Pharmacist Continuing Pharmacy Education
All regulations regarding continuing pharmacy education can be found in §507. Continuing Education Program at https://www.pharmacy.la.gov/page/876. You are encourgaed to fully review all regulations. The information provided below does not provide all information in regulations.
Minimum Hours:
A minimum of 1 1/2 ACPE or board-approved CPE units, or 15 hours, shall be required each year as a prerequisite for pharmacist licensure renewal. Of this number, no less than 3/10 ACPE or board-approved CPE units, or three hours, shall be acquired through live presentations, as designated by ACPE or the board.
Alternatively, should a pharmacist choose to not acquire at least 3/10 ACPE or board-approved CPE units, or three hours, through live presentations, then he shall acquire an additional 5/10 ACPE or board-approved CPE units, or five hours, through any other acceptable method, over and above the minimum requirement, for a total of two ACPE or board-approved CPE units, or 20 hours.
CPE Records:
Pharmacists shall maintain individual records of personal CPE activities with CPE Monitor (NABP) and shall authorize the board’s access to their file by recording their Louisiana pharmacist license number within that file, and shall present a copy of their CPE Monitor transcript when requested by the board.
Compliance:
Complete compliance with CPE rules is a prerequisite for pharmacist licensure renewal. Non-compliance with the CPE requirements shall be considered a violation of R.S. 37:1241(A)(2), and shall constitute a basis for the board to refuse licensure renewal.
Renewal:
The online renewal process will begin with a question relative to the licensee’s compliance with the continuing pharmacy education (CPE) requirements. The renewal process will then pause for an automated check of the applicant’s records via CPE Monitor®. The time for receipt of the return message from CPE Monitor is usually less than one minute. Upon verification of compliance with CPE requirements by CPE Monitor, the applicant will be permitted to complete the renewal process.
In the event that compliance cannot be verified by CPE Monitor, the renewal process will be terminated, and the applicant will be invited to return to complete the renewal process when their records at CPE Monitor can substantiate their compliance with CPE requirements.
Upon receipt of a paper application, Board staff will ensure compliance with CPE requirements by viewing your CPE Monitor transcript. If the minimum CPE requirements are not reflected, your application will be returned, unprocessed.
Waiver:
Pharmacist classified as Voluntary Inactive (PST-VI), Gold Voluntary Inactive (PST-GVI), or Military (PST-M) are waived from the CPE requirements.
Further, as a courtesy the Board has waived CPE requirements for pharmacist licensed by examination renewing for the first time. To qualify for this exemption, the pharmacist must have obtained the license by examination during the calendar year which the renewal is being completed. This waiver does not apply to pharmacists reinstating a credential.