DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE  
PHARMACY – PHARMACIST CONTINUING EDUCATION  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of licensing and  
regulatory affairs by sections 16145, 16148, 16184, 16201, 16204, 16205, 17731,  
and 17767 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16145, 333.16148,  
333.16184, 333.16201, 333.16204, 333.16205, 333.17731, and 333.17767, and  
Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-1, and 2011-4, MCL  
338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and 445.2030)  
R 338.3041 Definitions.  
Rule 1. (1) As used in these rules:  
(a) “ACPE” means the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.  
(b) “Board” means the Michigan board of pharmacy, created in section 17721 of  
the code, MCL 333.17721.  
(c) “CCAPP” means the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy  
Programs.  
(d) “Code” means the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to  
333.25211.  
(e) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.  
(2) Unless otherwise defined in these rules, the terms defined in the code have  
the same meaning when used in these rules.  
History: 1979 AC; 2007 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2023 AACS; 2026 MR 6, Eff. March 12, 2026.  
R 338.3042  
applicability.  
License renewals; continuing education requirements;  
Rule 2. (1) These rules apply to applications for renewal of a pharmacist's license  
and a special retired volunteer pharmacist’s license under sections 16201 and  
16184 of the code, MCL 333.16201 and 333.16184. A licensee seeking renewal  
shall comply with all of the following:  
(a) Submit a completed application on a form provided by the department,  
together with the requisite fee.  
(b) Complete a 1-time training identifying victims of human trafficking as required  
in R 338.511 and section 16148 of the code, MCL 333.16148.  
(c) Complete a training in opioids and other controlled substances awareness as  
required in R 338.3135, if also applying for a controlled substance license.  
(d) The continuing education requirements apply to an applicant who has been  
licensed for the 2-year period immediately preceding the end of the license cycle.  
(e) Submit to the board satisfactory evidence that the applicant completed not  
less than 30 hours of continuing education approved by the board, under R  
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338.3043 and R 338.3044, during the license cycle before the application for  
renewal. Continuing education that is earned during the 60-day grace period may  
be included up to the date the application for renewal is filed. An applicant for  
license renewal shall complete all of the following continuing education  
requirements:  
(i) At least 1 hour of the 30 required hours of continuing education in pharmacy  
ethics and pharmacy law, which may be completed in 1 or more courses.  
(ii) At least 10 hours of the 30 required hours of continuing education must be  
live, synchronous, courses or programs, in-person or virtual, that provide for the  
opportunity of direct interaction between faculty and participants, including, but not  
limited to, lectures, symposia, live teleconferences, and workshops. ACPE courses  
designated as live meet this requirement.  
(iii) At least 1 hour of the 30 required hours of continuing education in pain and  
symptom management, as required under section 16204(2) of the code, MCL  
333.16204. Continuing education in pain and symptom management includes, but  
is not limited to, courses in behavior management, psychology of pain,  
pharmacology, behavior modification, stress management, clinical applications,  
and drug interventions as they relate to professional practice.  
(iv) Not more than 12 hours of continuing education during a 24-hour period.  
(2) Except for the 1-time training in human trafficking, the training in opioid and  
controlled substances awareness, and the implicit bias training, which may be  
used to comply with both the training requirement and the continuing education  
requirement in the same renewal period, an applicant for license renewal may not  
earn continuing education credit for a program or activity that is identical to a  
program or activity an applicant has already earned credit for during that renewal  
period.  
(3) Submission of an application for renewal constitutes the applicant’s  
certification of compliance with the requirements of this rule. An applicant shall  
retain documentation of meeting the requirements of this rule for a period of 4  
years from the date of applying for license renewal. The board may require an  
applicant to submit evidence to demonstrate compliance with this rule. Failure to  
comply with this rule is a violation of section 16221(h) of the code, MCL 333.16221.  
(4) A request for a waiver under section 16205 of the code, MCL 333.16205, must  
be received by the department for the board’s consideration not less than 30 days  
before the last regularly scheduled board meeting before the expiration date of the  
license. The public notice for the board meetings can be found at:  
https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/pharmacy.  
History: 1979 AC; 1997 AACS; 2023 AACS; 2026 MR 6, Eff. March 12, 2026.  
