North Carolina News: Item 2167 - Pharmacist to Technician Ratios

July 1, 2008 3:48 pm Topics: Pharmacies and Pharmacy technicians

Reprinted from the July 2008 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

Board staff reminds pharmacist managers that the Pharmacy Practice Act states that the permissible ratio of pharmacists to technicians is 1:2. NCGS §90-85.15A(c). That ratio may be increased if “the additional pharmacy technicians have passed a nationally recognized pharmacy technician certification board exam” and the ratio increase is approved in advance by the Board. Id.

Board inspections continue frequently to reveal that pharmacies exceed the permissible ratio, oftentimes doing so even after being warned in a previous inspection to remedy the issue. Board staff members have been, and will continue to be, vigilant in enforcing this requirement and, where appropriate, disciplining pharmacist manager licenses and/or pharmacy permits for violations. The statutory ratio is a public safety measure.

Board staff has noticed as well that some applications for a pharmacist to technician ratio increase indicate that only a minimal number (including, sometimes, zero) technicians are certified. The technician statute plainly states that all additional technicians above the 1:2 pharmacist to technician ratio must be certified. Board staff has denied, and will continue to deny, applications for a ratio increase where it is clear that pharmacy shifts cannot possibly be covered by an adequate number of certified technicians as specified in the statute.