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Hospital pharmacy technician

Latest update: 2020-04-15 17:22:02

1°. Defining the activity

The hospital pharmacy preparer is a health professional who works in a hospital, under the responsibility and control of a pharmacist. Its missions are to prepare and distribute medicines to patients, as well as to manage stocks of products and equipment.

He is also required to prepare sterile medical devices.

To go further Article L. 4241-13 of the Public Health Code.

2°. Professional qualifications

a. National requirements

National legislation

The profession of hospital pharmacy preparer is reserved for those who graduate as a preparer in hospital pharmacy.

To go further Article L. 4241-13 of the Public Health Code.

Training

The training leading to the diploma of hospital pharmacy preparer is available to people who have obtained the professional certificate of pharmacy preparer.

The diploma can be obtained by way of:

  • Initial training
  • Learning
  • Continuing vocational training
  • validation of experience.

Access to initial and continuing vocational training is only open to candidates who have passed selection tests, which are organised annually by training centres. The selection consists of a first written eligibility test scored out of 20, followed by a thirty-minute oral admission test, also scored out of 20. The candidate who has averaged both tests in a row will be able to integrate training into hospital pharmacy preparation.

It takes place over 42 weeks, including 660 hours of theoretical instruction and 700 hours of internship. An assessment of the student's knowledge is organized throughout the course. The validation of the skill set will allow the student to be received at the diploma.

To go further : order of 2 August 2006 relating to training leading to the diploma of preparer in hospital pharmacy.

Costs associated with qualification

Training pays off. For more information, it is advisable to get closer to the dispensing establishments.

b. EU or EEA nationals: for temporary and occasional exercise (Freedom to provide services)

A national of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) state legally practising as a hospital pharmacy preparer in one of these states may make use of his or her professional title in France on a temporary basis. or casual.

He will have to apply for it, before his first performance, by declaration addressed to the prefect of the region in which he wishes to make the delivery (see infra "4°. a. Make a prior declaration of activity for EU or EEA nationals engaged in temporary and occasional activity (LPS)").

Where neither the activity nor the training leading to this activity is regulated in the state in which it is legally established, the professional will have to justify having carried out it in one or more EU or EEA states for at least one year, during the course of ten years before the performance.

To go further Article L. 4241-16 of the Public Health Code.

c. EU or EEA nationals: for a permanent exercise (Freedom of establishment)

Any national of an EU or EEA state, who is established and legally practises as a hospital pharmacy preparer in that state, may carry out the same activity in France on a permanent basis if he:

  • holds a training certificate issued by a competent authority in another EU or EEA state, which regulates access to or exercise of the profession;
  • has worked full-time or part-time for two years in the last ten years in another EU or EEA state that does not regulate training or practising;
  • holds a title issued by a competent authority of a third state and recognised by an EU or EEA state, and that it justifies having exercised the profession for at least three years in the EU or EEA State.

Once the national fulfils one of these conditions, he or she will be able to apply for an individual authorisation to practise from the prefect of the region in which he wishes to practice his profession (see infra "4°. b. Request an exercise permit for the EU or EEA national for permanent activity (LE) ").

To go further Article L. 4241-14 of the Public Health Code.

3°. Conditions of honorability, ethical rules, ethics

Although not codified, rules are required for hospital pharmacy preparers, including respect for professional confidentiality and the well-being of patients.

4°. Qualification recognition procedures and formalities

a. Make a pre-declaration of activity for EU or EEA nationals engaged in temporary and occasional activity (LPS)

Competent authority

The prefect of the region is competent to decide on the request for a prior declaration of activity.

Supporting documents

The application is made by filing a file that includes the following documents:

  • A copy of a valid ID
  • A copy of the training title allowing the profession to be practised in the state of obtainment;
  • a certificate, less than three months old, from the competent authority of the EU State or the EEA, certifying that the person concerned is legally established in that state and that, when the certificate is issued, there is no prohibition, even temporary, Exercise
  • any evidence justifying that the national has practised the profession in an EU or EEA state for one year in the last ten years, when that state does not regulate training, access to the requested profession or its exercise;
  • where the training certificate has been issued by a third state and recognised in an EU or EEA state other than France:- recognition of the training title established by the state authorities that have recognised this title,
    • any evidence justifying that the national has practiced the profession in that state for three years;
  • If so, a copy of the previous statement as well as the first statement made;
  • a certificate of professional civil liability.

What to know

If necessary, the pieces must be translated into French by a certified translator.

