(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to practice pharmacy in this state or to permit prescriptions to be compounded and/or dispensed by persons other than those duly licensed by the board to practice pharmacy in this state; provided, that any person who holds a professional degree in pharmacy from a school of pharmacy recognized by the board who is serving his or her internship under the immediate direct supervision of a pharmacist on the premises registered by the board and any person who is enrolled in a school of pharmacy recognized by the board working under the immediate and direct supervision of a pharmacist on the premises registered by the board pursuing his or her education as a pharmacist shall be permitted to compound and/or dispense prescriptions. In order to be considered enrolled in a school of pharmacy and pursuing his or her education as a pharmacist, a person shall not be absent from the school of pharmacy for more than two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters, dependent upon the system in use in the school of pharmacy. Any bona fide resident of this state who shall furnish proof to the board in person by affidavits from two pharmacists licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy, neither of whom shall be related to the applicant by blood or marriage, within a period of 90 days subsequent to August 26, 1966, establishing the fact that he or she has filled prescriptions under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist over a period of at least 15 successive years next preceding the offer of such proof shall be issued an assistant's certificate which will authorize the person to practice pharmacy in this state; provided, that the person shall be under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist at all times, and such person shall be subject to all of the provisions of this chapter governing the practice of pharmacy in this state, including, but not limited to, the revocation or suspension of such certificate for violations of the provisions of this chapter; and provided further, that such person shall pay an original registration fee to be determined by the board, but the fee shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) upon the issuance of such certificate. All certificates so issued shall expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. In order to continue to obtain a certificate as a pharmacist's assistant, a biennial renewal fee in an amount determined by the board shall be paid, but the fee shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150). This renewal fee shall be paid to the secretary of the board and shall be due on October 31 and delinquent after December 31 of even-numbered years. The payment of the renewal fee shall entitle the holder thereof to renewal of his or her certificate at the discretion of the board. If any pharmacist's assistant fails to pay a renewal fee on or before the due date, the holder of the certificate may be reinstated as a pharmacist's assistant only upon payment of a penalty of ten dollars ($10) for each lapsed month and all lapsed fees, provided the lapsed time of certification shall not exceed five years, in which case reinstatement may be had only upon satisfactory examination by the board. As used in this section, the term "supervision" shall be construed to mean that the supervising licensed pharmacist shall be either personally present or on call and available for consultation at all times, or a licensed pharmacist designated by the supervising licensed pharmacist shall be either personally present or on call and available for consultation at all times.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 20-2-51 or any other law to the contrary, each person licensed by the board to practice pharmacy may distribute or dispense controlled substances during the biennial period for which the person is licensed.