Washington Administrative Code

(1) An individual who is enrolled in a commission-approved pharmacy-technician training program shall obtain an endorsement for experiential training in a pharmacy for:(a) Initial certification; or(b) As required by the commission to complete additional practice experience before…

(1) An applicant for a pharmacy technician certification shall be 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED.(2) To be issued a certification as a pharmacy technician an applicant shall meet the qualifications in RCW 18.64A.020, and:(a) Provide proof of completion of e…

A military spouse or state registered domestic partner of a member of the military may receive a temporary practice permit while completing any specific additional requirements that are not related to training or practice standards for a pharmacy technician certification. The com…

A pharmacy technician-training program must meet the minimum requirements of this section and be approved by the commission.(1) A pharmacy technician-training program shall be considered approved by the commission if it is accredited, approved, or administered by:(a) The American…

To return to active status a pharmacy technician with an expired certification shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with WAC 246-945-990 through 246-945-992, and:(1) If a pharmacy technician's certification has expired for five years or less, the pharmacy technician shall …

(1) As part of the process to renew a pharmacy technician license, a pharmacy technician shall complete continuing education in compliance with this section.(2) A pharmacy technician shall complete 20 hours of continuing education each certification renewal cycle. The 20 hours of…

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout WAC 246-945-230 through 246-945-247 unless otherwise specified:(a) "License" includes "licensing," "licensure," "certificate," "certification," and "registration."(b) "Facility" includes pharmacies, nonresident pharmacies, h…

Any pharmaceutical firm credentialed by the commission must report to the commission any disciplinary action, including denial, revocation, suspension, or restriction to practice by another state, federal, or foreign authority within 30 calendar days of the determination or findi…

The commission shall issue a pharmacy license to an applicant that:(1) Is in compliance with WAC 246-945-230;(2) Has a designated responsible pharmacy manager; and(3) If a pharmacy is new or remodeled, the applicant has provided the commission evidence of being built or remodeled…

(1) A parent hospital pharmacy may add or delete a hospital pharmacy associated clinic (HPAC) to a hospital pharmacy license at any time in compliance with WAC 246-945-230 (2)(a), (b), and (d).(2) The HPAC must designate a responsible pharmacy manager and notify the commission of…

The commission shall issue a nonresident pharmacy license to an applicant that:(1) Provides all information required by RCW 18.64.360;(2) Is in compliance with WAC 246-945-230;(3) Has identified a responsible pharmacy manager, whose license is in good standing in the U.S. jurisdi…

(1) The commission shall issue a health care entity license to an applicant that:(a) Is in compliance with WAC 246-945-230; and(b) Has designated a responsible pharmacy manager.(2) An organization (e.g., a clinic) must obtain a separate license for each of its locations. One orga…

(1) Every wholesaler who engages in wholesale distribution into, out of, or within Washington state must be licensed by the commission before engaging in wholesale distribution of drugs. Entities required to be licensed as a wholesaler includes:(a) In-state and out-of-state pharm…

(1) An entity located in Washington state that manufactures drugs must be licensed by the commission in accordance with the laws and regulations of Washington state before engaging in manufacturing.(2) The commission shall issue a manufacturer license to an applicant that is in c…

(1) Applicants for initial registration and renewal for researcher or other controlled substance registrations shall submit to the commission a complete application with fees relevant to the registration type. (a) Researcher:(i) Noncontrolled legend drugs; or(ii) Researchers requ…

(1) A shopkeeper registration is issued to a business license authorizing the holder to purchase, possess, and sell over-the-counter medications as defined in RCW 18.64.044 and chapter 69.43 RCW, if applicable.(2) A business entity with a licensed pharmacy with different operatin…

(1) Humane societies and animal control agencies registered with the commission under RCW 69.50.310 may purchase, possess, and administer sodium pentobarbital and approved legend drugs as provided in RCW 69.41.080.(2) To apply for registration, a humane society or animal control …

(1) The department of fish and wildlife may apply to the commission for a limited registration under chapters 69.50 and 69.41 RCW to purchase, possess, and administer controlled substances and legend drugs for use in chemical capture programs.(2) Each department of fish and wildl…

(1) A pharmacist shall be knowledgeable of, and comply with, all applicable rules and laws.(2) A pharmacist is responsible for providing patients with safe and appropriate medication therapy.(3) A pharmacist shall be responsible for any delegated act performed by pharmacy interns…

The responsible pharmacy manager must be licensed to practice pharmacy in the state of Washington. The responsible pharmacy manager designated by a facility as required under WAC 246-945-410 shall have the authority and responsibility to assure that the area(s) within the facilit…

(1) All delegated pharmacy functions shall be performed under a pharmacist's immediate supervision. A pharmacist, as an adjunct to assist in the immediate supervision of the pharmacy ancillary personnel or intern, may employ technological means to communicate with or observe the …

(1) "Verification" as used in this section means the pharmacist has reviewed a patient prescription initiated by an authorized prescriber, has examined the patient's drug profile, and has approved the prescription after taking into account pertinent drug and disease information t…

(1) A pharmacist shall not delegate the following to ancillary personnel:(a) Receipt or transfer of a verbal prescription other than refill authorization from a prescriber.(b) Consultation with the patient regarding the prescription, both prior to and after the prescription filli…

(1) The pharmacist shall offer to counsel:(a) Upon the initial fill of a prescription for a new or change of therapy.(b) When the pharmacist using their professional judgment determines counseling is necessary to promote safe and effective use and to facilitate an appropriate the…

(1) A prescription may be refilled when permitted by state and federal law and only as authorized by the prescriber.(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, a pharmacist may renew a prescription for a noncontrolled legend drug one time in a six-month period when …

