21 NCAC 46 .2201. HOURS: RECORDS: PROVIDERS: CORRESPONDENCE: RECIPROCITY

(a)  As a condition of license renewal, a pharmacist shall accumulate 15 hours of continuing education annually.

(b)  Eight of these continuing education hours shall be obtained through contact programs.  Contact programs are those in which there is an opportunity for live two-way communication between the presenter and attendee.  An on-line continuing education course may satisfy this contact-hour requirement provided that the live two-way communication standard is met.

(c)  A pharmacist who accumulates more than the required 15 hours of continuing education in a single year may carry forward up to five surplus hours to be applied to the following year's continuing education requirements.

(d)  A pharmacist shall preserve all continuing education records for three years.

(e)  Upon license renewal, the pharmacist shall report continuing education hours on a form provided by the Board.  The Board may require a pharmacist to submit records, reports of accredited hours and certificates of credit on a random basis pursuant to a continuing education audit.

(f)  All continuing education shall be obtained through accredited continuing education courses.  The Board shall approve continuing education courses as accredited if they provide education on matters that will maintain or increase the participant's professional competence and proficiency as a pharmacist. 

(g)  Continuing education shall not serve as a barrier to reciprocity; however all licensees by reciprocity must observe the continuing education standards specified in this Rule within the first renewal period after licensure in this state.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-85.6; 90-85.17; 90-85.18;

Eff. January 1, 1985;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2008; April 1, 2005; August 1, 2004; August 1, 1998; September 1, 1993; May 1, 1989.