Virginia Code 54.1-3320: Acts restricted to pharmacists.
A. Within the practice of pharmacy as defined in § 54.1-3300, the following acts shall be performed by pharmacists, except as provided in subsection B:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-3320
- Board: means the Board of Pharmacy. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
- Pharmacist: means a person holding a license issued by the Board to practice pharmacy. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
- Pharmacy: means every establishment or institution in which drugs, medicines, or medicinal chemicals are dispensed or offered for sale, or a sign is displayed bearing the word or words "pharmacist" "pharmacy" "apothecary" "drugstore" "druggist" "drugs" "medicine store" "drug sundries" "prescriptions filled" or any similar words intended to indicate that the practice of pharmacy is being conducted. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
- Pharmacy intern: means a student currently enrolled in or a graduate of an approved school of pharmacy who is registered with the Board for the purpose of gaining the practical experience required to apply for licensure as a pharmacist. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
- Pharmacy technician: means a person registered with the Board to assist a pharmacist under the pharmacist's supervision. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
- Supervision: means the direction and control by a pharmacist of the activities of a pharmacy intern or a pharmacy technician whereby the supervising pharmacist is physically present in the pharmacy or in the facility in which the pharmacy is located when the intern or technician is performing duties restricted to a pharmacy intern or technician, respectively, and is available for immediate oral communication. See Virginia Code 54.1-3300
1. The review of a prescription, in conformance with this chapter and Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of this title and with current practices in pharmacy, for its completeness, validity, safety, and drug-therapy appropriateness, including, but not limited to, interactions, contraindications, adverse effects, incorrect dosage or duration of treatment, clinical misuse or abuse, and noncompliance and duplication of therapy;
2. The receipt of an oral prescription from a practitioner or his authorized agent;
3. The conduct of a prospective drug review and counseling as required by § 54.1-3319 prior to the dispensing or refilling of any prescription;
4. The provision of information to the public or to a practitioner concerning the therapeutic value and use of drugs in the treatment and prevention of disease;
5. The communication with the prescriber, or the prescriber’s agent, involving any modification other than refill authorization of a prescription or of any drug therapy, resolution of any drug therapy problem, or the substitution of any drug prescribed, except for tasks that may be performed by a pharmacy technician as set forth in subdivisions A 7 and 8 of § 54.1-3321;
6. The verification of the accuracy of a completed prescription prior to dispensing the prescription;
7. The supervision of pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians; and
8. Any other activity required by regulation to be performed by a pharmacist.
B. A pharmacy intern may engage in the acts to be performed by a pharmacist as set forth in subsection A or the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) for the purpose of obtaining practical experience required for licensure as a pharmacist, if the supervising pharmacist is directly monitoring these activities.
C. A registered pharmacy technician, working under the direct supervision of a qualified nuclear pharmacist, as defined by regulations of the Board, may accept oral prescriptions for diagnostic, nonpatient specific radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with subsection C of § 54.1-3410.1.
D. Consistent with patient safety, a pharmacist shall exercise sole authority in determining the maximum number of pharmacy technicians that he shall supervise; however, no pharmacist shall supervise more pharmacy technicians than allowed by Board regulations.
2001, c. 317; 2005, c. 403; 2006, c. 626; 2010, c. 90; 2024, c. 214.