For the purposes of this document, education accreditor means an external organization recognized by the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) as authorized to accredit compounding education/training courses for pharmacy professionals according to pre-defined criteria, the NAPRA compounding competencies document, and the model documents for PRAs regarding compounding standards.
NAPRA and the PRAs are providing the following guidance to education accreditors for the accreditation of supplemental education/training programs in sterile and/or hazardous compounding.
- The supplemental education/training program addresses one or more of the following three types of compounding: non-sterile hazardous compounding, sterile hazardous compounding, sterile non-hazardous compounding.1
- The education/training program may offer separate courses in each type of compounding or may offer courses that combine different types of compounding, as required to meet demand (e.g., sterile compounding course that covers both hazardous and non-hazardous sterile compounding; hazardous compounding course that covers both non-sterile and sterile hazardous compounding).
- The content of the supplemental education/training program builds on the theoretical knowledge gained during entry-to-practice (ETP) education to provide more complex theoretical knowledge and includes training in the practical skills of sterile and/or hazardous compounding.
- The education/training program is mapped to all of the sections of the NAPRA compounding competencies document that apply to the type(s) of compounding the course addresses (e.g., sterile sections for sterile compounding, hazardous sections for hazardous compounding), and integrates the information found in the NAPRA model documents for PRAs on compounding standards.
- The education/training program requires in-person, practical training, using real working equipment, in performing the type(s) of compounding that the course addresses. The number of hours of in-person training should be sufficient to ensure that students obtain the necessary technical skills to pass a practical competency assessment.
- The education/training program contains a final, in-person, practical competency assessment using real working equipment, conducted either in a practice environment or at a school laboratory with real working equipment, in the type(s) of compounding that the course addresses.
- The education/training program is taught by pharmacists or pharmacy technicians that have experience in the type(s) of compounding covered by the course.
- The education/training provider and instructors are free of conflict of interest from the students, according to the conflict-of-interest requirements of the accrediting body and of the educational institution.
Note: Where possible, it would be helpful if education/training programs could be developed into modular components, so that individuals wanting a refresher or requiring remediation in a particular area could engage in certain parts of the course only.
1. Practical training in non-sterile non-hazardous compounding must be included in entry-to-practice programs, thus would not require a separate program/accreditation.