DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

DIRECTOR'S OFFICE

PHARMACY – PHARMACIST CONTINUING EDUCATION

Filed with the secretary of state on December 22, 2020

These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted

under section 33, 44, or 45a(6) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA

306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections become

effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.

(By authority conferred on the department of licensing and regulatory affairs by sections

16145, 16148, 16184, 16201, 16204, 16205, 17731, 17737, 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, 333.17737, 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, R 338.3043, and R 338.3044 of the Michigan Administrative Code are

amended, and R 338.3045 is rescinded, to read as follows:

R 338.3041 License renewals; continuing education requirements; applicability.

Rule 1. (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) Beginning with renewals on January 1, 2020, an applicant for license renewal shall

have completed 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) An applicant for license renewal, who also applies for a controlled substance

license, shall have completed a 1-time training in opioids and other controlled substances

awareness as required in R 338.3135.

(d) An applicant for license renewal, who has been licensed for the 2-year period

immediately preceding the end of the license cycle, shall furnish the board with

satisfactory evidence that the applicant completed not less than 30 hours of continuing

education approved by the board, under R 338.3043 and R 338.3044, during the 2 years

immediately preceding the application for renewal, which must comply with all of the

following:

(i) An applicant for license renewal shall complete at least 1 hour of the 30 required

hours of continuing education in pharmacy ethics and jurisprudence. This paragraph

applies only to renewals after December 30, 2020.

July 31, 2020

2

(ii) An applicant for license renewal shall complete a minimum of 10 hours of the 30

required hours of continuing education by attending live courses or programs that provide

for direct interaction between faculty and participants, including but not limited to,

lectures, symposia, live teleconferences, and workshops.

(iii) An applicant for license renewal shall complete 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(2). 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) An applicant for license renewal shall earn no more than 12 hours of continuing

education during a 24-hour period.

(v) An applicant for license renewal shall not earn credit for taking the same

continuing education course or program twice during 1 renewal period.

(2) 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(h).

(3) A request for a waiver under section 16205 of the code, MCL 333.16205, must be

received by the department before the expiration date of the license.

(4) Except as otherwise stated, this rule takes effect upon promulgation of the rules.

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:

(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

prior to the date the continuing education course or program is conducted and 70 days

prior to the next regularly scheduled board meeting for the proposed continuing education

to be considered for approval by the board. A continuing education course or program

conducted prior to board consideration will not be approved.

(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 and advancement of the licensee’s pharmacy education.

(d) A continuing education course or program must be a planned learning program

designed to promote the continual development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes on the

part of the pharmacist. The course or program must be an individual organized

educational experience under responsible sponsorship and capable direction and must

provide qualified instruction.

(e) A continuing education course or program shall be developed and presented by a

sponsor and must provide all of the following:

3

(i) Administrative support that ensures maintenance and availability of adequate

records of participation.

(ii) An adequate budget and resources.

(iii) Appropriate, qualified, competent teaching staff.

(iv) A statement of educational goals or measurable behavioral objectives, or both.

(v) Delivery methods that allow for active participation and involvement.

(vi) Appropriate, adequate facilities.

(vii) Evaluations of the participant and the provider.

(f) The continuing education course or program must include study in 1 or more of the

following subjects:

(i) Social, psychological, economic, and legal aspects of health care delivery.

(ii) The properties and actions of drugs and dosage forms.

(iii) Etiology, characteristics, and therapeutics of the disease state.

(iv) Emergency skills related to the health and safety of the patient.

(v) Specialized professional services.

(vi) Other areas of study that the board finds are designed to maintain or enhance a

pharmacist's ability to deliver competent pharmacy services.

(g) Board approval is valid for a 3-year term of approval from the date of approval.

(h) The board shall reevaluate an approved continuing education course or program

prior to any changes during the approval term, including but not limited to, changes to

either of the following:

(i) Instructors and speakers.

(ii) Course or program content, title, and number of continuing education hours to be

awarded to participants.

