CONTINUING PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 6

Section 1. Authority.

These regulations are promulgated as authorized by the Act.

Section 2. Purpose.

Whereas, the practice of the profession of pharmacy is directly related to the public health and welfare of the citizens of this State, these regulations establish minimum requirements for continuing pharmaceutical education which is necessary for a pharmacist to maintain professional competency and improve professional skills.

Section 3. Definitions.

a. "Approved providers" means sponsors of continuing education programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), Tripartite Committee on Continuing Education for Pharmacists in Wyoming, Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).

b. "Contact hour" means a unit of measure equivalent to 50 minutes of live classroom or actual lecture time

c. "Continuing Education Unit" (CEU) means one (1) continuing education unit shall be equivalent to ten (10) contact hours of continuing pharmaceutical education.

d. "Continuing pharmaceutical education records" means those certificates issued by approved providers upon completion of approved programs.

e. "Previous License Period" means the calendar year (January 1 through December 31) immediately preceding the year for which the pharmacist is seeking a license renewal.

Section 4. Continuing Pharmaceutical Education Requirement.

a. In accordance with W.S. § 33-24-121, all pharmacists must complete and report 12 contact hours (1.2 CEU's) of approved continuing education obtained during the previous license period in order to renew their license to practice pharmacy.

b. Pharmacists are required to maintain certificates of completion of approved continuing education for two years from the date of reporting the contact hours on a license renewal application.

c. Excess continuing education credit shall not be carried forward.

Section 5. Annual Report.

a. Every pharmacist, who has been licensed for one full year or longer, applying for renewal pursuant to W.S. 33-24-121 (d), shall indicate on their renewal application how many contact hours of approved continuing pharmacy education has been earned during the previous license period.

b. A pharmacist who is not engaged in an active practice of pharmacy in Wyoming may request inactive license status on their renewal application, and is exempt from the continuing education requirements. A pharmacist requesting inactive license status may not practice pharmacy in Wyoming.

Section 6. Failure to Comply - Active Status.

Any pharmacist actively practicing in this State failing to comply with the provisions of Section 4 and 5 (a) of this Chapter shall not have their license to practice pharmacy renewed. However, any pharmacist may be reinstated under the provisions of the Act upon completion of these requirements.

Section 7. Inactive Status.

A pharmacist who is on inactive status may be reinstated upon completing the continuing pharmaceutical education requirements for each year of inactive status, not to exceed five (5) years.

Section 8. Continuing Education Audits.

a. The board shall randomly select submitted renewal application forms for audit and verification of reported continuing education contact hours.

b. Upon written request by the board, a pharmacist shall provide to the board copies of certificates of completion for all continuing education contact hours reported during a specified license period. Failure to provide all requested records constitutes prima facie evidence of knowingly submitting false or misleading information to the board for the renewal of a license and may subject the pharmacist to disciplinary action by the board.

Section 9. Approved Programs.

a. Any program presented by an ACPE approved provider subject to the following conditions.

i. Pharmacists may receive credit for the completion of the same course only once during a license period.

ii. Proof of participation shall be a copy of the certificate issued by an approved ACPE provider, which includes name of participant, ACPE program identification number, name of program, contact hours approved, signature and date signed by ACPE approved provider.

b. Courses which are part of a professional degree program or an advanced pharmacy degree program offered by a college of pharmacy which has a professional degree program accredited by ACPE.

i. Proof of participation shall be a letter signed by the Dean of the school/college of pharmacy indicating enrollment and credit hours of study during the license period in question. No more than 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) per credit hour will be allowed.

c. Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) courses which lead to CPR certification or recertification by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association shall be recognized as approved programs. Pharmacists may receive credit for one contact hour (0.1 CEU) towards their continuing education requirement for completion of a CPR course only once during each license period. Proof of completion of a CPR course shall be the certificate issued by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

d. Advanced cardiovascular life support course (ACLS) which leads to initial ACLS certification or recertification by the American Heart Association shall be recognized as approved programs. Pharmacists may receive credit for six contact hours (.6 CEUs) towards their continuing education requirement for completion of an ACLS course only once during a license period. Proof of completion of an ACLS course shall be the certificate issued by the American Heart Association.

e. Pediatric advanced life support course (PALS) which leads to initial PALS certification or recertification by the American Heart Association shall be recognized as approved programs. Pharmacists may receive credit for six contract hours (.6 CEU's) towards their continuing education requirement for completion of a PALS course only once during a license period. Proof of completion of a PALS course shall be the certificate issued by the American Heart Association.

f. Any program presented by the Tripartite Committee on Continuing Education for Pharmacists in Wyoming.

i. Proof of completion of a Tripartite Committee sponsored continuing education program shall be the certificate issued by the Tripartite Committee on Continuing Education for Pharmacists in Wyoming.

g. Any AMA PRA Category 1 CME program presented by an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education approved provider, provided the program includes in the title a reference to drug therapy.

i. Proof of completion shall be the certificate issued by the approved provider.

h. Pharmacist Self-Assessment Mechanism (PSAM) offered by NABP shall be recognized as an approved program. PSAM is an evaluation tool that will assist pharmacists in obtaining objective, non-punitive feedback on their individual knowledge of current practice therapies. The assessment tool is applicable to general pharmacy practice. Pharmacists may receive credit for four contact hours (.4 CEU's) towards their continuing education requirement for completion of a PSAM assessment only once during a license period. Proof of completion of a PSAM assessment shall be the record of completion provided by NABP. The Board will not request the report of your assessment evaluation score.