Chapter 480-2 LICENSURE AS A PHARMACIST

Rule 480-2-.01 Applicants for Licensure by Examination

Applicants for licensure by examination must complete an application on a form approved by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy ("Board"), have attained the age of majority, be of good moral character, have graduated and received a professional degree from a college or school approved by the Board, as provided in Rule 480-2-.02, have completed an internship program approved by the Board, as provided in Rule 480-2-.03, have sucessfully passed examinations approved by the Board and have paid the requisite fee.

Rule 480-2-.02 Education

Applicants applying for a license to practice pharmacy by examination must be a graduate of:

(1)	A generally recognized school or college of pharmacy located in the United States, being one who has obtained candidate status or is approved by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (A.C.P.E.); or

(2)

A school or college of pharmacy located outside of the United States, provided that graduates of such foreign schools or college may be deemed qualified to apply to practice as pharmacists or pharmacy interns if and only if the Board, after a review of the graduate's verified academic records, finds that the graduate is qualified and, in the case of a graduate who seeks licensure as a pharmacist, has passed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEC), and the Test of Spoken English, and the Test of English as a foreign language, all administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. (NABP)

Rule 480-2-.03 Experience Requirements

Applicants applying for licensure by examination must complete 1500 hours of pharmacy internship or its equivalent as provided by the Board. An applicant for licensure by examination shall submit to the Board a certification that states that the applicant has satisfied the required 1500 hours of pharmacy practice experience, which shall include practice experience in both a retail and hospital practice setting, in accordance with the standards set by the Board. An applicant for examination shall submit the certification in writing and signed under oath by a duly authorized representative of the applicant's school or college of pharmacy on a form approved by the Board.

(1)

Pharmacy Internship Licenses.

(a)	Applicants shall file an application with the Board for pharmacy internship licensure and pay the license fee. The pharmacy intern license must be issued before experience begins.

(b)

The following persons may register as pharmacy interns:

1.

Any student who is currently enrolled in a generally recognized school or college of pharmacy approved by A.C.P.E., or a newly created school or college of pharmacy which has been granted either precandidate or candidate status by A.C.P.E., provided that proof of enrollment in a school or college of pharmacy is submitted to the Board.

2.	Any graduate of a generally recognized school or college of pharmacy approved by A.C.P.E. for the purpose of obtaining the practical experience for licensure as a pharmacist; and

3.	Any individual who has established educational equivalency by obtaining a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certificate for the purpose of obtaining practical experience for licensure as a pharmacist.

(c)

Licenses shall be valid for five (5) years or until such intern is expelled, suspended, dismissed or withdraws from an approved school, becomes licensed as a pharmacist, or has taken and failed the Board examination for the third time, whichever comes first. Intern licenses may be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

1.	Individuals who have established educational equivalency by meeting the requirements of Rule 480-2-.02 must obtain 1500 hours of practical pharmacy experience under the instruction of a licensed pharmacist.

2.	Individuals who are attending a school or college of pharmacy approved by the A.C.P.E. shall show proof of instruction by a licensed pharmacist, and that such 1500 hours were acquired after enrollment at an accredited school or college of pharmacy.

(d)	The 1500 hours of pharmacy internship shall include practice experience in both a retail and hospital pharmacy practice setting, in accordance with the standards set by the Board.

(2)

Each school or college of pharmacy must submit, on an annual basis, for the Board's approval, a summary of course and experiences, as well as the internship credit hours for each course and experience, which are to be used for the B.S. program or the Pharm. D. program. Each school of pharmacy must also submit for Board approval, on an annual basis a list of preceptors in the internship programs. The Board reserves the right to approve or disapprove any individual courses, experience programs or preceptors.

(3)

Other Qualifying Experience:

(a)

Any intern wishing to obtain internship credit for work in a research and /or industrial program must first submit a request for approval of the program to the Board along with an outline of the program from the individual who will supervise the intern in this program. If approved by the Board, the hours will be awarded in accordance with the standards set by the Board.

(b)	At the discretion of the Board, the Board may accept internship hours for serving in the Armed Services and working under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist. Documentation of experience must be signed by a registered pharmacist. An intern must petition the Board to receive credit.

(c)	The Board may give internship credit to an applicant that has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that such applicant has experience in the practice of pharmacy that meets or exceeds the minimum internship requirements. An applicant must petition the Board to receive credit.

Rule 480-2-.04 Examinations

(1)

For licensure, an individual must successfully pass the NAPLEX, a jurisprudence examination approved by the Board and a practical examination approved by the Board.

(a)	An individual is not eligible to take the examinations for licensure until such individual has graduated from an approved college or school of pharmacy and has completed all internship requirements.

(2)

The NAPLEX examination is made available throughout the year, with the jurisprudence and practical portions of the examinations being given at specified times. Applications must be in the Board office in accordance with the deadlines established by the Board.

(a)

Candidates for a Georgia license are required to make a minimum grade of 75 on the NAPLEX examination. Applicants are also required to obtain a minimum score of 75 on the Georgia Practical examination, and a minimum score of 75 on the jurisprudence examination. A score of less than 70 on any section of the Georgia practical examination invalidates all the scores from that administration of the Georgia Practical examination; and

(3)

The Board will provide reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The request for an accommodation by an individual with a disability must be made in writing and received in the Board's office by the application deadline along with appropriate documentation, as indicated in the Request for Disability Accommodation Guidelines.

