What are the Different Pharmacy Technician Careers?

Licensed Pharmacist means a pharmaceutical technician who has passed the unified national examination, obtained the "Practical Qualification Certificate of Practitioner of the People's Republic of China", and has registered in the pharmaceutical production, operation, use, and other units that need to provide pharmaceutical services . ^[1]

Basic Information

Chinese name: Licensed Pharmacist
Foreign name: Licensed Pharmacist

Purpose: Instruct patients to use drugs rationally
Category: Occupational
Classification: Practicing Chinese Pharmacist, Practicing Western Pharmacist

Legal requirements for licensed pharmacists

In March 1994, the Ministry of Personnel and the State Administration of Medicine promulgated the "Interim Provisions on the Qualification System for Licensed Pharmacists";

In July 1995, the Ministry of Personnel and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine promulgated the "Interim Provisions on the Qualification System for Practicing Chinese Pharmacists". Since then, China has implemented the qualification system for practicing pharmacists.

In April 1999, the Ministry of Personnel and the State Drug Administration issued the Notice of the Ministry of Personnel and the State Drug Administration on Revising and Issuing the Interim Provisions on the Qualification System for Licensed Pharmacists and the Measures for the Implementation of the Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Examination. Fa [1999] No. 34), revised the original examination management measures, and clarified that practicing pharmacists and Chinese medicine practitioners are collectively referred to as practicing pharmacists. The national qualifications examination for practicing pharmacists is based on unified national outline, unified examination, unified registration, unified management, and classified practice. The examination work is jointly responsible by the Ministry of Personnel and the State Drug Administration. The daily work is entrusted to the National Drug Administration Licensed Pharmacist Certification Center. The specific examination work is entrusted to the Personnel Test Center of the Ministry of Personnel to organize implementation.

In March 2019, the State Administration of Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security formulated the Provisions for the Professional Qualification System for Licensed Pharmacists and the Implementation Measures for the Professional Qualification Examination for Licensed Pharmacists based on the original qualification system for licensed pharmacists. ^[1]

Duties and duties of licensed pharmacists

Practising pharmacists shall abide by the standards of practice and business norms, with the basic criteria of ensuring and promoting the safety and effectiveness of public drug use.

Licensed pharmacists must strictly abide by the "People's Republic of China Drug Administration Law" and national regulations and policies concerning the development, production, operation, and use of drugs. A licensed pharmacist is responsible for advising, stopping, and refusing to implement any act or decision that violates the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and related laws and regulations, and report to the local drug supervision and administration department.

The practicing pharmacist is responsible for the supervision and management of drug quality within the scope of his practice, participating in the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive quality management system for drugs, and participating in the unit's handling of internal violations of regulations.

A licensed pharmacist is responsible for reviewing and formulating prescriptions, providing medication consultation and information, guiding rational medication use, and conducting clinical pharmaceutical work such as monitoring of therapeutic drugs and evaluation of drug efficacy.

Pharmaceutical retail enterprises shall publicize the "Certificate of Licensed Pharmacists" in a conspicuous place, and clearly list the licensed pharmacists who are practicing. When a licensed pharmacist is not on the job, he or she shall publicize it in a conspicuous manner and stop selling prescription drugs and Class A over-the-counter drugs.

A practicing pharmacist should wear a work license in accordance with relevant regulations when practicing.

Licensed pharmacists shall receive continuing education in accordance with the relevant regulations on continuing education of professional and technical personnel of the country, update their professional knowledge, and improve their professional level. The State encourages practicing pharmacists to participate in practical training. ^[1]

Licensed pharmacist exam

Main article: National Licensed Pharmacist Examination

The national qualifications for practicing pharmacists are based on a unified national outline, unified propositions, and unified examination system. It is held once a year in principle. The State Food and Drug Administration is responsible for organizing the formulation of examination subjects and examination outlines, establishing an examination question bank, organizing the task of proposition examination, and putting forward suggestions for passing the examination standards. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is responsible for organizing examination subjects and examination outlines, and in conjunction with the State Drug Administration, supervises, guides and determines the eligibility criteria. ^[1]

Citizens of the People's Republic of China and foreign personnel who are permitted to work in China can apply for the qualification examination for licensed pharmacists if they meet one of the following conditions:

(1) Obtaining a college degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine, and working in a pharmacy or Chinese medicine post for 5 years;

(2) A bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree from a university majoring in pharmacy or Chinese medicine and working in a pharmacy or Chinese medicine position for at least three years;

(3) Obtaining a second bachelor's degree, a graduate degree or a master's degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine, and working in pharmacy or Chinese medicine for at least one year;

(4) obtaining a doctorate degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine;

(5) Those who have obtained the corresponding education or degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine related majors will increase their working experience in pharmacy or Chinese medicine by one year.

