Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 007 - Arkansas Department of Health
Division 39 - Board of Pharmacy
Rule 007.39.20-002 - Rule 2- Pharmacists
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
02-00 : GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACISTS
Whenever any licensed pharmacist shall change his place of employment for any reason, it shall be the duty of the former and current employer and said licensed pharmacist to notify the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy in writing of such change within five days after such change of employment. Notification must be made by letter, fax, email or through the Board website and must contain the new place of employment of the licensed pharmacist and their license number. (10/9/80, Amended 10/14/81, 11/13/2006, and 8/31/2011).
Any licensed pharmacist whose certificate has been lost or destroyed may procure a duplicate from the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy by filing an affidavit that said certificate has been lost or destroyed and by paying a fee as defined in rule 01-00-0007. (10/9/80 Amended 8/23/96 and 8/1/2020).
02-01 : INTERNSHIP/CLERKSHIP
Hereafter no extern, intern, or student of a pharmacy school shall be granted authority from this Board to practice pharmacy in Arkansas and serve any internship period in Arkansas unless he is licensed with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and undergoes a criminal background check pursuant to Rule 11 and conducted by the Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Applications for an intern's license, and for criminal background checks, will be furnished by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. The applicant will be responsible for the payment of applicable fees for state and federal criminal background check pursuant to written instructions provided by the Board, and for applicable fees for an intern's license to the Board. (Amended 6/23/96, 11/15/2003, 03/01/2004, and 8/1/2020).
The Board of Pharmacy is charged with regulating the internship program in Arkansas Code § 17-92-307. The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy recognizes that in order to properly fulfill its obligation to the profession of pharmacy and general welfare and protection of the public health that it must implement and supervise an internship program in the State of Arkansas.
From time to time, as is required to establish a viable internship program, the Board will establish, publish, and disseminate criteria establishing requirements and standards necessary for qualifications for licensure under Arkansas Code § 17-92-305, and § 17-92-307.
Hereafter, every applicant for licensure by examination in Arkansas must have 2,000 hours of acceptable internship training obtained after beginning the professional college curriculum. Required hours may be obtained in a training program as part of school curriculum under Arkansas Board of Pharmacy approved conditions. (Amended 5/31/14)
Be enrolled as a student in a college of pharmacy accredited by ACPE and approved by the Board, or be a graduate of a foreign college of pharmacy who has obtained Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification from NABP.
(Revised 6/22/84, 4/07/89, 6/20/91, 4/10/92, 10/2004, 11/13/2006, 11/1/2007, 7/10/2009, 8/31/2011, and 8/1/2020)
The Arkansas internship-training program requires that a pharmacist, who has been duly certified by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, may serve as preceptor for an intern or extern. A pharmacist must meet the following requirements to be certified as a preceptor by the State Board of Pharmacy:
(Revised 11/13/2006, 11/1/2007, and 8/1/2020)
Violation of any of the rules and requirements set forth in this section may cause the preceptor to lose his or her certification, and may also cause the intern to lose internship training credit. (10/09/80, Revised 2/17/8 2/12/86, 2/10/87, 6/20/91, 8/23/96 and 11/1/2007).
An accredited pharmacy degree program shall be any program which meets at least the minimum standards established for a recognized Doctor of Pharmacy program by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
At the October Board meeting each year, the Board of Pharmacy shall adopt a specific list (by name) of approved colleges. Until the list is revised, the existing list shall remain valid. (6/25/83, Revised 11/13/2006)
02-02 : EXAMINATION
Before being approved to take the NAPLEX examination for licensure in Arkansas, each applicant must meet the following requirements:
(10/09/80, Revised 1/14/81, 6/22/84, 6/13/85, 6/20/91, 2/11/97, 11/15/2003, 03/01/2004, 11/13/2006,11/1/2007, 8/31/2011, and 8/1/2020)
The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy participates in the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Score Transfer Program. The Score Transfer Program requires the applicant, or test candidate, to submit a NAPLEX Score Transfer Form before the administration date of NAPLEX and fulfill other state requirements for licensure in the state to which the scores are transferred for licensure by examination in that state.