(i) Subject to subdivision (j) of this rule, all changes to a previously approved course or

program must be submitted on required department forms at least 70 days prior to the

date the course or program is offered to participants and 70 days prior to the next

regularly scheduled board meeting to be considered for approval by the board. Any

changes to a submitted and previously approved course or program conducted prior to

board reconsideration and approval will not be approved.

(j) Emergency changes to instructors and speakers that cannot be submitted to the board

at least 70 days prior to the date of the course or program may be reviewed by the

department in consultation with the board chair or a continuing education board

committee member if proof that is acceptable to the department and that supports the

nature of the emergency is submitted with the change.

(k) The specific 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.

(l) 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.

4

(vii) Approved sponsor’s signature.

(viii) Dates of the current approval term.

(ix) Name of participant.

(m) The board may revoke the approval status of any approved course or program at any

time the course or program fails to comply with these rules.

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

(a) Completion of an approved continuing

education course or program related to the

The number of hours earned will

be the number of hours approved

practice of pharmacy. A continuing education by the sponsor or the approving

course or program is approved, regardless of

the format in which it is offered, if it is

organization.

approved or offered for continuing education If the activity was not approved

credit by any of the following:

for a set number of hours, then 1

credit hour for every 50 minutes of

participation may be earned.

 A pharmacy program accredited by

the Accreditation Council for

Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or the

Canadian Council for Accreditation of

Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).

No limitation on the number of

hours earned.

 A continuing education sponsoring

organization, institution, or individual

approved by the ACPE.

 Another state board of pharmacy.

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 for education will be earned for each

credit in a pharmacy school accredited by the academic quarter credit earned and

ACPE or the CCAPP.

18 hours will be earned for each

academic semester credit earned.

If audited, a licensee shall submit an official

transcript that reflects completion of the

postgraduate pharmacy practice or

No limitation on the number of

hours earned.

administration course and number of semester

or quarter credit hours earned.

5

(c) Participation in a home study program offered One hour will be earned for each

through an ACPE-approved provider or other hour devoted to a home study

instructional approaches that include an

evaluation component including, but not

limited to, on-line continuing education

programs and journal articles.

program.

A maximum of 20 hours 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

may be earned for a minimum of

120 hours in person of

A preceptorship shall be for a minimum of

preceptorship in each renewal

120 hours in person and have a 1 intern - to - period.

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

Thirty hours will be earned.

education for license renewal that is

A maximum of 30 hours may be

substantially equivalent in subject matter and earned in each renewal period.

total amount of required hours to that

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, and the date on

which the program was held or the activity

was completed.

(f) Initial publication of an article or a chapter

related to the practice of pharmacy in either

of the following:

Ten hours will be earned per

publication.

A maximum of 10 hours may be

earned in each renewal period.

 A pharmacy textbook.

 A peer reviewed journal.

6

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 certification Ten hours may be earned in the

national pharmacy examination through

Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS).

year in which the licensee

achieves a passing score.

If audited, a licensee shall submit proof of a

passing score on the examination.

A maximum of 20 hours may

be earned in each renewal

period. Credit will not be

given for repeating the same

examination twice in a

renewal period.

(h) Presentation of a continuing education

program approved by the board under R

338.3043 or subdivision (a) of this rule that is

not a part of the licensee’s regular job

description.

Two hours for every 50 minutes

devoted to presenting the program.

A maximum of 10 hours will be

earned in each renewal period.

If audited, a licensee shall submit a 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 program

that is approved by the board pursuant to R

338.3043.

The number of hours earned will

be the number of hours approved

by the sponsor or the approving

organization.

If audited, a licensee shall submit a copy of a

letter or certificate of completion showing the If the activity was not approved

licensee’s name, number of hours earned, for a set number of hours, then 1

sponsor name or the name of the organization credit hour for every 50 minutes of

that approved the program or course for

continuing education credit, and the date on

which the program was held or the activity

was completed.

participation may be earned.

No limitation on the number of

hours earned.

R 338.3045 Rescinded.