Section 657.2.12. Continuing education requirements.

Pharmacists shall complete continuing education for license renewal pursuant to the requirements of this rule. For purposes of this rule, “continuing education” means a structured educational activity that is applicable to the practice of pharmacy, that promotes problem solving and critical thinking, and that is designed or intended to support the continuing development of pharmacists to maintain and enhance their competence in the practice of pharmacy. Nothing in these rules precludes the board from requiring an applicant for renewal to submit to a relicensure examination.

       2.12(1) Continuing education unit required. The nationally accepted measurement of continuing education is referred to as CEU (continuing education unit), and the board employs that measurement. Ten contact hours of approved continuing education are equivalent to one CEU.

        a.           The board will require 3.0 CEUs each renewal period except as provided in subrule 2.12(5) or rule 657—2.17(272C). For purposes of this rule, “renewal period” means the 27-month period commencing April 1 prior to the previous license expiration and ending June 30, the date of current license expiration.

        b.           A pharmacist who fails to complete the required CEUs within the renewal period shall be required to complete one and one-half times the number of delinquent CEUs prior to reactivation of the license.

        c.           CEUs that are used to satisfy the continuing education requirement for one renewal period shall not be used to satisfy the requirement for a subsequent renewal period.

        d.           Failure to receive a license renewal application or notice of license renewal shall not relieve the pharmacist of the responsibility of meeting continuing education requirements.

       2.12(2) Continuing education activity completion. Continuing education activities that carry the seal of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited provider will automatically qualify for continuing education credit. Successful completion and record of continuing education activities in CPE Monitor is mandated in order for a pharmacist to receive credit for ACPE-accredited provider continuing education activities.

        a.           Non-ACPE provider activity. A maximum of 1.3 CEUs (13 contact hours) of the total 3.0 CEUs of continuing education credits required pursuant to subrule 2.12(4) may be obtained through completion of non-ACPE provider activities if such activities are provided by an accredited health-professional continuing education provider, such as a continuing medical education (CME) provider, and if the activity content directly relates to the pharmacist’s professional practice. Non-ACPE provider activity completion shall be recorded, evaluated, and reported pursuant to the provisions of rule 657—2.17(272C) regarding continuing professional development.

       (1)             The pharmacist is responsible for ensuring that the activity content directly relates to the pharmacist’s professional practice.

       (2)             If one or more non-ACPE provider activities are intended to fulfill the requirement in paragraph 2.12(4)“c,” the pharmacist is responsible for ensuring the activity content relates to patient or medication safety.

       (3)             If the non-ACPE provider is not able to transmit the activity record to CPE Monitor, the provider shall provide to the pharmacist a statement of credit that indicates the pharmacist’s participation in and successful completion of the continuing education activity. The statement of credit shall include all information identified in subrule 2.12(3), except for the pharmacist’s CPE Monitor e-profile identification number.

        b.           Exemption for health-related graduate studies. A pharmacist who is continuing formal education in a health-related graduate program, including participation in a pharmacy residency program, may be exempted from meeting the continuing education requirements during the period of such enrollment or participation. As an alternative to requesting exemption from meeting the continuing education requirements, the pharmacist may complete a CPD portfolio pursuant to rule 657—2.17(272C).

       (1)             An applicant for this exemption shall petition the board, as soon as possible following enrollment in the qualifying graduate program or commencement of the pharmacy residency program and prior to completion of the qualifying program, on forms provided by the board office.

       (2)             At the discretion of the board, exemption during part-time or short-term enrollment in a health-related graduate program may be prorated for the actual period of such enrollment.

       2.12(3) Continuing education activity record of credit. An ACPE-accredited provider will be required to transmit to CPE Monitor information regarding an individual pharmacist’s participation in and successful completion of a continuing education activity. The record shall be accessible to the board and shall include the following information:

        a.           Pharmacist’s full name and CPE Monitor e-profile identification number.

        b.           Number of contact hours or CEUs awarded for activity completion.

        c.           Date of live activity or date of completion of home study activity.

        d.           Name of accredited provider.

        e.           Activity title and universal activity number.

       2.12(4) Continuing education activity topics. Each pharmacist is required to obtain continuing education by completing activities in the topics specified in this subrule.

        a.           Drug therapy. A minimum of 1.5 CEUs (15 contact hours) of the pharmacist’s required 3.0 CEUs shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with drug therapy. Activities qualifying for the drug therapy requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “01” or “02” followed by the letter “P” at the end of the universal activity number.

        b.           Pharmacy law. A minimum of 0.2 CEUs (2 contact hours) of the pharmacist’s required 3.0 CEUs shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with pharmacy law. Activities qualifying for the pharmacy law requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “03” followed by the letter “P” at the end of the universal activity number.

        c.           Patient or medication safety. A minimum of 0.2 CEUs (2 contact hours) of the pharmacist’s required 3.0 CEUs shall be in activities dealing with patient or medication safety. Activities completed to fulfill this requirement may be ACPE-accredited provider activities, in which case the universal activity number will end with the ACPE topic designator “05” followed by the letter “P.” A pharmacist may complete non-ACPE provider activities as provided in paragraph 2.12(2)“a” to fulfill this topic requirement.

       2.12(5) New license holders licensed by examination. After the initial license is issued by examination, the new license holder is exempt from meeting continuing education requirements for the first license renewal. However, if the licensee qualifies as a mandatory abuse reporter, the licensee shall not be exempt from mandatory training for identifying and reporting abuse pursuant to rule 657—2.16(235B,272C). Regardless of when the license is first issued, the new license holder will be required to obtain, prior to the second renewal, 30 contact hours (3.0 CEUs) of continuing education pursuant to subrules 2.12(1) through 2.12(4) or to complete a CPD portfolio pursuant to rule 657—2.17(272C).

       2.12(6) New license holders licensed by license transfer/reciprocity. After the initial license is issued by license transfer, the new license holder will be required to obtain, prior to the first license renewal, 30 contact hours (3.0 CEUs) of continuing education credits pursuant to subrules 2.12(1) through 2.12(4) or to complete a CPD portfolio pursuant to rule 657—2.17(272C).

       2.12(7) Reporting continuing education credits.

        a.           A pharmacist shall provide or report to the board, in the format specified on or with the pharmacist license renewal application, evidence that the continuing education requirements have been met.

        b.           The board may require a pharmacist to submit activity statements of credit or other documented evidence of successful completion of the activities reported as fulfilling the continuing education requirements.

       2.12(8) Physical disability or illness. The board may, in individual cases involving physical disability or illness, grant waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the same or make the required reports. No waiver or extension of time shall be granted unless written application is made and signed by the licensee and the licensee’s physician. The board may grant waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements for physical disability or illness for any period of time not to exceed one renewal period. In the event that the physical disability or illness upon which a waiver has been granted continues beyond the period of the waiver, the licensee must reapply for an extension of the waiver. The board may, as a condition of any waiver granted, require the licensee to make up all or any portion of the waived continuing education requirements by any method prescribed by the board.

[ARC 8672B, IAB 4/7/10, effective 5/12/10; ARC 9406B, IAB 3/9/11, effective 4/13/11; ARC 9782B, IAB 10/5/11, effective 11/9/11; ARC 0595C, IAB 2/6/13, effective 3/13/13]