Those who pass the vocational qualification examination for licensed pharmacists shall be issued the "Certificate of Qualification for Licensed Pharmacists" by the human resources and social security departments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. The certificate is uniformly printed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and is printed by the State Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, which is valid nationwide. ^[1]

Licensed pharmacist registration management

The registered pharmacist has a registration system. The State Administration of Drug Administration is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies for the registration of licensed pharmacists, and guides the management of registered pharmacists nationwide. The drug regulatory departments of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for the registration and management of licensed pharmacists in their respective administrative regions.

Those who have obtained the "Professional Qualification Certificate for Licensed Pharmacists" shall apply for registration with the local registration and management institution through the National Licensed Pharmacist Registration Management Information System. Only after registration can they engage in corresponding practice activities. Those who are not registered shall not practise as practising pharmacists.

Applicants for registration must meet the following requirements:

(1) Obtaining the "Professional Qualification Certificate of Licensed Pharmacist";

(2) Abide by disciplines and laws, observe professional ethics of licensed pharmacists, and have no bad information records;

(3) be in good health and be able to persist in working as a licensed pharmacist;

(4) Approved by the unit where it is assessed.

Those who have been approved for registration shall be issued a "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate" in a unified form by the State Administration of Drug Administration by the registered pharmacist registration management agency.

When a practicing pharmacist changes the practice unit or practice scope, he shall go through the registration formalities for change.

The registered pharmacist is valid for five years. If renewal is required, an application for renewal of registration shall be submitted to the local registration authority before the expiration of 30 days. ^[1]

Regulations of the licensed pharmacist system

" Provisions for the Professional Qualification System of Licensed Pharmacists "

The first chapter of the licensed pharmacist

Article 1 In order to strengthen the management of professional access for pharmaceutical technicians, give play to the role of licensed pharmacists in guiding rational drug use and strengthening drug quality management, to ensure and promote the safety and effectiveness of public drug use. The Regulations for the Implementation of the Drug Administration Law and the relevant provisions of the national vocational qualification system establish these regulations.

Article 2 The state establishes a professional qualification system for admission of licensed pharmacists and includes it in the national professional qualifications catalog.

Article 3 A licensed pharmacist means that he has passed the unified national examination, obtained the Professional Qualification Certificate of Licensed Pharmacist of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Professional Qualification Certificate of Licensed Pharmacist), and has been registered and provided in pharmaceutical production, operation, use and other needs Pharmaceutical technicians practising in pharmacy service units.

The English translation of a licensed pharmacist is: Licensed Pharmacist.

Article 4 Units engaged in the production, operation, use of drugs and other pharmaceutical services shall be provided with corresponding licensed pharmacists in accordance with regulations. The State Administration of Drug Administration is responsible for making clear the positions that need to be held by licensed pharmacists.

Article 5 The State Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security are jointly responsible for the policy formulation of the qualification system for licensed pharmacists nationwide, and guide, supervise and inspect the implementation of the system in accordance with the division of responsibilities.

The provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in charge of drug supervision and administration and human resources and social security administrations are responsible for the implementation and supervision of the professional qualification system for licensed pharmacists in their respective administrative areas in accordance with the division of responsibilities.

The second chapter examination of licensed pharmacist

Article 6 The national qualifications for practicing pharmacists shall be subject to a unified unified outline, unified propositions, and unified examination system. It is held once a year in principle.

Article 7 The State Administration of Drug Administration is responsible for organizing the formulation of examination subjects and examination outlines, establishing an examination question bank, organizing the task of proposition examination, and putting forward suggestions for passing the examination standards.