R 338.3043 Continuing education courses and programs; standards for  
approval.  
Rule 3. The board shall approve continuing education courses or programs  
pursuant to the following standards in this rule:  
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(a) A continuing education course or program sponsor shall submit a completed  
application on forms provided by the department and provide a “Patient Protection”  
form for any course or program that involves treatment of live patients.  
(b) A completed application form shall be submitted to the department at least 70  
days before the date the continuing education course or program is conducted for  
the proposed continuing education to be considered for approval by the board.  
(c) A continuing education course or program must meet the standards and  
criteria for an acceptable category of continuing education under this rule and R  
338.3044 and must be relevant to health care services, pharmacy operations, or  
advancement of the licensee’s pharmacy education.  
(d) A continuing education course or program shall be developed and presented  
by a sponsor and must provide all of the following:  
(i) Availability of adequate records of participation.  
(ii) Qualified teaching staff.  
(iii) A statement of educational objectives.  
(e) Board approval is valid for 3 years from the date of approval.  
(f) Except as provided in subdivision (g) of this subrule, any subsequent dates  
that the course or program will be offered do not require further board approval  
and may be changed without review by the board if the presentation dates are  
within the board’s original 3-year term of approval.  
(g) The board shall reevaluate an approved continuing education course or  
program before any changes during the approval term to the title, number of  
continuing education hours to be awarded to participants, or learning objectives.  
(h) A sponsor conducting the course or program shall record all of the following  
on a continuing education certificate or other proof prepared by that sponsor:  
(i) The name of the sponsor.  
(ii) Continuing education approval number assigned by the department.  
(iii) Course title or name of the program.  
(iv) Name of the speaker or instructor.  
(v) Date the approved course or program was conducted.  
(vi) Number and type of continuing education hours awarded.  
(vii) Approved sponsor’s signature.  
(viii) Dates of the current approval term.  
(ix) Name of participant.  
(i) The board may revoke the approval status of any approved course or program  
at any time if the course or program fails to comply with these rules.  
History: 1979 AC; 2007 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2023 AACS.  
R 338.3044 Acceptable continuing education for licensees.  
Rule 4. The board shall consider all of the following as acceptable continuing  
education:  
ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES  
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Number  
of  
Hours  
Type of Activity  
(a)  
Earned/Maximum Hours  
Completion of an approved continuing  
The number of hours earned  
education course or program related to the is the number of hours  
practice of pharmacy. A continuing approved by the sponsor or the  
education course or program is approved, approving organization.  
regardless of the format in which it is  
offered, if it is approved or offered for  
continuing education credit by any of the approved for a set number of  
following: hours, then 1 credit hour for  
A pharmacy program accredited by the every 50 minutes of  
participation may be earned.  
If the activity was not  
ACPE or the CCAPP.  
A continuing education sponsoring  
organization, institution, or individual  
There is no limitation on the  
approved by the ACPE, including non- number of hours earned, except  
ACPE accredited providers engaging in that a maximum of 5 hours may  
joint providership with ACPE accredited be earned per renewal period  
providers.  
Another state board of pharmacy.  
A continuing education sponsoring sponsoring  
organization, institution, or individual institution,  
for activities offered by a  
continuing  
education  
organization,  
individual  
or  
approved by a non-pharmacy healthcare approved by a non-pharmacy  
board or accreditation entity.  
healthcare  
board  
or  
accreditation entity.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit a  
copy of a letter or certificate of completion  
showing the licensee’s name, number of  
hours earned, sponsor name or the name  
of the organization that approved the  
program or activity for continuing  
education credit, and the date on which  
the program was held, or activity  
completed.  
(b)  
Completion of postgraduate pharmacy  
Twelve hours of continuing  
practice or administration courses offered education is earned for each  
for credit in a pharmacy school accredited academic quarter credit earned  
by the ACPE or the CCAPP.  
and 18 hours is earned for each  
academic semester credit  
If audited, a licensee shall submit an earned.  
official transcript that reflects completion  
of the postgraduate pharmacy practice or  
There is no limitation on the  
administration course and number of number of hours earned.  
semester or quarter credit hours earned.  
