The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the approval date for accredited Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs and to update language regarding training programs.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Pharmacy

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B16-26.351Standards for Approval of Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the approval date for accredited Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs and to update language regarding training programs.

SUMMARY: The approval date for accredited Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs will be updated and language will be updated regarding training programs.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

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.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 465.005, 465.014(4), (7) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 465.014(2), (4) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: C. Erica White, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B16-26.351 Standards for Approval of Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.

Pursuant to Section 465.014, F.S., in order to be registered as a pharmacy technician in Florida, an applicant must have completed a pharmacy technician training program approved by the Board. The standards for approval of a registered pharmacy technician training program are as follows.

(1) Preapproved pharmacy technician training programs. The standard for approval of Registered Pharmacy Technician Training programs provided or offered by accredited institutions or entities is whether the program or institution is accredited by one of the following organizations:

(a) Pharmacy technician training programs accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC);

(b) Pharmacy technician training programs accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education (ACPE);

(c) Pharmacy technician training programs accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP);

(d) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS);

(e) Pharmacy technician training programs approved on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE);

(f) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Council on Occupational Education (COE);

(g) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools;

(h) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education;

(i) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions;

(j) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges;

(k) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;

(l) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission;

(m) Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools;

(n)  Pharmacy technician training programs at institutions accredited on or before June April 1, 2018, by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

(2) Federal Armed Services programs. The standard for approval of pharmacy technician training programs provided by a branch of the federal armed services shall be whether the curriculum of such course was developed on or before June April 1, 2018.

(3) Other non-employer based programs. The standard for approval of all programs offered or accredited by an entity not listed in subsection (1) or (2), and which are not employer based programs, is whether the program:

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) Applies directly to the Board of Pharmacy on approved form DH-MQA 1239 “Application for Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.,” 04/17, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applications may be obtained from https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08275, or the Board of Pharmacy at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3254, or [phone], or the board’s website at http://floridaspharmacy.gov/Applications/app-reg-pharm-tech-prog.pdf.  All applications must include the following information:

1. through 3. No change.

(d) through (e) No change.

(4) Employer sponsored training programs. All other pharmacy technician training programs not identified in subsections (1) through (3) must be employer sponsored based. Any pharmacy technician training program sponsored by a Florida permitted pharmacy, or affiliated group of pharmacies under common ownership and, must contain a minimum of one hundred sixty (160) hours of training, which that extends over a period not to exceed six (6) months; is provided solely to employees of said pharmacy or affiliated group; and has been approved by the Board. An application for approval of a Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Program shall be made on Board of Pharmacy approved form DH-MQA 1239 “Application for Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs” 04/17. The applicant must attach to the application a copy of the curriculum or other course description. All employer based programs must:

(a) No change.

(b) Be provided solely to employees of the permitted pharmacy or affiliated group;

(c) Contain a minimum of one hundred sixty (160) hours of training, which shall not exceed six (6) months. Employer sponsored pharmacy technician training programs may request the program length exceed six (6) months in length under the following circumstances:

1. For programs containing a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) hours, the program length shall not exceed nine (9) months;

2. For programs containing a minimum of two hundred (200) hours, the program length shall not exceed twelve (12) months.

3. In no event shall the total length of the training program exceed twelve (12) months.

For programs of any length, the Program Director may extend participation in the program for an individual employee. In no event shall an employee’s training be extended more than six (6) months beyond the program’s length.

(b) through (c) re-designated (d) through (e) No change.

(f)(d) Designate a person Program Director to assume responsibility for registered pharmacy technician training program. If the contact person is not a licensed pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician, provision shall be made for insuring licensed pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician input in overall program planning and evaluation.

(e) through (h) re-designated (g) through (j) No change.

(k) Apply directly to the Board of Pharmacy on approved form DH-MQA 1239 “Application for Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.”

(5) Reenrollment in employer-sponsored training programs.  Any student who failed to complete an employer sponsored training program within the time periods established in paragraph (4)(c) must be terminated from the program.  After termination, the Program Director may allow a student to reenroll in the program, at the Program Director’s discretion and pursuant to the program’s written policies and procedures. Reenrolled students must complete the entire program, including all required program hours, and no coursework or hours previously completed may be carried forward into the subsequent enrollment.

(6) All applications for approval of a Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Program shall be made on approved form DH-MQA 1239 “Application for Registered Pharmacy Technician Training Programs,” 06/18, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applications may be obtained from https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-         , or the Board of Pharmacy at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3254, [phone], or the board’s website at http://floridaspharmacy.gov/Applications/app-reg-pharm-tech-prog.pdf, and must include the items required by subsections (3) or (4), above.

Rulemaking Authority 465.005, 465.014(4), (7) FS. Law Implemented 465.014(2), (4) FS. History–New 6-23-10, Amended 11-17-11, 6-19-17,            .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Pharmacy

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Pharmacy

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 12, 2018

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 23, 2018