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Searching for Pharmacy continuing education?

The field of medicine and pharmaceuticals is constantly evolving. With major companies creating new prescription drugs, and with the unfortunate occurrence of new strings of viruses and diseases in the world, one must be kept up to date on the changes in this field.

As a pharmacist, you must meet state licensure requirements in order to continue operating as a pharmacist. In order to do that, one must enroll in Pharmacy Continuing Education. Each state has its own requirements (credit hours of Pharmacy Continuing Education), many of them are fairly simple to complete, and are not too demanding.

About Pharmacy Continuing Education

Pharmacy Continuing Education can be completed in several ways depending again on the state. Some require live, “in-class” courses and seminars, others can be completed online, and some require you to participate in drug therapy or patient management program. Each state requires you participate in Pharmacy Continuing Education every 1-3 years.

Typical Pharmacy continuing education courses

The typical number of course hours needed to complete your Pharmacy Continuing Education program ranges from 15-30 hours (New York is the exception with 45 hours per 3-year registration period), and some states require anywhere from 3 hours (in Idaho & Alabama for example) to 15 hours (in Tennessee) of “live” education, which is more “hands-on”. New York, again, is an exception, with a requirement of 23 hours of “live” education.

The courses required for Pharmacy Continuing Education vary, from learning about over the counter methods of dealing with basic health problems (itchy eyes, stuffy nose, etc..), to how certain vitamins affect the human body, to new developments in prescription drugs, to progress in curing major diseases.

Depending on where you register for continuing education may require a fee to complete and earn your credit hours. Most reputable institutions offer both free and tuition based courses. Most of the free programs are only worth 2 or 3 credits each. You may also be able to complete 10-15 credits at one time if attending a seminar or conference. Registration and tuition is required for these types of conferences, but being able to complete half, if not all, of your state’s requirements in one step could be a big advantage for you.

Pharmacy Continuing Education – State of Licensure

As always, check with your state of licensure to determine what is required for you to complete your Pharmacy Continuing Education credits.
Visiting your state’s official website should be helpful, or even better, contacting your local state board of pharmacy. They should be able to provide you with all of the necessary information required. Continuing Education for pharmacists is not only required by the state, but necessary in order to keep up with the constant developments in the medical field. For more information, visit your state’s local website.