State board outlines continuing-education requirements for Texas pharmacists
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Summary
Board staff summarized initial and general continuing-education requirements for Texas pharmacists, including a mandatory HHSC-approved human-trafficking prevention course and required credits for controlled-substances monitoring and Texas pharmacy law.
A staff member for the Texas State Board of Pharmacy summarized continuing-education requirements for pharmacists, explaining differences between initial and general renewal periods and the accreditation rules that determine which courses count toward the 30-hour requirement.
Under the board’s rules, a pharmacist’s initial renewal period begins after the first 30 days of licensure and lasts 18 to 30 months so the license expiration date aligns with the pharmacist’s birth month. During that initial renewal period, pharmacists must complete two hours of continuing education related to prescribing and monitoring controlled substances and one hour of human-trafficking prevention training that is approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
After the initial renewal, pharmacists enter a general renewal cycle every two years. During a general renewal period, licensees must complete 30 accredited continuing-education hours, including one hour of Texas pharmacy law and the HHSC-approved human-trafficking prevention course. The remaining minimum 29 accredited hours may cover any subject accepted for pharmacist CE credit.
Board staff noted that whether an HHSC-approved trafficking-prevention course counts toward the 30-hour total depends on the course’s accreditation for pharmacists. Accepted accreditation types for pharmacist credit are listed in Texas State Board of Pharmacy rule 295.8(e). Examples cited include programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and activities designated as AMA PRA Category 1 (Continuing Medical Education, CME); the full list and details are in rule 295.8(e).
An HHSC-approved trafficking-prevention course that carries accreditation not accepted for pharmacist CE will satisfy the trafficking-prevention requirement but will not count toward the 30 accredited hours. Board staff gave illustrative combinations: for example, one hour of Texas pharmacy law, one HHSC-approved trafficking-prevention course lacking accepted pharmacist accreditation, and 29 accredited hours on other subjects would meet the stated requirements; alternately, a one-hour accredited trafficking-prevention course plus 28 other accredited hours and one hour of Texas pharmacy law would also meet the 30-hour minimum.
Board staff directed interested pharmacists to the board rule and the HHSC approved-course list for specifics about accepted program types and course approval.
