(1) No license renewal shall be issued by the department until the licensee submits proof satisfactory to the board that during the 2 years prior to her or his application for renewal the licensee has participated in not less than 30 hours of continuing professional pharmaceutical education in courses approved by the board.

(2) The board shall approve only those courses that build upon the basic courses offered in the curricula of accredited colleges or schools of pharmacy, and the board shall require that the provider meets the educational standards for the program design, administration, and evaluation established by the board.

(3) Upon initial licensure, the department may reduce the number of required hours consistent with the requirements of biennial renewal.

(4) The department may make exception from the requirements of this section in an emergency or hardship case.

(5) The board may adopt rules within the requirements of this section that are necessary for its implementation, including a rule creating a committee composed of equal representation from the board, the colleges of pharmacy in the state, and practicing pharmacists within the state, whose purpose shall be to approve the content of each course offered for continuing education credit prior to the time such course is offered.

(6) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(5):

(a) Each pharmacist certified to administer a vaccine or epinephrine autoinjection under s. 465.189 must complete a 3-hour continuing education course, which shall be offered by a statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category I credit, on the safe and effective administration of vaccines and epinephrine autoinjection as part of biennial relicensure or recertification. This course may be offered in a distance-learning format and must be included in the 30 hours of continuing professional pharmaceutical education specified in subsection (1).

(b) Each pharmacist must submit confirmation of having completed the course specified in paragraph (a) on a form provided by the board when submitting fees for license renewal.

(c) Failure to comply with paragraphs (a) and (b) results in the revocation of the authorization for a pharmacist to administer a vaccine or epinephrine autoinjection under s. 465.189. Such authorization may be restored upon completion of such requirements.

History.—ss. 1, 7, ch. 79-226; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 7, 26, 27, ch. 86-256; s. 59, ch. 91-137; s. 6, ch. 91-156; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 241, ch. 97-103; s. 1, ch. 2002-184; s. 3, ch. 2012-60.