Chapter 480-2 LICENSURE AS A PHARMACIST
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.
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) |
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. |
|
| (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. |
| (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. |
| (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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