(a) To be eligible for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee to assist in the practice of pharmacist care, the applicant shall:

(1) Submit a written application to the board;

(2) Pay the applicable fees;

(3) (A) Have graduated from a high school or obtained a Certificate of General Educational Development (GED), or

(B) Be currently enrolled in a high school competency based pharmacy technician education and training program;

(4) (A) Be currently enrolled in a competency-based pharmacy technician education and training program of a learning institution or training center approved by the board; or

(B) Be an employee of a pharmacy in an on-the-job competency-based pharmacy technician training program.

(5) Not be an alcohol or drug abuser as these terms are defined in section 11, article one-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code: Provided, That an applicant in an active recovery process, which may, in the discretion of the board, be evidenced by participation in a twelve-step program or other similar group or process, may be considered;

(6) Not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction within ten years preceding the date of application for registration, which conviction remains unreversed;

(7) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in any jurisdiction which bears a rational nexus to the practice of pharmacist care, which conviction remains unreversed; and

(8) Have requested and submitted to the board the results of a fingerprint-based state and a national electronic criminal history records check.

(b) The rules, authorized duties and unauthorized prohibitions as set out in section twelve of this article for pharmacy technicians apply to pharmacy technician trainees.

(c) The board shall promulgate an emergency rule and legislative rule pursuant article two, chapter twenty-nine-a, to authorize the requirements of this section to permit pharmacy technician trainees.