The RPSGB is to regulate all pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales from July 1, following legislation changes passed on May 13.
The legal changes mean pharmacy technicians are acknowledged as members of a health profession recognised in statute.
To ease the transition for current non-members, the Society has introduced a two year 'grand-parenting' period.
Technicians with relevant work experience or vocational qualifications will be able to register until June 30 2011. After this date only technicians with specific qualifications will be able to join the register.
Janet Flint, head of support staff regulation at the Society, welcomed the change as an indication of the increasing role pharmacy technicians play.
“We have been lobbying for statutory regulation for some time and, as such, have made comprehensive preparations for its introduction,” she said.
The changes follow the Privy Council’s approval of the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 on Wednesday.
What the changes mean
- Managers need to check the qualifications of dispensing staff and consider if registration is appropriate. The qualifications and work experience required for registration before July 1 2011 are listed on the RPSGB website.
- Applications to join the register as a pharmacy technician must be countersigned by a pharmacist. Guidelines for countersigning pharmacists can be found here.
- Staff who have not recently qualified should consider registering during the two-year window, as they may not be able to register without re-qualifying after July 1 2011.
- From July 1 2011, only staff with an NVQ or SVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services who have completed a knowledge programme approved or accredited by the Society will be allowed to register.
- Staff who are not registered with the regulator from July 2011 will be breaking the law if they refer to themselves as a pharmacy technician. The restricted title during the two-year transition will be registered pharmacy technician.
