Licensing and Continuing Education

Question 1

If you attended pharmacy school in another country, what certification would you need to become licensed as a pharmacist in NY?

Answer 1

Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee Certification (FPGEC)

To participate in the FPGEC certification program, candidates must have completed a program in pharmacy consisting of at least 3 years of professional study.

Question 2

Candidates in the FPGEC certification program must take what exam?

Answer 2

The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEC)

Question 3

What organization runs the FPGEC certification program?

Answer 3

That National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

Foreign graduates must complete a 12-month full-time (40 hours/wk) internship.

Question 4

An applicant for licensure who obtained their education in a country where English is not their principal language must demonstrate his/her proficiency in English by passing an exam.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

To fulfill the experience requirement, you must present evidence of at least:

Answer 5

to fulfill the experience requirement, you must present evidence of at least one year of satisfactory pharmacy practice experience following licensure during the 5-year period preceding the date of the application.

Question 6

What is “one hour” of CE credit?

Answer 6

At least 50 min of formal learning or study. 1 CEU= 10 contact hours (so we need 4.5 CEUs). 1 semester hour of college-level coursework= 15 contact hours. 1 quarter hour of college-level coursework= 10 contact hours.

Question 7

For CEs, CPR, BLS, ACLS and EMT courses are acceptable.

Answer 7

• Initial CPR or BLS= 5 hours, recertification is 3 hours
• Initial ACLS= 12 hours, recertification is 6 hours
• Initial EMT basic course= 10 hours, recertification is 5 hours

Question 8

How many hours of formal CE must a pharmacist complete during each triennial registration period?

Answer 8

45 hours

Question 9

Of the required forty-five (45) hours of CE, how many hours can be completed through self-study courses?

Answer 9

22 hours (max)

Question 10

In NY, is there a CE exemption for the initial license period?

Answer 10

No
Adjustments (not exemptions) may be granted for:
• Poor health, which must be certified by a physician
• Specific physical or mental disability, certified by an appropriate healthcare professional
• Extended duty with the armed forces
• Extreme hardship that makes it impossible for the licensee to comply

Question 11

Of the required hours, how many hours must be completed through live courses?

Answer 11

23 hours (min)

Question 12

Of the required hours, how many hours must be completed on the topic of processes and strategies for reducing medication/prescription errors?

Answer 12

3 hours (minimum). May be home study or live.

Question 13

If you participate in a CDTM agreement, how many of the 45 required hours of CE must be spent on a topic generally related to the area of practice relevant to the agreement?

Answer 13

Minimum of 5 live hours

Question 14

If you are a new pharmacist, chances are your first registration period will be less than 3 years. In this case, how many hours of CE must you complete to qualify for registration renewal?

Answer 14

A prorated quantity based on the rate of one and a quarter (1.25) CE hours/month.

Question 15

Why would you need to obtain a conditional registration certificate?

Answer 15

If you fail to renew on time, you would need to obtain a conditional registration certificate to allow you to make up the deficient CE and practice pharmacy again. This registration shall be good for a period of one year (cannot be renewed or extended).

Question 16

What CE subjects are typically considered acceptable to the Education Department?

Answer 16

Pharmacology of new and developing drugs, drug interactions, public health issues, infection control, sterile procedures, legal and regulatory issues, patient counseling, and other topics

Question 17

Can the department require completion of CE in specific subjects (in the judgment of the department)?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

Approved sponsors of CE include those approved by:

Answer 18

The American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) or an organization determined by the Board to be equivalent. Accredited post-secondary institutions are also approved.

Question 19

Pharmacists shall maintain:

Answer 19

adequate documentation of completion of CE and provide such documentation at the request of the department.

Question 20

What specific information must be recorded in your CE records?

Answer 20

Title of the program, # of hours completed, sponsor’s name and any identifying #, attendance verification, date and location of the program

Question 21

For how long are pharmacists required to maintain their individual CE records?

Answer 21

For at least 6 years from the date of completion (records must be kept available for review by the department)

Question 22

What is the mandatory CE fee and when is it due?

Answer 22

$45 due on (or before) the first day of each triennial registration period

Question 23

For what reason(s) may the department adjust the CE requirement for an individual?

Answer 23

1) Reasons of health (if certified by a healthcare professional)
2) Extended active duty with the US armed forces
3) For other good cause which may prevent compliance with the CE requirement (as deemed acceptable by the department)

Question 24

You allowed your NY pharmacist license to lapse (i.e. did not renew it) and did not practice continuously in another state during the lapse period. How many credit hours of CE must you complete to reactive your NY license?

Answer 24

All required CE hours from the last registration period
+ 1.25 CE hours for each month of lapsed registration (completed within the 12 months before the start of the new registration period)
+ 15 CE hours for each 12-month period after receiving a reissued registration (until the next registration date).

Question 25

What fees must you pay when applying for a conditional registration?

Answer 25

The triennial registration fee, an additional fee equal to the triennial registration fee, the mandatory $45 CE fee

Question 26

A conditional registration is not valid for more than 1 year and cannot be renewed or extended.

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Can you get CE credit for completing a university or college course?

Answer 27

Yes. One semester-hour of college or university credit= 15 hours of CE. One quarter-hour of college or university credit=10 hours of CE

Question 28

If an organization wants to offer CE to pharmacists, they must…

Answer 28

make an application to the Education Department and pay an application fee of $900.

Question 29

If approved, the organization will receive an approved sponsor permit. How often does the permit need to be renewed and what is the renewal fee?

Answer 29

Permit must be renewed every 3 years. The fee is $900.