Article 8 The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is responsible for organizing examination subjects and examination outlines, and in conjunction with the State Drug Administration, supervises, guides and determines the eligibility criteria.

Article 9 Citizens of the People's Republic of China and foreign personnel who are permitted to work in China can apply for the qualification examination of licensed pharmacists if they meet one of the following conditions:

(1) Obtaining a college degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine, and working in a pharmacy or Chinese medicine post for 5 years;

(2) A bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree from a university majoring in pharmacy or Chinese medicine and working in a pharmacy or Chinese medicine position for at least three years;

(3) Having obtained a second bachelor's degree, a graduate degree or a master's degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine, and has worked in pharmacy or Chinese medicine for at least one year;

(4) obtaining a doctorate degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine;

(5) Those who have obtained the corresponding education or degree in pharmacy or Chinese medicine related majors will increase their working experience in pharmacy or Chinese medicine by one year.

Article 10 Those who pass the vocational qualification examination for licensed pharmacists shall be issued with the "Professional Qualification Certificate for Licensed Pharmacists" by the human resources and social security departments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The certificate is uniformly printed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and printed by the State Administration of Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, which is valid throughout the country.

Licensed pharmacist Chapter III Registration

Article 11 A registered pharmacist implements a registration system. The State Administration of Drug Administration is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies for the registration of licensed pharmacists, and guides the management of registered pharmacists nationwide. The drug regulatory departments of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for the registration and management of licensed pharmacists in their respective administrative regions.

Article 12 Those who have obtained the Professional Qualification Certificate for Licensed Pharmacists shall apply to the local registration and management institution for registration through the National Licensed Pharmacist Registration Management Information System. Only after registration can they engage in corresponding practice activities. Those who are not registered shall not practise as practising pharmacists.

Article 13 An applicant for registration must meet the following requirements:

(1) Obtaining the "Professional Qualification Certificate of Licensed Pharmacist";

(2) Abide by disciplines and laws, observe professional ethics of licensed pharmacists, and have no bad information records;

(3) be in good health and be able to persist in working as a licensed pharmacist;

(4) Approved by the unit where it is assessed.

Article 14 For those who have been approved for registration, the registered pharmacist registration management agency shall issue the "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate" in a unified form of the State Drug Administration.

Article 15 When a practicing pharmacist changes the practice unit or practice scope, he shall go through the registration formalities for change in time.

Article 16 The registration of a licensed pharmacist is valid for five years. If renewal is required, an application for renewal of registration shall be submitted to the local registration authority before the expiration of 30 days.

Chapter 4 Duties of Practising Pharmacists

Article 17 A practicing pharmacist shall abide by the practice standards and business norms, with the basic criterion of ensuring and promoting the safety and effectiveness of public drug use.

Article 18 A licensed pharmacist must strictly abide by the "People's Republic of China's Drug Administration Law" and various national regulations and policies concerning the development, production, operation, and use of drugs. A licensed pharmacist is responsible for advising, stopping, and refusing to implement actions or decisions that violate the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and related laws and regulations, and report to the local department in charge of drug supervision and management.

Article 19 A licensed pharmacist is responsible for the supervision and management of drug quality within the scope of his practice, participates in the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive drug quality management system, and participates in the unit's handling of internal violations of regulations.

Article 20 A licensed pharmacist is responsible for reviewing and formulating prescriptions, providing medication consultation and information, guiding rational drug use, and conducting clinical pharmaceutical work such as monitoring of therapeutic drugs and evaluation of drug efficacy.

Article 21 A pharmaceutical retail enterprise shall publicize the "Certificate of Registration of Practising Pharmacists" in a conspicuous place, and clearly list the practising pharmacists on the job. When a licensed pharmacist is not on the job, he or she shall publicize it in a conspicuous manner and stop selling prescription drugs and Class A over-the-counter drugs.

A practicing pharmacist should wear a work license in accordance with relevant regulations when practicing.

Article 22 A licensed pharmacist shall receive continuing education in accordance with the relevant regulations of the national professional and technical personnel for continuing education, update their professional knowledge, and improve their professional level. The State encourages practicing pharmacists to participate in practical training.

