1. (a) A pharmacy technician training program provided by a Board-approved program provider as set forth in subsection (b) shall be considered a Board-approved training program if, at a minimum, it covers and establishes competency testing in all of the following areas of pharmacy practice:

   1. (1) Roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy technician.
   2. (2) Knowledge of prescription medications.
   3. (3) Knowledge of strengths or dose, dosage forms, physical appearance, routes of administration and duration of drug therapy.
   4. (4) The dispensing process.
   5. (5) Pharmaceutical calculations.
   6. (6) Interacting with patients.
   7. (7) Third party procedures, payments and billing practices.
   8. (8) Compounding.
   9. (9) Confidentiality.
   10. (10) Requirements for preparing, labeling, dispensing, storing, prepackaging, distributing and administration of medications.
   11. (11) Hazardous drug handling and disposal.
   12. (12) Patient safety and error prevention strategies.
   13. (13) Diversion prevention.
   14. (14) Federal and State laws and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy.

2. (b) The following shall be considered a Board-approved program provider:

   1. (1) A pharmacy employer.
   2. (2) A program that holds a current accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education or their successor.
   3. (3) A Nationally recognized pharmacy technician training program including a program recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and National Healthcareer Association for admission to their respective certification exams.
   4. (4) An educational institution whose pharmacy technician training programs are Nationally or regionally accredited by the United States Department of Education.
   5. (5) The United States Armed Forces.
   6. (6) A school licensed by the State Board of Private Licensed Schools.
3. (c) A pharmacy employer that offers a pharmacy technician training program shall keep a readily accessible copy of the pharmacy technician training program, including details as to how the individual’s competency is to be assessed, in the pharmacy at all times. The pharmacist manager shall be responsible for providing the training program and ensuring that the training program meets the requirements under subsection (a). At the time of filing an application with the Board for registration as a pharmacy technician, the pharmacist manager shall certify, on a form provided by the Board, that the applicant has successfully completed the pharmacy technician training program. Documentation of the training shall be maintained at the pharmacy by the pharmacist manager.
4. (d) A pharmacy technician training program may be subject to audit to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. The provider of a training program subject to audit shall provide all requested documentation within 30 days of a request by the Board.

Authority

The provisions of this § 27.702 added under sections 6(k)(9) and 8.2(a) of the Pharmacy Act (63 P.S. § § 390-6(k)(9) and 390-8.2(a)); and section 810(a)(3) and (7) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 279.1(a)(3) and (7)).

Source

The provisions of this § 27.702 added June 27, 2025, effective June 28, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 4335.