201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:015

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 2:015 - Continuing education

RELATES TO: KRS 315.010, 315.065, 315.120, 315.121

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 315.065(2) and (3) require the Board of Pharmacy to establish continuing education requirements for pharmacists. This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the continuing pharmacy education of registered pharmacists and requires all registered pharmacists holding a license issued by the board to participate in continuing pharmacy education as a means of renewal of their licenses.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Continuing education unit" or "CEU" is defined by KRS 315.010(8).

(2) "Sponsor" means a person, school, association, company, corporation, or group who wishes to develop a continuing education program.

Section 2.

(1) Continuing education hours for credit shall be relevant to the practice of pharmacy and free of commercial bias.

(2) Continuing education hours shall be approved if approved by:

(a) The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE); or

(b) The board.

Section 3.

(1) Continuing education sponsors shall submit an Application for Provider CE Approval to the board:

(a) At least sixty (60) days prior to the presentation date, if pre-approval is sought; or

(b) Between sixty (60) days prior and thirty (30) days after the presentation date, if pre-approval is not sought.

(2) Program changes shall be submitted to and approved by the board, or the approval of the program shall be void.

(3) Continuing education credit shall be given only once for each program per participant.

(4) Sponsors shall retain a file of each participant's program completion for three (3) years.

(5) Board approval of each program shall expire three (3) years after the date of approval.

Section 4.

(1) Pharmacists requesting approval of individually obtained continuing pharmacy education shall submit an Application for Pharmacist CE Approval to the board within thirty (30) days of completion of the educational presentation.

(2) The board shall notify the requesting pharmacist whether the application request has been approved or denied.

(3) Continuing education that has not been approved by ACPE or the board shall not be used to meet continuing education requirements for renewal or issuance of a license.

Section 5.

(1) A pharmacist shall:

(a) Complete a minimum of one and five-tenths (1.5) CEU (fifteen (15) contact hours) annually between March 1 and February 28 of the subsequent year prior to licensing renewal; and

(b) For licensing years 2023 through 2028, one (1) contact hour of the fifteen (15) contact hours shall be on the opioid epidemic or opioid use disorder; and

(c) Not transfer or apply excess hours or units for future years.

(2) A pharmacist may be granted a deferral on a year-to-year basis at the determination of the board for illness, incapacity, or other extenuating circumstances.

(3) A pharmacist first licensed by the board within twelve (12) months immediately preceding the annual renewal date shall be exempt from the continuing pharmacy education provisions for that year.

(4) Pharmacists shall:

(a) Keep valid records, receipts, and certifications of continuing pharmacy education programs completed for three (3) years; and

(b) Submit that documentation to the board upon request.

(5) Submission of a fraudulent statement or certificate concerning continuing pharmacy education shall subject the pharmacist to discipline as provided in KRS 315.121.

Section 6. Each pharmacist shall keep the board informed of the pharmacist's correct address.

Section 7. CEU may be transferred from another state to Kentucky if the transfer state recognizes Kentucky CEU.

Section 8. A licensee who failed to timely renew his or her license shall:

(1) Comply with the applicable provisions of KRS 315.120(2) or (3); and

(2) Complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education for each year the applicant failed to renew his or her license, up to a maximum of seventy-five (75) hours.

Section 9. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) "Application for Provider CE Approval", June 2018; and

(b) "Application for Pharmacist CE Approval", June 2018.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, 125 Holmes Street, Suite 300, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or on the Web site at https://pharmacy.ky.gov/professionals/Pages/Continuing-Education-.aspx

201 KAR 2:015

4 Ky.R. 218; eff. 1-4-1978; 11 Ky.R. 1612; eff. 6-4-1985; 16 Ky.R. 791; eff. 1-12-1990; 28 Ky.R. 1906; 2192; eff. 3-28-2002; 37 Ky.R. 2041; 2376; eff. 5-6-2011; 41 Ky.R. 2609; 42 Ky.R. 272; eff. 9-4-2015; 45 Ky.R. 146, 650; eff. 9-19-2018; 48 Ky.R. 2815; 49 Ky.R. 758; eff. 11/15/2022; 50 Ky.R. 2282; eff. 10/23/2024.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 315.065, 315.110(1), 315.191(1)