Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.36 - Continuing Education For Pharmacists
(1)
Pharmacists shall complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education each
renewal cycle as a condition of licensure renewal. By submitting the biennial
renewal, a pharmacist is representing their compliance with this requirement by
the end of the relevant renewal cycle.
(2) Section (1) shall not apply to
pharmacists applying for the first renewal of their license. If a pharmacist
has only been licensed for one full calendar year, they shall complete fifteen
(15) hours of continuing education for the first renewal of their license. If a
pharmacist has been licensed for less than one full calendar year, no
continuing education is required for the first renewal of their
license.
(3) In order to receive
credit for continuing education, the continuing education shall be previously
approved by the Board. Any requests for approval of continuing education shall
be submitted to the Board no less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to
offering of the continuing education. A condition of approval shall be that the
continuing education is pertinent to the practice of pharmacy. However, this
requirement shall not apply to ACPE or ACCME approved continuing education
courses for which a program number is available.
(4) Continuing Education may be completed by
either attendance or by distance-based program, video or by publications;
however, a pharmacist must complete at least six (6) hours of live continuing
education through attendance at a course(s), within the renewal cycle. If a
pharmacist has only been licensed for one full calendar year, they must
complete at least three (3) hours of live continuing education.
(5) It is the responsibility of each
pharmacist to maintain and compile accurate records relating to all continuing
education courses or activities they have attended and completed. It shall be
the responsibility of each pharmacist to maintain abovedescribed documentation
and information pertaining to each year for a period of two (2) years and this
information shall be submitted to the Board of Pharmacy within thirty (30)
calendar days after a request for the same by the Board.
(6) The Board of Pharmacy shall randomly
audit the continuing education documentation or information to be maintained or
submitted by each pharmacist as described herein to assure compliance with
these rules. Failure to maintain the documentation or information set forth in
these rules or the submission of false or misleading information or
documentation to the Board of Pharmacy or failure to submit requested
documentation or information within the time specified by the Board may subject
the pharmacist, on the first violation to a non-disciplinary administrative
penalty authorized by Code of Ala. 1975,
§
34-23-33(b) an amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
(7) Upon written request to the Board of
Pharmacy, and upon the demonstration of good and sufficient cause, the Board of
Pharmacy may grant a waiver or extension of time for the completion of the
annual hour requirements for continuing education as set forth herein. The
pharmacist who seeks such a waiver or extension shall submit to the Board of
Pharmacy any documentation required by the Board which the Board deems
appropriate for it to make a decision concerning that waiver or
extension.
(8) Any pharmacist who
allows their license to lapse for a minimum of one (1) calendar year but not
more than five (5) calendar years, shall be required as a condition for
reinstatement to provide documentation of their completion of fifteen (15)
hours of continuing education in the manner prescribed above for each lapsed
calendar year. If a license is lapsed for more than five (5) calendar years, in
addition to the examination requirement set forth in Code of Ala.
1975, §
34-23-52, the Board may require as a condition for
reinstatement any amount of continuing education deemed appropriate.
Notes
Author: Alabama State Board of Pharmacy
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-23-33; Code of Ala. 1975 § 34-23-52
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