Timeframe

Upon receipt of the file, the prefect of the region will have one month to decide on the application and will inform the national:

  • He can start the performance.
  • that he will be subject to a compensation measure if there are substantial differences between the training or professional experience of the national and those required in France;
  • he will not be able to start the performance;
  • any difficulty that could delay its decision. In the latter case, the prefect will be able to make his decision within two months of the resolution of this difficulty, and no later than three months of notification to the national.

The prefect's silence within these deadlines will be worth accepting the request for declaration.

Note that 

The return is renewable every year or at each change in the applicant's situation.

To go further Article R. 4241-13 of the Public Health Code; December 8, 2017 order on the prior declaration of service provision for genetic counsellors, medical physicists and pharmacy and hospital pharmacy preparers, as well as for occupations in Book III of Part IV of the Public Health Code.

b. Requesting an exercise permit for the EU or EEA national for permanent activity (LE)

Competent authority

The authorisation to exercise is issued by the prefect of the region, after advice from the committee of preparers in hospital pharmacy.

Supporting documents

The application for authorization is made by filing a file in two copies, including all the following documents:

  • The application form for authorization to practice Completed and signed;
  • A photocopy of a valid ID
  • a copy of his training title allowing him to work as a preparer in hospital pharmacy and, if necessary, a photocopy of additional diplomas;
  • all the documents to justify his continuous training and professional experience acquired in a Member State;
  • a declaration by the EU State or the EEA that the national is not subject to any sanctions;
  • A copy of all of his certificates mentioning the level of training received, and the details of the hours and volume of the teachings followed;
  • where neither access to training nor its exercise is regulated in the Member State, any documentation to justify that it has been a hospital pharmacy preparer for two years in the last ten years;
  • where the training certificate has been issued by a third state but recognised in a Member State, the Recognition of the Training Title by the Member State.

What to know

If necessary, the pieces must be translated into French by a certified translator.

Procedure

The prefect acknowledges receipt of the file within one month and will decide after having the opinion of the committee of pharmacy preparers. The latter is responsible for examining the knowledge and skills of the national acquired during his training or during his professional experience. It may subject the national to a compensation measure.

The lack of response from the regional prefect within four months is the reason for the rejection of the application for authorisation.

To go further Article R. 4241-9 to 4241-12 of the Public Health Code; decree of 19 February 2010 setting out the composition of the file to be provided to the competent authorisation commission for the examination of applications submitted for the practice in France of the profession of pharmacy preparer and pharmacy preparer Hospital.

Good to know: compensation measures

If the examination of the professional qualifications attested by the training credentials and the work experience shows substantial differences with the qualifications required for access to the profession of pharmacy preparer and in France, the person concerned will have to submit to a compensation measure.

Depending on the level of qualification required in France and that held by the person concerned, the competent authority may either:

  • Offer the applicant a choice between an adjustment course or an aptitude test;
  • require an adjustment course and/or aptitude test.

To go further : decree of 24 March 2010 setting out the organisation of the aptitude test and the adaptation course for the practice in France of pharmacy preparer and hospital pharmacy preparer by nationals of the Member States European Union or party to the European Economic Area agreement.

c. Remedies

French assistance centre

The ENIC-NARIC Centre is the French centre for information on academic and professional recognition of diplomas.

Solvit

SOLVIT is a service provided by the National Administration of each Member State of the European Union or party to the EEA agreement. Its aim is to find a solution to a dispute between an EU national and the administration of another of these states. SOLVIT intervenes in particular in the recognition of professional qualifications.

Conditions

The person concerned can only use SOLVIT if he establishes:

  • that the public administration of one EU state has not respected its rights under EU law as a citizen or business of another EU state;
  • that it has not already initiated legal action (administrative action is not considered as such).

Procedure

The national must complete a online complaint form .

Once his file has been submitted, SOLVIT contacts him within a week to request, if necessary, additional information and to verify that the problem is within his competence.

Supporting documents

To enter SOLVIT, the national must communicate:

  • Full contact details
  • Detailed description of his problem
  • all the evidence in the file (for example, correspondence and decisions received from the relevant administrative authority).

Timeframe

SOLVIT is committed to finding a solution within ten weeks of the day the case was taken over by the SOLVIT centre in the country in which the problem occurred.

Cost

Free.

Outcome of the procedure

At the end of the 10-week period, SOLVIT presents a solution:

  • If this solution resolves the dispute over the application of European law, the solution is accepted and the case is closed;
  • if there is no solution, the case is closed as unresolved and referred to the European Commission.

More information

SOLVIT in France: General Secretariat for European Affairs, 68 rue de Bellechasse, 75700 Paris ( official website ).