1. A. A pharmacy technician may not:

   1. (1) Represent themselves as a pharmacist;
   2. (2) Dispense prescription medications when the pharmacist is not in the pharmacy;
   3. (3) Be present in the pharmacy when the pharmacist is not physically available onsite;
   4. (4) Provide information, explanation, or recommendations to patients and health care practitioners about the safe and effective use of prescription or nonprescription drugs or devices;
   5. (5) Delegate a pharmacy act that was delegated to the pharmacy technician or individual engaging in a Board-approved technician training program;
   6. (6) Act within the parameters of a therapy management contract as provided under Health Occupations Article, Subtitle 6A, Annotated Code of Maryland;
   7. (7) Provide the final verification for accuracy, appropriateness, completeness, or validity of a filled prescription or medication order, except as provided for in Regulation .04 under this chapter;
   8. (8) Make decisions that require a pharmacist's professional judgment;
   9. (9) Clinically evaluate the patient's profile relative to the pharmaceuticals that have been or will be dispensed;
   10. (10) Consult with the patient concerning the utilization of their pharmaceuticals;
   11. (11) Accept or transcribe new prescriptions;
   12. (12) Give or accept a transferred prescription for controlled dangerous substances;
   13. (13) Accept a transferred prescription;
   14. (14) Independently compound prescriptions;
   15. (15) Administer medications;
   16. (16) Accept the return of prescription drugs or devices directly from a patient.
   17. (17) Administer an injectable medication; or
   18. (18) Except as provided in §B of this regulation, administer a vaccine.

2. B. Technician Administration of Certain Vaccines.

   1. (1) A registered pharmacy technician that meets the requirements set forth in §B(2) and (3) of this regulation, may administer the following vaccines as a delegated pharmacy act:

      1. (a) Coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza, or pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines to an individual 18 years old or older; or
      2. (b) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or herpes zoster vaccines to an individual 50 years old or older.

   2. (2) In order for a registered pharmacy technician to administer a vaccine, the registered pharmacy technician shall submit notification to the Board on a form that the Board requires attesting to the following:

      1. (a) Successful completion of a practical training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) that includes:

         1. (i) Hands-on injection technique;
         2. (ii) Clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines; and
         3. (iii) Recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines; and
      2. (b) Possession of an active certification in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) obtained through in-person classroom instruction.
   3. (3) A registered pharmacy technician may not administer a vaccine as a delegated pharmacy act until the registered pharmacy technician receives written confirmation from the Board accepting the notification form.
   4. (4) The delegating supervising pharmacist shall confirm that a registered pharmacy technician has met the requirements set forth in §B(2) and (3) of this regulation before delegating the administration of a vaccine to the registered pharmacy technician.
   5. (5) A pharmacy technician trainee may not administer a vaccine.
3. C. A pharmacy technician shall be clearly identified as such to the public;

4. D. When performing tasks in the prescription area, a pharmacy technician shall maintain proper:

   1. (1) Sanitation;
   2. (2) Hygiene;
   3. (3) Biohazard precautions; and
   4. (4) Infection control.

5. E. Off-Site Data Entry.

   1. (1) Except as provided in §E(2) of this regulation, a registered pharmacy technician shall perform delegated pharmacy acts under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

   2. (2) A registered pharmacy technician may perform prescription data entry at a remote location outside of a licensed pharmacy provided that:

      1. (a) The registered pharmacy technician has immediate electronic access to a supervising pharmacist who can assist as needed;
      2. (b) The data entry is not required to be performed by a pharmacist;
      3. (c) The data entry is appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the registered pharmacy technician and supervising pharmacist; and
      4. (d) If the data entry involves access to protected patient information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), it can be performed in a manner that maintains the confidentiality of patient information.

Authority: Health-Occupations Article, §§12-101, 12-205, 12-206, 12-315—12-317, 12-319, 12-320, 12-403, 12-505, 12-707, and 12-6B-01—12-6B-14, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127)

Regulation .05 amended effective July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569); February 12, 2018 (45:3 Md. R. 157)

Chapter revised effective January 28, 2024 (50:26 Md. R. 1132)

Regulation .02B amended effective November 11, 2024 (51:22 Md. R. 963)

Regulation .03 amended effective November 11, 2024 (51:22 Md. R. 963)

Regulation .07 amended effective November 11, 2024 (51:22 Md. R. 963)

Regulation .10A amended effective November 11, 2024 (51:22 Md. R. 963)