When the governor issues an emergency proclamation for an event which prevents continuity of health care for persons and animals because their prescribed medications are no longer available to them due to the emergency event, pharmacists and pharmacies may provide emergency presc…

Upon patient consent, a pharmacist may adapt drugs as specified in this rule, provided that the prescriber has not indicated that adaptation is not permitted.(1) Change quantity. A pharmacist may change the quantity of medication prescribed if:(a) The prescribed quantity or packa…

(1) A pharmacist may substitute a drug or biologic product dispensed pursuant to a prescription if in compliance with applicable laws and rules.(2) A pharmacist may substitute a drug product or a biologic product when any of the following applies:(a) The substitution is permitted…

(1) Upon request by a patient or an authorized representative of a patient, a noncontrolled prescription shall be transferred within the limits of state and federal law.(2) Pharmacies shall transfer noncontrolled prescription information within three business days of receiving th…

(1) Upon request by a patient or an authorized representative of the patient, a controlled substance prescription shall be transferred within the limits of state and federal law including, but not limited to, the requirements of 21 C.F.R. Secs. 1306.08 and 1306.25.(2) Pharmacies …

(1) A pharmacist exercising prescriptive authority in their practice must have a valid CDTA on file with the commission and their practice location.(2) A CDTA must include:(a) A statement identifying the practitioner authorized to prescribe and the name of each pharmacist who is …

In the absence of a CDTA, the term "monitoring drug therapy" used in RCW 18.64.011 shall mean a review of the drug therapy regimen of patients by a pharmacist for the purpose of evaluating or rendering advice to the prescribing practitioner or patient regarding the patients drug …

Any person authorized to practice or assist in the practice of pharmacy shall not engage in any of the following:(1) Destroy unfilled lawful prescription;(2) Refuse to return unfilled lawful prescriptions;(3) Violate a patient's privacy;(4) Discriminate against patients or their …

(1) The commission will approve recovery, assistance and monitoring programs under RCW 18.130.175 for its credential holders.(2) For the purposes of RCW 18.130.175(1), the commission will consider a licensee to have not successfully completed the program if they are discharged fr…

(1) A pharmacy health care practitioner must not engage, or attempt to engage, in sexual misconduct with a current patient, client, or key party, inside or outside the health care setting. Sexual misconduct shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action.(2) Practitioner under t…

(1) The rules in this chapter apply to pharmacies, health care entities (HCE), and hospital pharmacy associated clinics (HPAC).(2) Unless specified, the term "facility" as used in this part includes pharmacies, HCEs, and HPACs.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005, 18.64.080, 18.13…

A facility must meet the following minimum requirements:(1) The facility shall be constructed and equipped with adequate security to protect equipment, records, and supply of drugs, devices, and other restricted sale items from unauthorized access, acquisition, or use.(2) The fac…

(1) A pharmacy may deliver filled prescriptions as long as appropriate measures are taken to ensure product integrity and receipt by the patient or patient's agent.(2) Pharmacies have a duty to deliver lawfully prescribed drugs or devices to patients and to distribute drugs and d…

(1) A pharmacy shall use an electronic recordkeeping system to establish and store patient medication records, including patient allergies, idiosyncrasies or chronic conditions, and prescription, refill, transfer information, and other information necessary to provide safe and ap…

If an HPAC or HCE does not maintain an electronic recordkeeping system their manual records must contain all information required in WAC 246-945-417. The record system consists of the hard copy of the original prescription and a card or filing procedure that contains all data on …

(1) A facility shall conduct its own separate inventory of prescription drugs when it closes in accordance WAC 246-945-480.(2) A facility shall conduct an inventory of controlled substances every two years.(3) A facility shall conduct its own separate inventory of controlled subs…

Pharmacy services may be provided off-site at one or more locations. When the services being performed are related to prescription fulfillment or processing, the pharmacy or pharmacist must comply with the following:(1) Long term care shared pharmacy services in accordance with R…

(1) The following requirements apply to pharmacies storing, dispensing and delivering drugs to patients without a pharmacist on-site and are in addition to applicable state and federal laws applying to pharmacies.(2) The pharmacy is required to have adequate visual surveillance o…

(1) The responsible pharmacy manager of a hospital or free standing emergency department may, in collaboration with the appropriate medical staff committee of the hospital, develop policies and procedures to provide discharge medications to patients released from hospital emergen…

Facilities shall develop written policies and procedures for the administration of patient owned medications.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.64.005, 18.64.080, 18.130.075, 18.64.043, 18.64.044, 18.64.045, 18.64.046, 18.64.370, 18.64.460, 69.50.310, 18.64.011, 18.64.245, 18.64.470, 1…

(1) The responsible pharmacy manager or their designee is responsible for the storage, distribution, and control of approved investigational drugs used in an institutional facility. The pharmacy shall be responsible for maintaining and providing information on approved investigat…

(1) Nursing students may be given access privileges to technology used to dispense medications for patient administration as provided for in this section.(2) Nursing students must be enrolled in a nursing program approved by the Washington state nursing care quality assurance com…

(1) In order for drugs to be stored in a designated area outside the pharmacy including, but not limited to, floor stock, in an emergency cabinet, in an emergency kit, or as emergency outpatient drug delivery from an emergency department at a registered institutional facility, th…

A pharmacy may extend its license to register a remote dispensing site where technology is used to dispense medications used for treatment of opioid use disorder or its symptoms. A pharmacy holding this registration is the supplying pharmacy and must comply with subsections (1) t…

(1) The ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacist(s) on duty is to be determined by the responsible pharmacy manager.(2) The responsible pharmacy manager will ensure that the number of pharmacy technicians on duty can be satisfactorily supervised by the pharmacist(s) on duty.[S…