If a candidate takes NAPLEX in another participating state, properly transfers the score to Arkansas, and completes other requirements for licensure including but not limited to criminal background checks pursuant to Rule 11, Arkansas will license the applicant by the examination process within twelve (12) months of receipt of the score transfer.
The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will provide information related to states participating, NAPLEX fees, and Arkansas fees. (6/20/91, Revised 11/15/2003, 11/30/2010, and 8/1/2020)
02-03 : RECIPROCITY
No temporary license shall be granted to a reciprocity applicant until the preliminary application has been received and approved by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the applicant has submitted the application to the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy office, paid the reciprocity fee, undergone a criminal background check pursuant to Rule 11, supplied a copy of the applicant's birth certificate, submitted proof of required continuing education, and supplied a current photograph of the applicant. The temporary license shall expire at the next meeting of the Board of Pharmacy after the issuance of the temporary license. However, the temporary license will automatically expire 180 days from the date of issue and the holder of the temporary license must cease practicing pharmacy in the State of Arkansas until reciprocity has been granted by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.
Before issuing a temporary license, the Board Member must personally talk to the applicant and ascertain that he/she has passed the Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam.
A pharmacist is not eligible for an Arkansas license by reciprocity until he or she has been licensed six months in his/her state of original licensure by examination. Any practice in Arkansas within this six month period, must be as an intern and under the requirements set out in this criteria (unless consideration is made by the Board of Pharmacy and an exception is approved). The application for reciprocity will become null and void if it has not been completed within one year of the date of receipt in the Board of Pharmacy office. (10/09/80, Revised 4/07/89 and 4/10/92, 2/10/97, 11/15/2003, and 8/1/2020)
02-04 : DEFINING UNPROFESSIONAL OR DISHONORABLE CONDUCT:
In defining "unprofessional conduct," the definitions of professional conduct and a pharmacist's duty should be determined. Professional conduct may be defined as complying with all the laws and rules that apply to a given professional activity.
A pharmacist's duty means the practicing pharmacist has a general duty to qualify himself by attaining and maintaining an acceptable level of professional competence and by using such skill and precaution in the preparation, compounding, dispensing, labeling and distribution of drugs and medical devices whether on prescription or not, so as to prevent injury or death to all who are exposed to his or her professional services; and if the pharmacist is an owner, operator, or director of a pharmacy, he has an additional duty to employ only qualified persons and such other duties as are incidental to the operation of a mercantile business establishment. (Amended 8/1/2020)
Unprofessional or dishonorable conduct by a pharmacist shall mean, among other things, but not limited to:
(Exempts pharmacies selling alcoholic beverages before 6/85.)
(10/09/80, Revised 4/07/89, 6/07/90, 4/10/92, 6/12/03, and 8/1/2020)
02-05 : BOARD ACTIONS
The Arkansas Administrative Procedures Act § 25-15-211(c) states:
"If the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action and incorporates a finding to that effect in its order, summary suspension of a license may be ordered pending proceedings for revocation or other action, which proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined."
Where the Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy believes that the above condition exists, he shall call an emergency meeting with proper notifications of involved parties and media. Proper notifications shall be consistent with the Arkansas Administrative Procedures Act. This emergency meeting may be via a conference telephone call to a quorum of Board members.
The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy shall introduce evidence why he/she thinks an emergency exists and that a violation of the Pharmacy licensing law or rule has occurred. The Board shall determine whether the license should be summarily suspended. A hearing shall be scheduled promptly for which notice shall be given pursuant to § 17-92-313. If immediate action is requested, this hearing shall be within 14 days from the final Board decision. (10/12/88 Amended 8/1/2020)
02-06 : CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PHARMACISTS
(Revised 7/5/2007 Amended 8/1/2020)
(Revised 11/30/2010 Amended 8/1/2020)
(4/07/89, Amended 04/30/93, 6/98, 8/2001, 7/10/2009, 11/30/2010, and 8/1/2020)