Code of Massachusetts Regulations
247 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN PHARMACY
Title 247 CMR 8.00 - Pharmacy Interns And Technicians
Section 8.02 - Pharmacy Technicians

Universal Citation: 247 MA Code of Regs 247.8

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) No individual may serve as a pharmacy technician without holding a valid pharmacy technician license from the Board.

(2) An application for a pharmacy technician license shall be made on forms prescribed by, and available from, the Board. The application shall include:

(a) the applicant's name;

(b) the applicant's address;

(c) the applicant's date of birth; and

(d) a recent passport-size photo revealing the applicant's likeness.

(3) An applicant for a pharmacy technician license shall:

(a) be at least 18 years of age or older;

(b) be a high school graduate or the equivalent or currently enrolled in a program which awards such degree or certificate;

(c) be of good moral character;

(d) not have been convicted of a drug related felony or admitted to sufficient facts to warrant such findings; and

(e) satisfy one of the following requirements:
1.hold certification conferred by a board approved certifying body;

2.hold a license as a pharmacy technician in another state provided that the requirements for licensure in the original state are substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Board and the license is in good standing at the time of the application; or

3.achieve a Board-approved passing score on a Board-approved pharmacy technician assessment examination after having successfully completed one of the following:
a.a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program, which training program shall include coverage of the topics of job descriptions, pharmacy security, commonly used medical abbreviations, routes of administration, product selection, final check by pharmacists, guidelines for the use of pharmacy technicians, and any other requirements of the Board; or

b.a minimum of 500 hours of employment as a pharmacy technician trainee. Documentation of completion of the required 500 hours of experience shall be attested to by the applicant under the pains and penalties of perjury and witnessed by the employer.

(4) A Board-approved training program may include:

(a) a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists;

(b) a pharmacy technician training program provided by a branch of the United States Armed Services or Public Health Service;

(c) a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program which includes a minimum of 120 hours of theoretical and 120 hours of practical instruction;

(d) any other pharmacy technician training course approved by the Board.

(5) A Board-approved examination shall cover the following knowledge based areas:

(a) practice settings;

(b) duties and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician in relationship to other pharmacy personnel;

(c) laws and regulations regarding the practice of pharmacy and patient confidentiality;

(d) medical abbreviations and symbols;

(e) common dosage calculations; and

(f) identification of drugs, dosages, routes of administration, and storage requirements.

(6) Pharmacy Technician Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) A pharmacy technician shall wear a name tag which indicates the individual's first name and the title "Pharmacy Technician."

(b) A pharmacy technician may relay to the patient or responsible person the pharmacist's "offer to counsel." as referenced in M.G.L. c. 94C, § 21A and 247 CMR 9.07(3): Patient Counseling.

(c) With the approval of the pharmacist on duty, a pharmacy technician may request and accept authorizations for refills from a prescriber or a prescriber's agent provided that no information has changed from the previous prescription.

(d) A pharmacy technician may not administer medications or vaccines, perform drug utilization review, conduct clinical conflict resolution, contact prescribers concerning therapy clarification or therapy modification, provide patient counseling, or perform final dispensing process validation.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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