Department of Health and Hospitals
Board of Pharmacy
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy is exercising the emergency provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, specifically at LRS 49:953.B, to repeal LAC 46:LIII.513 and to amend various portions of LAC 46:LIII.705. The Emergency Rule is necessary to allow the Board of Pharmacy to amend the Rule by removing the requirement that pharmacy interns earn their practical experience hours under a certified pharmacist preceptor as opposed to a pharmacist who is not a certified preceptor.
The board created its Certified Pharmacist Preceptor Program in 2004, in partnership with the two colleges of pharmacy in the state. The educational partners developed the curriculum for board approval, following which they sponsored a number of training seminars around the state for pharmacists interested in mentoring pharmacy interns. The board implemented a progressive transition plan that called for all pharmacy interns to be under the supervision of certified pharmacist preceptors no later than January 2007. However, there are an insufficient number of certified pharmacist preceptors available for the number of pharmacy interns in both colleges of pharmacy. Further, since one of the colleges of pharmacy has withdrawn from the program, the board finds it necessary to terminate the program and repeal the requirement for certification of pharmacist preceptors.
A delay in promulgating the Rule will result in pharmacy interns unable to earn their required number of hours of practical experience due to the shortage of certified pharmacist preceptors. In turn, that will prevent the timely licensure of pharmacy interns, which will only aggravate the existing shortage of pharmacists in this state. Thus, the board has determined that this Emergency Rule is necessary to prevent imminent peril to the public health, safety, and welfare. The declaration of emergency is effective September 1, 2006, and shall remain in effect for the maximum time period allowed under the Administrative Procedure Act or until adoption of the final Rule, whichever shall first occur.
Title 46
PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part LIII. Pharmacists
Chapter 5. Pharmacists
§513. Certified Pharmacist Preceptor Program
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1211.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Pharmacy, LR 14:708 (October 1988), effective January 1, 1989, amended LR 29:2084 (October 2003), effective January 1, 2004), repealed LR 32:
Chapter 7. Pharmacy Interns
§705. Practical Experience
A. - B. …
1. The practical experience earned shall have been under the supervision of a pharmacist.
C. - C.1. …
a. Prior to beginning his final academic year in a board-approved college of pharmacy, the intern shall earn a minimum of 500 hours under the supervision of a pharmacist at a permitted pharmacy site; and
b. …
2. If credit is not received for the total required 1,500 hours upon certification of graduation pursuant to the provisions of §705.C.1, the intern shall earn 1,500 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a pharmacist at a permitted pharmacy site after certification of graduation from a board-approved college of pharmacy.
3. Practical experience hours earned either prior to the final academic year, or after certification of graduation from a board-approved college of pharmacy, that are submitted to the board for credit consideration shall be listed on an affidavit form supplied by the board office, and signed by the pharmacist and pharmacy intern.
3.a. - 5. …
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1211.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Pharmacy, LR 14:708 (October 1988), effective January 1, 1989, amended LR 29:2086 (October 2003), effective January 1, 2004, amended LR 32:636 (April 2006), amended LR 32:
Malcolm J. Broussard
Executive Director
0609#013