(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a pharmacy technician trainee may be placed in a pharmacy to complete an externship for the purpose of obtaining practical training required to become licensed as a pharmacy technician.

(b) (1) A pharmacy technician trainee participating in an externship as described in subdivision (a) may perform the duties described in subdivision (a) of Section 4115 only under the direct supervision and control of a pharmacist.

(2) A pharmacist supervising a pharmacy technician trainee participating in an externship as described in subdivision (a) shall be directly responsible for the conduct of the trainee.

(3) A pharmacist supervising a pharmacy technician trainee participating in an externship as described in subdivision (a) shall verify any prescription prepared by the trainee under supervision of the pharmacist by initialing the prescription label before the medication is disbursed to a patient or by engaging in other verification procedures that are specifically approved by board regulations.

(4) A pharmacist may only supervise one pharmacy technician trainee at any given time.

(5) A pharmacist supervising a pharmacy technician trainee participating in an externship as described in subdivision (a) shall certify attendance for the pharmacy technician trainee and certify that the pharmacy technician trainee has met the educational objectives established by a California public postsecondary education institution or the private postsecondary vocational institution in which the trainee is enrolled, as established by the institution.

(c) (1) Except as described in paragraph (2), an externship in which a pharmacy technician trainee is participating as described in subdivision (a) shall be for a period of no fewer than 120 hours and no more than 140 hours.

(2) When an externship in which a pharmacy technician trainee is participating as described in subdivision (a) involves rotation between a community and hospital pharmacy for the purpose of training the student in distinct practice settings, the externship may be for a period of up to 340 hours.

(d) An externship in which a pharmacy technician trainee may participate as described in subdivision (a) shall be for a period of no more than six consecutive months in a community pharmacy and for a total of no more than 12 months if the externship involves rotation between a community and hospital pharmacy. The externship shall be completed while the trainee is enrolled in a course of instruction at the institution.

(e) A pharmacy technician trainee participating in an externship as described in subdivision (a) shall wear identification that indicates the pharmacy technician trainee’s status as a trainee.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 213, Sec. 1. (SB 655) Effective January 1, 2020.)