Kentucky Pharmacy Technician Regulations Updated

Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Issued October 22, 2025 Regulation Update: Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities Recent amendments to 201 Kentucky Administrative Regulations 2:045 and 2:165 have impacted pharmacy practice and how technicians assist pharmacists in that practice. These changes clarify technician roles, delegate new responsibilities to certified technicians, and maintain patient safety through pharmacist oversight. 201 KAR 2:045: The amendment to 201 KAR 2:045--the administrative regulation outlining the qualifications, responsibilities, and scope for pharmacy technicians in the Commonwealth--aims to clarify technician roles, ensure appropriate pharmacist oversight, and centralize requirements for initial pharmacy technician applications. Key Changes: 1. This amendment consolidates information regarding the initial technician registration application. In addition to general identification and contact information, the applicant must also provide information concerning disciplinary actions, out-of-state licensures, national certifications, and intent to seek registration as a charitable pharmacy technician. The most significant change to this portion of the regulation is the requirement for all technicians to register for an National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) e- profile. Creating an NABP e-profile An NABP e-profile provides a centralized location to store career and compliance information in an easily accessible and secure platform. When preparing to register, have this information ready: legal name, profession, sex, race/ethnicity, date of birth, social

security number, address, phone number, and any licenses. To register for an e-profile, follow this link: NABP e-Profile and the steps below: i. Once you have followed the link, select “Individual or Business Customers.” ii. Select “Create Login.” iii. Enter a valid email address to serve as your username and follow the prompts to verify your account and create a password that meets the specified requirements. iv. Upon successful completion of these tasks, select “Go to Login” to return to main login screen. v. Entering your new username and password will direct you to the NABP e-profile dashboard. vi. Select “Create Individual E-Profile” to setup your account. vii. Choose your profession based on current status. viii. Enter personal information and contact details. Be sure to enter your name exactly how it appears on your ID. ix. Review your information for accuracy and accept the terms and conditions. x. Your new NABP e-profile ID will appear on the screen. xi. Select “Finish e-profile” to fill in license and education details. 2. The amended regulation distinctly separates certified and registered technicians and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each with the corresponding level of supervision required. Registered Pharmacy Technicians Registered technicians are those who have completed the Board’s registration process, but do not hold a national certification. Registered technicians may perform a wide range of functions within the pharmacy, including compounding activities, order entry, label preparation, counting medications, making an offer to counsel, refill authorizations with certain limitations, automated dispensing tasks, and a few additional tasks under immediate supervision as defined in KRS 315.010 (12). A registered technician may also perform order entry from a location outside the permitted pharmacy under electronic supervision as defined in 201 KAR 2:480. Lastly, under general supervision as defined in KRS 315.010 (27), a registered technician may administer vaccines and point-of-care tests as long as training and CPR requirements are met, as well as stock an automated dispensing system in residential hospice facilities if a pharmacist is present on-site. Certified Pharmacy Technicians

Certified technicians may operate under general supervision and can complete all tasks assigned to registered technicians as well as any additional task that is delegated by the supervising pharmacist excluding tasks that involve patient counseling, drug utilization review (DUR), interpretation of orders and prescriptions, final product verification, receipt of new verbal orders or prescriptions, or any other act requiring professional judgement. An important modification to the role of pharmacy technician involves stocking and loading an automated filling or dispensing system. With the amendment, registered technicians may only perform this action with the assistance of barcode scanning technology. If loading an automated system requires bypassing the barcode scanning technology, this action must be performed by a supervising pharmacist. Alternatively, this task may be delegated to a certified technician if, in the pharmacist’s professional judgement, it can be performed safely and accurately. These changes reflect a growing emphasis on technician responsibility while ensuring patient safety through pharmacist accountability. 201 KAR 2:165: The purpose of the amendment to 201 KAR 2:165--the regulation outlining how prescription information may be transferred between pharmacies--is to expand the tasks that may be delegated to certified pharmacy technicians. Under the amendment, a certified pharmacy technician working under the general supervision of a pharmacist may transfer a noncontrolled substance prescription that has been filled and dispensed at least once. To ensure safety and accuracy, any verbal transfers given or received by a certified technician must have documentation that the prescription information was “read back and verified.” While 201 KAR 2:045 outlines the expanded responsibilities of certified pharmacy technicians, 201 KAR 2:165 establishes a mechanism for executing these responsibilities and may help reduce pharmacist workload when the task is appropriately delegated. Pharmacists and technicians should review the updated regulations closely to ensure compliance and optimize workflow in their practice settings. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/201/002/045/REG/ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/201/002/165/REG/