Chapter 5 Supervision and Administration of Licensed Pharmacists

Article 23 The department in charge of drug supervision and administration shall supervise and inspect the provision of licensed pharmacists and their activities in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and rules.

During the supervision and inspection, the "Certificate of Licensed Pharmacist", the records of prescription examination, the listing of licensed pharmacists, and the services of licensed pharmacists on the job shall be checked.

The practicing units and licensed pharmacists shall assist and cooperate with the supervision and inspection of the department in charge of drug supervision and administration, and shall not refuse or obstruct it.

Article 24 If a licensed pharmacist is under any of the following circumstances, the human resources and social security department at or above the county level and the department in charge of drug supervision and administration shall commend and reward them according to regulations:

(1) those who have high professional ethics and outstanding deeds in their practice activities;

(2) Those who have made significant contributions to pharmaceutical work;

(3) Outstanding performance in providing pharmaceutical services to patients;

(4) Those who have worked in grass-roots units in remote and poor areas for a long time and have performed outstandingly.

Article 25: Establish a personal integrity record for practicing pharmacists, and implement credit management for their practicing activities. Illegal behaviors, acceptance of rewards and punishment by licensed pharmacists, etc. shall be recorded in the national licensed pharmacist registration management information system as personal integrity information by the department responsible for drug supervision and management; the continuing education credits of licensed pharmacists shall be recorded by the continuing education management institution in a timely manner Entered the national registered pharmacist registration management information system.

Article 26 Units that are not equipped with a licensed pharmacist in accordance with regulations shall be ordered by the department in charge of drug supervision and management at the county level or above for a limited period of time and punished in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Article 27 Those who have obtained the "Professional Qualification Certificate of Practising Pharmacists" by improper means shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the national professional and technical personnel qualification examination for violations of discipline and rules; if a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law.

Article 28. Where the "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate" is obtained by improper means such as deception or bribery, the license-issuing department shall revoke the "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate" and shall not be registered as a practising pharmacist within three years; if it constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law .

It is strictly forbidden to affix the "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate". If the registration unit of the licensee is inconsistent with the actual work unit, the license-issuing department shall revoke the "Practice Pharmacist Registration Certificate" and record it as national bad information by the department in charge of drug supervision and management to the national licensed pharmacist Registration Management Information System. Units that buy, sell, or rent a Licensed Pharmacist shall be punished in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Article 29 If a licensed pharmacist violates the relevant provisions of these regulations, the unit to which he belongs shall report it truthfully, and the department in charge of drug supervision and management shall deal with it according to the situation.

Article 30 If a practicing pharmacist violates the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations during the practice period and constitutes a crime, the judicial organ shall be held accountable according to law.

Chapter 6 Supplementary Provisions for Licensed Pharmacists

Article 31 Professional and technical personnel who have obtained professional qualifications as licensed pharmacists may be deemed to have the titles of competent pharmacist or competent Chinese medicine pharmacist, and may be used as a condition for applying for higher-level professional titles. The unit shall be selected according to work needs.

Article 32 The relevant majors in these measures shall be determined separately by the State Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Article 33 The State Administration of Drug Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, together with relevant departments, will gradually advance the work related to the management of ethnic pharmaceutical practitioners.

Article 34 Residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan who apply for national qualification examinations for pharmacists, registration, continuing education, and practice shall refer to these regulations.

Article 35 These Regulations shall be implemented as of the date of issuance. The previous Notice of the Ministry of Personnel and the State Drug Administration on the Revision and Issuance of the Interim Provisions on the Qualification System for Licensed Pharmacists and the Implementation Measures for the Qualification Examination of Licensed Pharmacists (Renfa [1999] No. 34) shall be abolished simultaneously. The "Certificate of Practicing Pharmacist" obtained according to this document has the same effect as the "Certificate of Practicing Pharmacist" in these regulations. ^[1]

Administrative Measures for Licensed Pharmacists

On March 19, 2019, the State Food and Drug Administration stated that in order to fully implement the "four strictest" requirements for drug supervision and severely crack down on "licensed" behavior of licensed pharmacists, it decided to launch a nationwide drug retail enterprise for a period of six months. Rectification of "licensed" behavior of licensed pharmacists. "Certified" practicing pharmacists are included in the "blacklist" of credit management. ^[2]