[§461-9.5]  Registered pharmacy technicians; certificate of registration required.  (a)  Beginning January 1, 2026, no person shall act as a pharmacy technician without first obtaining a valid certificate of registration issued by the board pursuant to this section.

     (b)  Each certificate of registration shall be valid through December 31 of each odd-numbered year, upon which the registration shall lapse and a new registration shall be required.

     (c)  Beginning January 1, 2026, a pharmacy shall only employ registered pharmacy technicians to perform pharmacy technician duties.  The pharmacist-in-charge shall verify that the person is a registered pharmacy technician and that the board has issued a certificate of registration for the pharmacy technician before the registered pharmacy technician performs any tasks identified in this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.  The supervising registered pharmacist shall be responsible for the actions of the registered pharmacy technician.

     (d)  The certificate of registration shall be prominently displayed in an area accessible to the public in the workplace where the registered pharmacy technician is employed or practices.

     (e)  If the registered pharmacy technician is suspected to have violated any law or rule regarding the practice of pharmacy, legend drugs, or controlled substances, or if there is evidence that a registered pharmacy technician may have violated any such law or rule, the pharmacist-in-charge shall notify the board, in writing, within ten days or immediately if any danger to the public health or safety exists.  Any registered pharmacist, whether or not practicing in the same pharmacy, who has knowledge or suspicion of a registered pharmacy technician who is in violation of any law or rule regarding the practice of pharmacy, legend drugs, or controlled substances shall notify the board, in writing, within ten days or immediately if any danger to the public health or safety exists. [L 2025, c 93, §1]