Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 657 - PHARMACY BOARD
Chapter 2 - PHARMACIST LICENSES
Rule 657-2.12 - Continuing education requirements

a. A pharmacist who fails to complete the required CPE hours within the renewal period shall be required to complete one and one-half times the number of delinquent CPE hours prior to reactivation of the license.

b. CPE hours that are used to satisfy the CPE requirement for one renewal period shall not be used to satisfy the requirement for a subsequent renewal period.

c. Failure to receive a license renewal application or notice of license renewal shall not relieve the pharmacist of the responsibility of meeting CPE requirements.

a. ACPE provider activity. CPE activities that carry the seal of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited provider will automatically qualify for CPE credit. Successful completion and record of CPE activities in CPE Monitor is mandated in order for a pharmacist to receive credit for ACPE-accredited provider CPE activities.

b. Non-ACPE provider activity. A maximum of 13 CPE hours of the total 30 CPE hours 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. Non-ACPE provider activity completion shall be recorded, evaluated, and reported pursuant to the provisions of rule 657-2.17 (272C) regarding continuing professional development.

a. Pharmacist's full name and CPE Monitor e-profile identification number.

b. Number of contact hours or CEUs awarded for activity completion.

c. Date of live activity or date of completion of home study activity.

d. Name of accredited provider.

e. Activity title and universal activity number.

a. Drug therapy. A minimum of 15 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with drug therapy. Activities qualifying for the drug therapy requirement will include the ACPE topic designator "01" or "02" followed by the letter "P" at the end of the universal activity number.

b. Pharmacy law. A minimum of 2 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with pharmacy law. Activities qualifying for the pharmacy law requirement will include the ACPE topic designator "03" followed by the letter "P" at the end of the universal activity number.

c. Patient or medication safety. A minimum of 2 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in activities dealing with patient or medication safety. Activities completed to fulfill this requirement may be ACPE-accredited provider activities, in which case the universal activity number will end with the ACPE topic designator "05" followed by the letter "P." A pharmacist may complete non-ACPE provider activities as provided in paragraph 2.12(2) "b" to fulfill this topic requirement.

d. Immunization. If the pharmacist is engaged in the administration of immunizations during the renewal period, a minimum of 1 CPE hour of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with immunization or vaccine administration. Activities qualifying for the immunization requirement will include the ACPE topic designator of "06" followed by the letter "P" at the end of the universal activity number.

a. A pharmacist shall provide or report to the board, in the format specified on or with the pharmacist license renewal application, attestation that the CPE requirements have been met.

b. The board may require a pharmacist to submit activity statements of credit or other documented evidence of successful completion of the activities reported as fulfilling the CPE requirements.

a. Credit for health-related graduate studies. A pharmacist who is continuing formal education in a health-related graduate program, including participation in a pharmacy residency program, may be granted credit for health-related learning during the period of such enrollment or participation. As an alternative to requesting credit for health-related learning, the pharmacist may complete a CPD portfolio pursuant to rule 657-2.17 (272C).

b. Exemption for new license holders licensed by examination. After the initial license is issued by examination, the licensee is exempt from meeting CPE 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).

c. Waiver from CPE requirements due to physical disability or illness. The board may, in individual cases involving physical disability or illness, grant a waiver pursuant to 657-Chapter 34 of the minimum CPE requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the same or make the required reports. The board may grant a waiver of the minimum CPE 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 CPE requirements by any method prescribed by the board. A waiver request pursuant to this paragraph and 657-Chapter 34 shall be signed by the licensee and the licensee's physician.

d. Active military duty. A licensee shall be deemed compliant with the CPE requirements of this rule during periods that the licensee serves honorably on active duty in the military services.

e. Nonresident. A licensee who is not actively practicing in Iowa, is a resident of another state, and holds an active pharmacist license in the licensee's home state during the renewal period shall be deemed compliant with the CPE requirements of this rule.