Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-7-712 - Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist Training

A. A licensee shall require the authorized nuclear pharmacist to be a pharmacist who:

1. Is certified as a nuclear pharmacist by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the Department, the NRC, or another Agreement State. To have its certification process recognized, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to:

a. Have graduated from a pharmacy program accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) or have passed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) examination;

b. Hold a current, active license to practice pharmacy in Arizona;

c. Provide evidence of having acquired at least 4000 hours of training/experience in nuclear pharmacy practice. Academic training may be substituted for no more than 2000 hours of the required training and experience; and

d. Pass an examination in nuclear pharmacy administered by diplomates of the specialty board, that assesses knowledge and competency in procurement, compounding, quality assurance, dispensing, distribution, health and safety, radiation safety, provision of information and consultation, monitoring patient outcomes, research and development; or

2. Has completed 700 hours in a structured educational program consisting of both:

a. 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas:

i. Radiation physics and instrumentation;

ii. Radiation protection;

iii. Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity;

iv. Chemistry of radioactive material for medical use; and

v. Radiation biology; and

b. Supervised practical experience in a nuclear pharmacy involving:

i. Shipping, receiving, and performing related radiation surveys;

ii. Using and performing checks for proper operation of instruments used to determine the activity of dosages, survey meters, and, if appropriate, instruments used to measure alpha- or beta-emitting radionuclides;

iii. Calculating, assaying, and safely preparing dosages for patients or human research subjects;

iv. Using administrative controls to avoid medical events in the administration of radioactive material; and

v. Using procedures to prevent or minimize radioactive contamination and using proper decontamination procedures; and

3. Has obtained written attestation, signed by a preceptor authorized nuclear pharmacist, that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in subsection (A)(2) and has achieved a level of competency sufficient to function independently as an authorized nuclear pharmacist.

B. Exceptions. An individual identified as a nuclear pharmacist on a Department, a NRC, or an Agreement State license or a permit issued by the NRC or an Agreement State broad scope licensee or master material license permit or by a master material license permittee of broad scope before the effective date of these rules need not comply with the training requirements in subsections (A)(1) through (A)(3).

C.B. The training and experience required in this Section shall be obtained within the seven years preceding the date of application or the individual shall have had related continuing education and experience since the required training and experience was completed.

D.C. Individuals who, under R9-7-712.01, need not comply with training requirements described in this Section may serve as preceptors for, and supervisors of, applicants seeking authorization on Department licenses for the same uses for which these individuals are authorized.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-7-712

New Section R9-7-712 recodified from R12-1-712at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1). Amended by final expedited rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 3533, effective 11/2/2022. Amended by final expedited rulemaking at 30 A.A.R. 2681, effective 8/7/2024.