070.00.98 Ark. Code R. 005

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 070.00.98-005 - Regulation 32 - Continuing Education

32. CONTINUING EDUCATION

I. Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education:

A. The Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is established to .maintain! professional competence through continuing education. The Committee shall consist of the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, the Dean of the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy, and the Executive Vice President of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association or the designated representatives of these individuals.

B. The general areas of responsibility for the Committee shall be following:

1. Plan and coordinate continuing education opportunities.

2. Promote research in continuing pharmacy education.

3. Develop information and record systems, pertaining to the participation of pharmacists licensed in the state of Arkansas, in continuing education.

4. Make recommendations to the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy concerning Continuing Education Regulations.

C. The Committee will meet periodically review and recommend changes in the criteria by which the continuing education will be approved and to accomplish the above responsibilities.

D. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy will carry out approval of continuing education according to the guidelines below.

E. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy will act as Chairman of the Committee.

II. ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES:

A. GUIDELINES

1. The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) shall be the basis for accreditation of offerings within the state. 1 CEU is defined as 1 contact hour.

2. The Board of Pharmacy will accredit Intrastate and interstate C.E. offerings that have been reviewed by an appropriate national agency.

3. Continuing Education programs shall be accredited for the total length of the program.

4. Credit shall not be allowed for:

a. "Banquet" meetings with no educational program.

b. Unstructured demonstrations.

c. Unstructured questions and answers session.

5. Credit (hour for hour) shall be allowed for:

a. Speakers.

b. Panels.

c. Structured discussions, workshops, and demonstrations.

d. Structured questions and answers sessions.

6. Keynote speakers and topics will be accredited on an individual basis.

7. The Committee reserves the right for members or designees to review programs in operation.

B. ACCREDITATION MECHANISM

1. Members of the Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and recommending changes in the criteria for the accreditation of C.E. offerings.

2. In the temporary absence of a designated Committee member, a designated representative may review and offer recommendations for establishing and reviewing the criteria for the accreditation of C.E. offerings.

3. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy shall review all programs within 10 days of receipt of request for accreditation.

4. All requests for accreditation must be received, in writing, in the Board of Pharmacy office at least 15 days before the offering is to occur.

C. REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION

1. The organization shall have completed the appropriate program requirements. (See D below.)

2. The organization shall have the proper personnel to plan and produce educational programs.

3. The organization and personnel presenting the offering shall be qualified in the area of the presentation.

4. The organization shall provide the proper administrative facilities, provide the proper physical facilities, and have the financial resources for the production of educational programs.

D. PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION

1. The program criteria shall be appropriate to meet the needs of the pharmacist.

2. Beginning and ending times for each section of "Live" programs must be indicated.

3. A description of the program content shall accompany the request for accreditation and must be evaluated prior to its presentation.

4. The program description, which is presented for accreditation, shall have a statement of objectives and goals.

5. The program outline shall indicate how performance and effectiveness by the pharmacist will be measured.

a. Live programs in themselves; shall be acceptable for accreditation.

b. Audiovisual and correspondence programs shall require a live moderator or testing procedure.

6. The program shall allow the pharmacist a method to evaluate the presentation.

7. The program shall demonstrate a quality educational process.

a. Appropriate handout materials will be used with live presentations and correspondence courses.

b. Appropriate audiovisual materials will be used with audiovisual presentations and correspondence courses when necessary.

8. The program administrator shall present accreditation certificates to pharmacists, who satisfy requirements of the program. The application for approval shall specify how the accreditation certificates will be presented to participants.

9. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy must approve changes in the date, starting time, or duration, of the program being presented, if said changes are made after initial accreditation.

10. Changes in speakers are acceptable if the quality of the program being presented is not diminished.

11. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy must receive any changes in topics to be presented at least seven (7) days before the program is to be presented.

12. The organization presenting a C.E. program must provide reasonable notification to potential participants of any changes in, date, time, or duration of the program; changes in speakers; or changes in topics to be presented.

E. Programs sponsored and conducted by local pharmacists associations, will be accredited provided that the programs meet the criteria outlined in Section II C & D of these guidelines in addition to the following procedures.

1. The program shall be structured and shall be offered to all pharmacists who are members of the local association.

2. Each program shall be a minimum of one hour in length.

3. The local pharmacists association shall provide a method of registration and verification of attendance as outlined in II D. above.

III. IMPLEMENTION OF PHARMACY CONTINUING EDUCATION

A. The Board of Pharmacy adopts the accreditation guidelines set out by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education for establishment of acceptable continuing education.

B. Thirty (30) hours of Continuing Education are required for the two (2)-year period 1997-1998. Effective January 1, 1999 the Board establishes the following Continuing Education (CE) requirements:

1. 15 hours of C.E. each calendar year.

2. A minimum of nine (9) of the fifteen (15) C.E. hours must be live contact hours as defined by the Committee. A minimum of six (6) of the nine (9) live contact hours must be concerning drug therapy or patient management. No more than six (6) hours of Continuing Education-in any year-may be obtained by attending any government Board Meeting; attending any Association Board Meeting; or answering questions from periodicals, audiotapes, videotapes, cable television, computer assisted instruction, or monographs.

C. The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will accept C.E. credits, approved by State Boards of Pharmacy in other states, toward licensure as a pharmacist in Arkansas provided that there is a reciprocal arrangement and that the requirements of III.B. are met.

D. Pharmacists are required to retain certificates of participation in Continuing Education for a period of two years and to certify completion of the required C.E., on a form furnished by the Board of Pharmacy with the annual license renewal forms. The pharmacist must present certificates of participation to any representative of the Board of Pharmacy if requested to do so.

E. Pharmacists who wish to retain their license, but do not want to meet the annual Continuing Education requirements, may go on inactive pharmacist status for an indefinite period. To reestablish active status and return to practice in Arkansas, a pharmacist must acquire half of the continuing education hours missed plus the continuing education hours for the current licensure year up to 60 hours. If the pharmacist has been on inactive status with regard to C.E. for two (2) calendar years or more and has not been actively practicing pharmacy in another state, said pharmacist shall also comply with all requirements in Regulation 53.

F. A licensed pharmacist may satisfy the continuing education requirement, as described in item III B., by completing one or more programs in disease state management that has been approved by the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. The program must document, by examination, the possession of related competency expectations adopted by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. Said program would satisfy the continuing education requirement for the year in which the program is completed and the following year.

G. A licensed pharmacist, who has satisfactorily completed a Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties certification and received approval by the Board of Pharmacy, may receive credit for continuing education for the year in which the program is completed and the following year. 10/09/80 (Revised 4/07/89,04/30/93 and 6/98)

070.00.98 Ark. Code R. 005

7/8/1998