Rule 480-2-.05 Reciprocity

(a)

In order for a pharmacist currently licensed in another jurisdiction to obtain a license as a pharmacist from the Board, an applicant shall:

(1)

Complete an applicant form supplied by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to apply for licensure with the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. This application should be filed with NABP, and then with the Board for further review by the Board and an investigation by the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA), if necessary. If so requested, an applicant must produce evidence satisfactory to the Board or the GDNA which shows the applicant has the age, moral character, background, education, and experience demanded of applicants for registration by examination under O.C.G.A. 26-4 and by this chapter.

(2)	Have attained the age of majority;

(3)	Be of good moral character;

(4)	Have possessed at the time of initial licensure as a pharmacist, all qualifications necessary to have been eligible for licensure at that time in this state;

(5)	Have presented to the Board proof of initial licensure by examination and proof that such license is in good standing;

(6)

Have presented to the board proof that any other license granted to the applicant by any other state is not currently suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted for any reason except nonrenewal or for the failure to obtain the required continuing education credits in any state where the applicant is currently licensed, but not engaged in the practice of pharmacy;

(7)	Have successfully passed a jurisprudence examination approved by the Board on Georgia's pharmacy laws and Board regulations, and a practical examination approved by the Board;

(8)	If requested by the Board, have personally appeared for an interview with a member of the Board;

(9)	Have paid the fees specified by the Board.

(b)	No applicant may be granted a license by reciprocity if that person has failed the examination for licensure as a pharmacist in this state.

(c)	No applicant shall be eligible for reciprocity unless the state in which the applicant is licensed as a pharmacist also grants license reciprocity to pharmacist duly licensed by examination in this state under like circumstances.

Rule 480-2-.06 Temporary Licenses

(1)

As used in this rule:

(a)	"Military" means the United States armed forces, including the National Guard;

(b)	"Military spouse" means a spouse of a service member or transitioning service member;

(c)	"Pharmacy resident" means a graduate who received a professional degree from a college or school approved by the board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.02, who has been accepted for a post-graduate clinical training position in this State;

(d)	"Service member" means an active or reserve member of the United States armed forces, including the National Guard;

(e)	"Transitioning service member" means a member of the military on active duty status or on separation leave who is within 24 months of retirement or 12 months of separation.

(2)

Temporary licenses for service members, transitioning service members, and military spouses.

(a)

A service member may qualify for a temporary pharmacist license by examination where the applicant:

1.	Has submitted a completed application for licensure by examination on a form approved by the Board, paid the requisite fee, and requested a temporary license;

2.	Has graduated and received a professional degree from a college or school approved by the board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.02;

3.	Has completed an internship program approved by the Board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.03; and

4.	Has successfully passed the NAPLEX.

(b)

A service member, transitioning service member, or military spouse may qualify for a temporary pharmacist license by reciprocity where the applicant:

1.

Has completed an applicant form supplied by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to apply for licensure with the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. This application should be filed with NABP, and then with the Board for further review by the Board and an investigation by the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA), if necessary. If so requested, an applicant must produce evidence satisfactory to the Board or the GDNA which shows the applicant has the age, moral character, background, education, and experience demanded of applicants for registration by examination under O.C.G.A. 26-4 and by this chapter;

2.

Has presented to the board proof that any other license granted to the applicant by any other state is not currently suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted for any reason except nonrenewal or for the failure to obtain the required continuing education credits in any state where the applicant is currently licensed, but not engaged in the practice of pharmacy;

3.	Has successfully passed the NAPLEX;

4.	Has paid the requisite fee, is eligible for the practical examination, and has requested a temporary license; and

5.

Holds a license from another state for which the training, experience, and testing substantially meet or exceed the requirements under this State to obtain a pharmacist license; and if the applicant is a service member or transitioning service member, has obtained a specialty, certification, training or experience in the military while a service member which substantially meets or exceeds the requirements to obtain a license in this state.

(c)

Any temporary license issued to a service member, transitioning service member, or military spouse shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance of the license and shall expire at the end of the six month period or upon the passage of the practical examination and issuance of a permanent license, whichever is earlier.

(3)

Temporary licenses for pharmacy residents.

(a)

A pharmacy resident may apply for temporary pharmacist licensure where the applicant has:

1.	Has submitted a completed application for licensure on a form approved by the Board, paid the requisite fee, and requested a temporary license;

2.	Has attained the age of majority;

3.	Has completed an internship program approved by the Board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.03; and

4.	Has submitted evidence that the applicant has been accepted for a pharmacy resident position in this state.

(b)	Any temporary license issued to a pharmacy resident shall expire at the end of the month following the third Board meeting conducted after the issuance of such license and may not be reissued or renewed.

(4)

All other temporary licenses.

(a)

An applicant may qualify for temporary pharmacist licensure where the applicant has:

1.	Has submitted a completed application for licensure on a form approved by the Board and paid the requisite fee;

2.	Has attained the age of majority;

3.	Has graduated and received a professional degree from a college or school approved by the board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.02;

4.	Has completed an internship program approved by the Board, as provided for in Rule 480-2-.03; and

5.	Has submitted evidence of an emergency situation justifying such temporary license.

(b)	Any temporary license issued to a pharmacy resident shall expire at the end of the month following the third Board meeting conducted after the issuance of such license and may not be reissued or renewed.

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