Article 137-A of the New York State Education Law, which established the registered pharmacy technician profession, became effective April 25, 2021.
Individuals who are licensed to practice as a registered pharmacy technician under Article 137-A of the New York State Education Law can practice as a registered pharmacy technician or use the title “registered pharmacy technician.”
A “scope of practice” defines the services and activities that individuals are legally allowed to perform within a particular profession. Only those who are licensed and registered in accordance with the law may carry out these duties.
The scope of practice of registered pharmacy technicians is established and defined in Article 137-A of the New York State Education Law.
In accordance with the law, registered pharmacy technicians are permitted to assist licensed pharmacists with specific tasks that do not require the exercise of professional judgment, provided that the technician is working under the direct and personal supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
These tasks include assisting a licensed pharmacist in the compounding, preparing, labeling, and dispensing of drugs to fill valid prescriptions or medication orders or in anticipation of receiving a valid prescription or medication order for a known patient of the pharmacy.
It is the responsibility of the registered pharmacy employing the registered pharmacy technician to verify that the registered pharmacy technician has completed the necessary training to ensure their competence before they begin to assist a licensed pharmacist in compounding, preparing, labeling, or dispensing medications, in accordance with Articles 137-A and 137 of the Education Law.
For the purposes of Article 137-A of the Education Law. The intent of the term ". . . direct personal supervision. . ." 1 is to require a supervising pharmacist to observe the work of the Registered Pharmacy Technician in person and in real time, with direct line of sight to witness any activities that require sterile compounding, and to confirm the accuracy of the work performed by a Registered Pharmacy Technician. Technology, including the use of still pictures, may be used to supplement supervision, but does not substitute for the direct observation of sterile compounding procedures or confirmation of the accuracy of the product. In instances where maintaining a direct line of sight at all times is not feasible, a supervising pharmacist must be present within the registered area of the pharmacy and be able to readily observe, direct and assist the Registered Pharmacy Technician in accordance with any applicable official guidelines pertaining to compounding. Pursuant to Education Law §6841(1), a supervising licensed pharmacist must approve all work performed by the Registered Pharmacy Technician prior to the actual dispensing of any drug.
1NYS Ed Law § 6841(1) & (3).
Yes. In addition to the tasks included in the registered pharmacy technician’s scope of practice under Education Law §6841(1), registered pharmacy technicians are also permitted under Education Law §6841(2) to assist a licensed pharmacist with certain dispensing functions that do not require licensure, such as:
A registered pharmacy technician is permitted to practice in a registered pharmacy while under the direct, personal supervision of a licensed pharmacist employed by such pharmacy.
No. An individual who is licensed as a registered pharmacy technician can only practice as a registered pharmacy technician and use that title in a registered pharmacy and under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
A licensed pharmacist may supervise a maximum of four individuals, in any registered pharmacy setting, at one time.
A licensed pharmacist can supervise no more than two registered pharmacy technicians at one time.
Yes. The supervisory ratio applicable to registered pharmacy technicians depends on both their title and the scope of practice of the tasks being performed. A pharmacist may supervise up to two registered pharmacy technicians performing duties within the scope of practice specific to registered pharmacy technicians, and may supervise two additional registered pharmacy technicians provided those two additional individuals are only performing tasks that may be completed by unlicensed personnel.
Yes. All employees working in a registered pharmacy must wear a conspicuously displayed and legible name badge identifying their name and professional title. The title displayed should reflect the scope of practice under which the individual is currently performing duties.
For example, if a registered pharmacy technician is performing tasks within the scope of practice specific to registered pharmacy technicians, their name badge should list their name followed by the title “Registered Pharmacy Technician.” However, if a registered pharmacy technician is only performing duties that may be completed by unlicensed personnel, the name badge should identify the individual by name and an appropriate position title reflecting that role.
No. Pharmacy interns are exempt from this supervisory ratio.
However, each licensed pharmacist can supervise only one full-time pharmacy intern or up to two part-time pharmacy interns at a time.
You can find out if your license has been issued on the Department’s online verification webpage.
Yes. In New York State, upon satisfying the licensure eligibility requirements, a "license" is awarded. Licensure is for life unless suspended, revoked, or annulled for reasons of misconduct.
In order to practice as a registered pharmacy technician in New York State and use the title “registered pharmacy technician”, a licensee must be currently "registered". Registration is for a three-year period, except for the first registration renewal after licensure, which is prorated to move licensees to month of birth renewal.
A registration is valid for three-years, and the first renewal is prorated so that future renewals align with the licensee’s birth month.
You can find out the end date of your current registration period on the Department’s online verification webpage.
While national certification is not required for registration renewal purposes, §29.1(b)(9) of the Rules of the Board of Regents requires licensees to be professionally competent in the tasks which they perform. One way that registered pharmacy technicians can help to ensure competency is by maintaining their national certification.
To be licensed as a registered pharmacy technician, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
You can find forms and application submission instructions on the Registered Pharmacy Technician forms page.
In addition to a high school diploma, the Department has determined that New York State’s four pathways to a high school equivalency diploma are the equivalent to a high school graduation for licensure purposes.
Also, instead of a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma, the Department will accept an official college transcript, which reflects the conferral of an associate’s or higher degree, or at least 30 semester credits, or the equivalent, of academic study awarded by an acceptable college or university holding the proper accreditation and/or appropriate government recognition, as determined by the Department.
Currently, the Department will only accept certification from either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
No. Article 137-A of Education Law does not contain a grandparenting licensure pathway for individuals seeking to become licensed as registered pharmacy technicians. Thus, all applicants for licensure as registered pharmacy technicians must meet the licensure requirements contained in Education Law §6844 and listed in FAQ 20 These licensure requirements also apply to individuals who already have PTCB or NHA certification.