ARTICLE 17. Continuing Education [4231 - 4234]
( Article 17 added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 890, Sec. 3. )
(a) For purposes of this section, “cultural competency course” means a cultural competency and humility course that meets the following criteria:
(1) The course focuses on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, or queer, or who question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
(2) The course is approved from an accreditation agency approved by the board.
(3) The course covers recognized health disparities faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
(4) The course contains elements demonstrating how
sexual identity is directly impacted through intersectionality.
(b) The board shall not renew a pharmacist license unless the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant has successfully completed 30 hours of approved courses of continuing pharmacy education, including at least one hour of participation in a cultural competency course, during the two years preceding the application for renewal.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the board shall not require completion of continuing education for the first renewal of a pharmacist license.
(d) If an applicant for renewal of a pharmacist license submits the renewal application and payment of the renewal fee but does not submit proof satisfactory to the board that the licensee has completed 30 hours of continuing pharmacy education, the board
shall not renew the license and shall issue the applicant an inactive pharmacist license. A licensee with an inactive pharmacist license issued pursuant to this section may obtain an active pharmacist license by paying the renewal fees due and submitting satisfactory proof to the board that the licensee has completed 30 hours of continuing pharmacy education.
(e) If, as part of an investigation or audit conducted by the board, a pharmacist fails to provide documentation substantiating the completion of continuing education as required in subdivision (b), the board shall cancel the active pharmacist license and issue an inactive pharmacist license in its place. A licensee with an inactive pharmacist license issued pursuant to this section may obtain an active pharmacist license by paying the renewal fees due and submitting satisfactory proof to the board that the licensee has completed 30 hours of continuing pharmacy education.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.
(Repealed (in Sec. 3) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 958, Sec. 4. (AB 2194) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)
(a) The courses shall be in the form of postgraduate studies, institutes, seminars, lectures, conferences, workshops, extension studies, correspondence courses, and other similar methods of conveying continuing professional pharmacy education.
(b) The subject matter shall be pertinent to the socioeconomic and legal aspects of health care, the properties and actions of drugs and dosage forms and the etiology, and characteristics and therapeutics of the disease state.
(c) The subject matter of the courses may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy administration, pharmacy jurisprudence, public health and communicable diseases, professional practice management, anatomy, histology, and any other subject matter as represented in curricula of accredited colleges of pharmacy.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 621, Sec. 61. Effective January 1, 2006.)
(a) A pharmacist who, pursuant to any authority of this chapter, prescribes a Schedule II controlled substance, shall have completed an education course on the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs.
(b) A pharmacist who has completed such a course within the last four years shall be deemed to have satisfied this requirement.
(c) This section shall become operative July 1, 2022.
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 629, Sec. 25. (AB 1533) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative July 1, 2022, by its own provisions.)
A pharmacist who is recognized as an advanced practice pharmacist shall complete 10 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle in addition to the requirements of Section 4231. The subject matter shall be in one or more areas of practice relevant to the pharmacist’s clinical practice.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 469, Sec. 16. (SB 493) Effective January 1, 2014.)
The board may, in accordance with the intent of this article, make exceptions from the requirements of this article in emergency or hardship cases.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 890, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)