1. (a) Alternative registration procedure. For the purpose of §55.004, Occupations Code, an applicant for a pharmacy technician registration who is the spouse of a person serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States may complete the following alternative procedures for registering as a pharmacy technician.

   1. (1) An applicant who holds a current registration as a pharmacy technician issued by another state but does not have a current PTCB certificate shall meet the requirements for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee as specified in §297.3 of this chapter (relating to Registration Requirements).

   2. (2) An applicant who held a pharmacy technician registration in Texas that expired within the five years preceding the application date and the registration expired while the applicant lived in another state for at least six months who meets the following requirements may be granted a pharmacy technician registration. The applicant:

      1. (A) shall complete the Texas application for registration that includes the following:

         1. (i) name;
         2. (ii) addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, and social security number; however, if an individual is unable to obtain a social security number, an individual taxpayer identification number may be provided in lieu of a social security number along with documentation indicating why the individual is unable to obtain a social security number; and
         3. (iii) any other information requested on the application;

      2. (B) shall provide documentation that the applicant is the spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States to include:

         1. (i) marriage certificate; and

         2. (ii) military identification indicating that the:

            1. (I) applicant is a military dependent; and
            2. (II) applicant's spouse is on active duty status;
      3. (C) shall pay the registration fee set out in §297.4 of this title;
      4. (D) shall meet all necessary requirements in order for the board to access the criminal history records information, including submitting fingerprint information and such criminal history check does not reveal any charge or conviction for a crime that §281.64 of this title (relating to Sanctions for Criminal Offenses) indicates a sanction of denial, revocation, or suspension; and
      5. (E) is not required to have a current PTCB certificate.

2. (b) Expedited registration procedure. For the purpose of §55.005, Occupations Code, an applicant for a pharmacy technician registration who is the spouse of a person serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States and who holds a current registration as a pharmacy technician issued by another state may complete the following expedited procedures for registering as a pharmacy technician.

   1. (1) The applicant shall:

      1. (A) have a high school or equivalent diploma (e.g., GED), or be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma. For the purpose of this clause, an applicant for registration may be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma for no more than two years; and
      2. (B) have taken and passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination or other examination approved by the board and have a current certification certificate; and

      3. (C) complete the Texas application for registration that includes the following information:

         1. (i) name;
         2. (ii) addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, and social security number; however, if an individual is unable to obtain a social security number, an individual taxpayer identification number may be provided in lieu of a social security number along with documentation indicating why the individual is unable to obtain a social security number; and
         3. (iii) any other information requested on the application.
      4. (D) meet all requirements necessary in order for the Board to access the criminal history record information, including submitting fingerprint information and paying the required fees; and
      5. (E) pay the registration fee as specified in §297.4 of this title (relating to Fees).
   2. (2) Once an applicant has successfully completed all requirements of registration, and the board has determined there are no grounds to refuse registration, the applicant will be notified of registration as a registered pharmacy technician and of his or her pharmacy technician registration number.
   3. (3) All applicants for renewal of an expedited pharmacy technician registration issued to a military spouse shall comply with the renewal procedures as specified in §297.3 of this title (relating to Registration Requirements).

Source Note:The provisions of this §297.10 adopted to be effective March 13, 2012, 37 TexReg 1706; amended to be effective January 7, 2014, 39 TexReg 78.