ALBOP Rule 680-X-2-.14 Simplified: What Alabama Pharmacy Technicians Need to Know
Last reviewed June 2026 by Tyler Dalton, PharmD.
Direct answer
Technicians who received initial registration on or after January 1, 2020 must complete a Board-approved training program within their first six months and submit evidence of completion to the Board within 10 days. Passing a Board-recognized certification exam such as the PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam also satisfies the requirement. Learn how registration differs from PTCB certification.
What the rule says, in plain language
Rule 680-X-2-.14 is the Alabama Board of Pharmacy (ALBOP) regulation that defines the training requirement for pharmacy technicians in Alabama. In plain language: if you are a newly registered pharmacy technician in Alabama, the state gives you a fixed window to complete approved training and prove it. You are not allowed to keep working past that window without satisfying the rule. The same rule lets you substitute a Board-recognized certification exam (such as PTCB) in place of a formal training program.
Who it applies to
- Every pharmacy technician whose initial ALBOP registration is dated on or after January 1, 2020.
- Both retail and hospital pharmacy technicians, regardless of employer setting.
- The employing pharmacy, which is jointly responsible for the technician's compliance and records.
Technicians registered before January 1, 2020 are grandfathered under the prior rule. Everyone newly registered after that date is subject to the six-month training requirement. See our full Alabama requirements guide for registration steps and CE rules.
Deadlines and documentation
- Six-month deadline: training must be completed within six months of the date your ALBOP registration is issued.
- 10-day documentation rule: evidence of completion must be submitted to the Board within 10 days of finishing the program (or passing the recognized certification exam). Use our Licensure Gateway upload guide for step-by-step instructions.
- Two-year record retention: both the technician and the employing pharmacy must keep training records for at least two years and produce them on request.
Penalties for non-compliance
If a pharmacy technician fails to complete approved training within the six-month window, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy may fine the employing pharmacy up to 1,000 dollars and may revoke the technician's registration. A revoked registration means the technician cannot legally work as a pharmacy technician in Alabama until the registration is reinstated.
How Alabama Pharm Tech satisfies each legal requirement
ALBOP-approved programs must cover five topic areas defined in Rule 680-X-2-.14. Alabama Pharm Tech maps one module to each area. You pass a knowledge check after every module and a final exam before receiving your certificate of completion.
| ALBOP requirement | Alabama Pharm Tech module |
|---|---|
Legal and ethical standards Federal and state pharmacy law, controlled substances, technician scope of practice, and ALBOP registration rules. | Module 1: Legal and Ethical Questions Covers DEA schedules, FDA recalls, NDC numbers, Alabama technician registration, scope of practice, and Rule 680-X-2-.14 itself. |
Professional standards Technician duties, ethics, HIPAA, prescription processing, and pharmacist supervision requirements. | Module 2: Professional Standards Covers order entry, dispensing workflow, HIPAA privacy, conflict resolution, and tasks that require pharmacist intervention. |
Terminology Medical and pharmaceutical abbreviations, Roman numerals, and prescription sig interpretation. | Module 3: Terminology Covers sig codes, route abbreviations, dosage forms, and Roman numeral conversions used on Alabama prescriptions. |
Calculations Dosage calculations, ratio and percentage conversions, and pediatric dosing rules. | Module 4: Calculations Covers Clark's Rule, Young's Rule, ratio-to-percentage conversions, and step-by-step dosage math. |
Medication safety Error prevention, look-alike/sound-alike drugs, high-alert medications, and quality assurance. | Module 5: Medication Safety Covers LASA drugs, high-alert medications, leading and trailing zero rules, and technician safety responsibilities. |
After you pass the final exam, download your certificate and upload it through the ALBOP Licensure Gateway within 10 days. The official rule text is published at Alabama Administrative Code 680-X-2.
How to comply quickly
- Confirm the date of your initial ALBOP registration. Your six-month clock starts there.
- Enroll in an ALBOP-approved training program right away. Alabama Pharm Tech is online, self-paced, and a one-time $199 payment. Most students finish in 2 to 4 weeks.
- Complete the program and download your certificate of completion.
- Submit the certificate to ALBOP within 10 days of completion.
- Keep a copy of the certificate and your training records for at least two years. Your employing pharmacy should keep a copy as well.
Alabama Pharm Tech is the online training program of Dalton Pharmacy, which is the provider name shown on the Alabama Board of Pharmacy approved training program list.
Rule 680-X-2-.14 FAQ
Pursuing PTCB certification?
Allied Health Academy offers a 228-hour, PTCB-recognized pharmacy technician program built for national certification, with a PTCB exam voucher and PharmD-led curriculum. View the Allied Health Academy PTCB course
This page is educational, not legal advice. The authoritative text of Rule 680-X-2-.14 is published by the State of Alabama in the Administrative Code, Chapter 680-X-2.