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(c)  
Participation in a home study program  
One hour is earned for each  
offered through an ACPE-approved hour devoted to a home study  
provider or other instructional approaches program.  
that include an evaluation component  
including, but not limited to, on-line  
continuing education programs and  
journal articles.  
A maximum of 20 hours may  
be earned per renewal period.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit an  
affidavit attesting to the number of hours  
the licensee spent participating in the  
home study program that includes a  
description of the activity.  
(d)  
Participation as a preceptor for at least  
1 pharmacy intern.  
Five hours of continuing  
education is earned for a  
minimum of 120 hours in person  
A preceptorship shall be for a minimum of preceptorship in each  
of 120 hours in person and have a 1 intern renewal period.  
- to - 1 preceptor ratio. This may involve  
multiple preceptor relationships at  
different times.  
A maximum of 5 hours may  
be earned in each renewal  
period.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit  
written  
documentation  
from  
the  
educational institution or preceptor’s  
supervisor verifying the dates and hours of  
the preceptorship.  
(e)  
Renewal of a pharmacy license held in  
another state that requires continuing  
education for license renewal that is  
Thirty hours is earned.  
A maximum of 30 hours may  
substantially equivalent in subject matter be earned in each renewal  
and total amount of required hours to that period.  
required in these rules if the licensee  
resides and practices in another state.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit proof  
of current licensure in another state and a  
copy of a letter or certificate of completion  
showing all of the following:  
The licensee’s name.  
Number of hours earned.  
The sponsor’s name or the name of the  
organization that approved the program or  
activity for continuing education credit.  
The date on which the program was  
held, or the activity was completed.  
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(f)  
Initial publication of an article or a  
Ten hours is earned per  
chapter related to the practice of publication.  
pharmacy in either of the following:  
A pharmacy textbook.  
A maximum of 10 hours may  
A peer-reviewed journal.  
be earned in each renewal  
period.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit a  
copy of the publication that identifies the  
licensee as the author or a publication  
acceptance letter.  
(g)  
Successful completion of a board  
Ten hours is earned in the  
certification  
national  
pharmacy year in which the licensee  
examination through Board of Pharmacy achieves a passing score.  
Specialties.  
A maximum of 20 hours may  
If audited, a licensee shall submit proof be earned in each renewal  
of a passing score on the examination.  
period. Credit is not given for  
repeating the same examination  
twice in a renewal period.  
(h)  
Presentation of a continuing education  
Two hours is earned for  
program approved by the board under R every 50 minutes devoted to  
338.3043 or subdivision (a) of this rule that presenting the program.  
is not a part of the licensee’s regular job  
description.  
A maximum of 2 hours may  
be earned in each renewal  
If audited, a licensee shall submit a period.  
copy of the curriculum and a letter from the  
program sponsor verifying the length and  
date of the presentation.  
(i)  
Attendance at a pharmacy-related  
The number of hours earned  
program that is approved by the board is the number of hours  
pursuant to R 338.3043.  
approved by the sponsor or the  
approving organization.  
If audited, a licensee shall submit a  
copy of a letter or certificate of completion  
showing all of the following:  
If the activity was not  
approved for a set number of  
hours, then 1 credit hour for  
Licensee’s name.  
Number of hours earned.  
every  
50  
minutes  
of  
Sponsor name or the name of the participation is earned.  
organization that approved the program or  
course for continuing education credit.  
There is no limitation on the  
The date on which the program was number of hours earned.  
held, or the activity was completed.  
(j)  
Attendance at a full board of pharmacy  
One hour is earned for  
meeting, disciplinary subcommittee attending a full meeting. This  
meeting, or rules committee work group category  
of  
continuing  
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meeting. To receive credit for attending a education qualifies as 1 hour in  
meeting in person, a licensee shall obtain pharmacy law.  
a form provided by the department from a  
department employee present at the  
A maximum of 5 hours may  
meeting and have the employee complete, be earned in each renewal  
sign, and date the form.  
period.  
To receive credit for attending a  
meeting virtually, a licensee shall submit  
an electronic form provided by the  
department.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of the completed paper form or  
electronic confirmation.  
History: 1979 AC; 1982 AACS; 2007 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2023 AACS; 2026 MR 6, Eff. March 12, 2026.  
R 338.3045 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 2020 AACS.  
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;