Section 657.33.3. Veteran licensure or registration.

A veteran with an unrestricted pharmacist license in another jurisdiction may apply for pharmacist licensure in Iowa by license transfer/reciprocity pursuant to rule 657—2.9(147,155A) and this chapter. A veteran must pass any required examinations to be eligible for pharmacist licensure by license transfer/reciprocity. A veteran may submit an application for pharmacist-intern registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 4 and this chapter. A veteran may submit an application for technician registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 3 and this chapter. A veteran may submit an application for pharmacy support person registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 5 and this chapter.

         33.3(1) Priority application status. A fully completed application for licensure or registration submitted by a veteran under this chapter shall be given priority status and shall be expedited.

         33.3(2) Application requirements. Such an application shall contain all of the information required of all applicants for licensure or registration who hold unrestricted licenses or registrations in other jurisdictions and who are applying for licensure or registration, including, but not limited to, completion of all required forms, payment of applicable fees, disclosure of criminal or disciplinary history, and, if applicable, a criminal history background check. In addition, the applicant shall provide such documentation as is reasonably needed to verify the applicant’s status as a veteran under Iowa Code section 35.1(2).

         33.3(3) Equivalency determination. Upon receipt of a fully completed application for licensure or registration, the board shall promptly determine if the requirements for licensure or registration of the jurisdiction where the veteran is licensed or registered are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure or registration in Iowa. The board may consider the following factors in determining substantial equivalence: scope of practice, education and coursework, degree requirements, and post-graduate experiences.

         33.3(4) Licensure or registration approval. The board shall promptly grant a license or registration, as appropriate, to the veteran if the veteran is licensed or registered in another jurisdiction whose licensure or registration requirements are substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure or registration based on other grounds, for example, the applicant’s disciplinary or criminal background.

         33.3(5) Notification of additional requirements and provisional licensure or registration. If the board determines that the veteran is licensed or registered in another jurisdiction whose licensure or registration requirements are not substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, the board shall promptly inform the veteran of the additional experience, education, or examinations required for licensure or registration in Iowa. Unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure or registration based on other grounds, such as disciplinary or criminal background, the following shall apply:

            a.               If a veteran has not passed the required examination(s) for licensure or registration, the applicant may request that the application be placed in pending status.

            b.               If additional experience or education is required in order for the applicant’s qualifications to be considered substantially equivalent, the applicant may request that the board issue a provisional license or registration for a specified period of time upon such conditions as the board deems reasonably necessary to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public unless the board determines that the deficiency is of a character that the public health, welfare, or safety will be adversely affected if a provisional license or registration is granted.

            c.               If a request for a provisional license or registration is denied, the board shall issue an order fully explaining the decision and shall inform the applicant of the steps the applicant may take in order to receive a provisional license or registration.

            d.               If a provisional license or registration is issued, the application for full licensure or registration shall be placed in pending status until the necessary experience or education has been successfully completed or the provisional license or registration expires, whichever occurs first. The board may extend a provisional license or registration on a case-by-case basis for good cause.

[ARC 1789C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15]