657—2.12 (272C) 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.
	 2.12(1) Continuing education activity attendance. Continuing education activities that carry the seal of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited provider will automatically qualify for continuing education credit. Attendance is mandated in order for a pharmacist to receive credit unless the activity is an ACPE-accredited correspondence course.
	  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. The pharmacist is responsible for ensuring that the activity content directly relates to the pharmacist’s professional practice. In addition, 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.
	  b.   	 Exemption for health-related graduate studies. A pharmacist who is continuing formal education in health-related graduate programs, including participation in a pharmacy residency program, may be exempted from meeting the continuing education requirements during the period of such enrollment or participation. 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. 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(2) Continuing education unit required. The nationally accepted measurement of continuing education is referred to as CEU (continuing education unit), and the board of pharmacy employs that measurement. Ten contact hours of approved continuing education are equivalent to one CEU. The board of pharmacy will require 3.0 CEUs each renewal period. 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. 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. 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.
	 2.12(3) Continuing education activity statement of credit.
	  a.   	 An accredited provider will be required to make available to an individual pharmacist a statement of credit that indicates successful completion of and participation in a continuing education activity. The statement of credit will carry the following information:
	 (1) 	 Pharmacist’s full name.
	 (2) 	 Number of contact hours or CEUs awarded for activity completion.
	 (3) 	 Date of live activity or date of completion of home study activity.
	 (4) 	 Name of accredited provider.
	 (5) 	 Activity title and universal activity number.
	  b.   	 A pharmacist must retain statements of credit in the pharmacist’s personal files for four years.
	 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 activities dealing with drug therapy. Activities qualifying for the drug therapy requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “01” or “02” in the last two digits 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 activities dealing with pharmacy law. Activities qualifying for the pharmacy law requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “03” in the last two digits 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 activities, in which case the last two digits of the universal activity number will include the ACPE topic designator “05,” or non-ACPE provider activities as provided in subrule 2.12(1).
	 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).
	 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).
	 2.12(7) Reporting continuing education credits.
	  a.   	 A pharmacist shall submit on or with the renewal application form documentation that the continuing education requirements have been met. Documentation shall be in a format that includes the following:
	 (1) 	 The total number of credits accumulated for the renewal period;
	 (2) 	 The individual activities completed, including activity title and universal activity number;
	 (3) 	 The dates of completion;
	 (4) 	 The credits awarded for each activity;
	 (5) 	 The name of the provider of each activity; and
	 (6) 	 Identification of the activities completed to comply with the drug therapy requirements in subrule 2.12(4).
	  b.   	 The board may require a pharmacist to submit the activity statements of credit that document successful completion of the activities included with or on the renewal application.
	  c.   	 Failure to receive the renewal application shall not relieve the pharmacist of the responsibility of meeting continuing education requirements.
	 2.12(8) Relicensure examination. Nothing in these rules precludes the board from requiring an applicant for renewal to submit to a relicensure examination.
	 2.12(9) 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]