address or employer changes.

The bill requires the board to promulgate rules to define the activities that

constitute the practice of a pharmacy technician for purposes of the registration

requirement.