N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39-2.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:39-2.6 - Internship and externship practical experience requirements

(a) The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Extern preceptor" means an individual approved by an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-approved school or college of pharmacy, at which a pharmacy extern is enrolled, who assumes the responsibility to supervise and provide instructional training to a pharmacy extern.

"Intern preceptor" means a pharmacist licensed in this State who assumes the responsibility to supervise and provide instructional training to a pharmacy intern as set forth in (f) below.

"Pharmacy extern" means any person who is in the fifth or sixth college year, or the third or fourth professional year, at an ACPE-approved school or college of pharmacy who is assigned to a pharmacy training site for the purpose of acquiring practical experience under the supervision of the school or college at which he or she is enrolled.

"Pharmacy intern" means a person who is employed in an approved pharmacy training site for the purpose of acquiring practical experience and who has first registered for such purposes with the Board pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:14-48b(2), and who:

1. Has graduated from an ACPE-approved school or college of pharmacy who is making an application for initial licensure as a pharmacist;

2. Has graduated from a school or college of pharmacy in a foreign country that has not been accredited by ACPE or that has not been deemed ACPE-equivalent by ACPE;

3. Has applied to the Board for reciprocal licensure and has not been engaged in the practice of pharmacy for at least 1,500 hours within the two-year period immediately preceding the date of application; or

4. Is a graduate student participating in a post-graduate pharmacy residency program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and who is awaiting initial licensure.

"Pharmacy internship or externship" means the program in which practical experience is acquired by a pharmacy intern or extern.

"Pharmacy training site" means a site that is licensed by the Board where drugs are dispensed or pharmaceutical care is provided by a licensed pharmacist and that has a satisfactory record of observance of Federal, State and municipal law and ordinances governing the activities in which it is or has been engaged.

(b) The 1,440 hours of practical experience required for the successful completion of a pharmacy internship shall be obtained consistent with the following:

1. The 1,440 hours of practical experience shall be completed in no less than 34 weeks and no more than 104 weeks, under the supervision of an intern preceptor. Each week of practical experience shall consist of no less than 15 hours and no more than 45 hours of actual service per week;

2. The intern preceptor and the pharmacy intern shall keep accurate records of the time spent by the pharmacy intern for credit toward the requirements of (b)1 above. The Board shall provide appropriate forms to be submitted to the Board for approval of internship experience; and

3. No credit shall be given for hours served as a pharmacy intern prior to the applicant's registration with the Board and approval of the intern preceptor by the Board.

(c) A pharmacist who wishes to be an intern preceptor shall apply to the Board and shall furnish evidence that he or she:

1. Has been licensed and employed on a full-time basis as a pharmacist in the area of practice in which he or she is to be engaged as a preceptor for at least two years immediately preceding the date of application and is currently engaged in the practice of pharmacy in the State of New Jersey; and

2. Has not been convicted of a crime or offense relating adversely to the practice of pharmacy consistent with N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(f) or a crime of moral turpitude and has not been the subject of disciplinary action taken by a professional board resulting in the suspension, revocation or surrender of a license or the placement of significant limitations on such license.

(d) The Board shall approve an intern preceptor selected by each pharmacy intern prior to the beginning of the internship. An intern preceptor shall not supervise the training of more than one pharmacy intern at a time.

(e) The intern preceptor in a pharmacy training site shall provide the Board with a detailed written report outlining the progress, aptitude and readiness to practice of any pharmacy intern under his or her supervision at the conclusion of the internship.

(f) The intern preceptor shall be responsible for supervising the activities of the pharmacy intern and providing the pharmacy intern with experience and knowledge related to the preceptor's area of practice.

(g) An individual who works at a pharmacy outside the scope of his or her school's supervision is not deemed to be a pharmacy extern as defined in this section and shall register as a pharmacy technician in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:39-6.6. Such an individual may perform only the duties set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:39-6.15.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39-2.6

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 3761(a), effective 12/4/2017

Administrative Change, 54 N.J.R. 1977(a), effective 9/21/2022