Section R4-23-1106. Continuing Education Requirements

A.      General. According to A.R.S. § 32-1925(I), the Board shall not renew a pharmacy technician license unless the applicant has during the two years preceding the application for renewal:

1.        Participated in 20 contact hours or two CEUs of continu- ing education activity sponsored by an Approved Pro- vider defined in R4-23-110, and

2.        At least two of the contact hours or 0.2 of the CEUs are approved courses in pharmacy law. For a pharmacy tech- nician licensed less than 24 months the continuing educa- tion contact hours  are calculated by  multiplying 0.83 hours times the number of months between the date of initial licensure and the licensee’s next license renewal date.

B.       Valid CEUs. The Board shall:

1.        Only accept CEUs for continuing education activities sponsored by an Approved Provider;

2.        Only accept CEUs accrued during the two-year period immediately before licensure renewal;

3.        Not allow CEUs accrued in a biennial renewal period in excess of the required two CEUs to be carried forward to the succeeding biennial renewal period;

4.        Allow a pharmacy technician who leads, instructs, or lec- tures to a group of health professionals on pharmacy- related topics in continuing  education activities spon- sored by an Approved Provider to receive CEUs for a presentation by following the same attendance  proce- dures as any other attendee of the continuing education activity; and

5.        Not accept as a CEU a pharmacy technician’s normal teaching duties within a learning institution if the phar- macy technician’s primary responsibility is the education of health professionals.

C.      Continuing education records and reporting CEUs. A phar- macy technician shall:

1.        Maintain continuing education records that:

a.         Verify the continuing education activities the phar- macy technician participated in during the preceding five years; and

b.        Consist of a statement of credit or a certificate issued by an Approved Provider at the conclusion of a con- tinuing education activity;

2.        At the time of licensure renewal, attest to the number of CEUs the pharmacy technician participated in during the renewal period on the biennial renewal form; and

3.        When requested by the Board office, submit proof of con- tinuing education participation within 20 days of the request.

D.      The Board shall deem a pharmacy technician’s failure to com- ply with the continuing education participation, recording, or reporting requirements of this Section as unprofessional con- duct and grounds for disciplinary action by the Board under A.R.S. § 32-1927.01.

E.       A pharmacy technician who is aggrieved by any decision of the Board concerning continuing education units may request a hearing before the Board.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R.

1105, effective April 30, 2005 (Supp. 05-1).