(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

1. (a) An individual licensed as a registered pharmacy technician under this Act may be licensed as a registered certified pharmacy technician, if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

   1. (1) He or she has submitted a written application in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.
   2. (2) He or she has attained the age of 18.
   3. (3) He or she is of good moral character, as determined by the Department.
   4. (4) Beginning on January 1, 2024, a new pharmacy technician is required to have (i) graduated from a pharmacy technician training program that meets the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of Section 17.1 of this Act or (ii) obtained documentation from the pharmacist-in-charge of the pharmacy where the applicant is employed verifying that he or she has successfully completed a standardized nationally accredited education and training program, and has successfully completed an objective assessment mechanism prepared in accordance with rules established by the Department.
   5. (5) He or she has successfully passed an examination accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, as approved and required by the Board or by rule.
   6. (6) He or she has paid the required licensure fees.
2. (b) No pharmacist whose license has been denied, revoked, suspended, or restricted for disciplinary purposes may be eligible to be registered as a certified pharmacy technician unless authorized by order of the Department as a condition of restoration from revocation, suspension, or restriction.
3. (c) The Department may, by rule, establish any additional requirements for licensure under this Section.
4. (d) A person who is not a licensed registered pharmacy technician and meets the requirements of this Section may be licensed as a registered certified pharmacy technician without first being licensed as a registered pharmacy technician.

5. (e) As a condition for the renewal of a license as a registered certified pharmacy technician, the licensee shall provide evidence to the Department of completion of a total of 20 hours of continuing pharmacy education during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the certificate as established by rule. One hour of continuing pharmacy education must be in the subject of pharmacy law. One hour of continuing pharmacy education must be in the subject of patient safety. The continuing education shall be approved by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education.

   The Department may establish by rule a means for the verification of completion of the continuing education required by this subsection (e). This verification may be accomplished through audits of records maintained by licensees, by requiring the filing of continuing education certificates with the Department or a qualified organization selected by the Department to maintain such records, or by other means established by the Department.

   The Department may, by rule, further provide an orderly process for the restoration of a license that has not been renewed due to the failure to meet the continuing pharmacy education requirements of this subsection (e). The Department may waive the requirements of continuing pharmacy education, in whole or in part, in cases of extreme hardship as defined by rule of the Department. The waivers may be granted for not more than one of any 2 consecutive renewal periods.

(Source: P.A. 101-621, eff. 1-1-20; 102-643, eff. 8-27-21; 102-882, eff. 1-1-23.)