1. (a)

   1. (1) Effective March 1, 2004, prior to or contemporaneously with filing an application form for the applicable license or registration, each applicant for a new intern or pharmacist license or a new or reinstated registration as a pharmacy technician shall apply for state and federal criminal background checks using forms furnished by and pursuant to instructions provided by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.

   2. (2) Before performing any practice of pharmacy while physically present within the State of Arkansas, a pharmacist shall:

      1. (A) Apply for state and federal criminal background checks described herein; and
      2. (B) Obtain documentation from the board of its approval of the pharmacist’s practice of pharmacy while physically present in Arkansas.
2. (b) Each applicant shall authorize the release of criminal background check reports to the board and shall pay any applicable fees associated with the state and federal criminal background checks pursuant to written instructions provided by the board.
3. (c) The state and federal criminal background checks may be used for an initial license/registration issued by the board for twelve (12) months after each check is completed.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “(11/15/2003, Revised 7/10/2009, 7/22/2015, and 8/1/2020)"