17 CAR § 160-802 – Accreditation guidelines

(a) Guidelines.
1. (1)
  1. (A) The continuing education unit (CEU) shall be the basis for accreditation of offerings within the state.
  2. (B) One-tenth (0.1) CEU is defined as one (1) contact hour.
2. (2) The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will accredit intrastate and interstate continuing education offerings that have been reviewed by an appropriate national agency.
3. (3) Continuing education programs shall be accredited for the total length of the program.
4. (4) Credit shall not be allowed for:
  1. (A) “Banquet” meetings with no educational program;
  2. (B) Unstructured demonstrations; and
  3. (C) Unstructured question-and-answer sessions.
5. (5) Credit, hour-for-hour, shall be allowed for:
  1. (A) Speakers;
  2. (B) Panels;
  3. (C) Structured:
(i) Discussions;
1. (ii) Workshops; and
  1. (iii) Demonstrations; and
  2. (D) Structured question-and-answer sessions.
2. (6) Keynote speakers and topics will be accredited on an individual basis.
3. (7) The Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education reserves the right for members or designees to review programs in operation.
(b) Accreditation mechanism.
1. (1) Members of the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education shall be responsible for reviewing and recommending changes in the criteria for the accreditation of continuing education offerings.
2. (2) In the temporary absence of a designated Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education member, a designated representative may review and offer recommendations for establishing and reviewing the criteria for the accreditation of continuing education offerings.
3. (3) The Executive Director of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy shall review all programs within seven (7) days of receipt of request for accreditation.
4. (4) All requests for accreditation must be received, in writing, in the board office at least seven (7) days before the offering is to occur.
  1. (c) Requirements for accreditation.
5. (1) The organization shall have completed the appropriate program requirements specified in subsection (d) of this section.
6. (2) The organization shall have the proper personnel to plan and produce educational programs.
7. (3) The organization and personnel presenting the offering shall be qualified in the area of the presentation.
8. (4) The organization shall provide the proper administrative facilities, provide the proper physical facilities, and have the financial resources for the production of educational programs.
  1. (d) Program criteria for accreditation.
9. (1) The program criteria shall be appropriate to meet the needs of the pharmacist.
10. (2) Beginning and ending times for each section of live programs must be indicated.
11. (3) A description of the program content:
  1. (A) Shall accompany the request for accreditation; and
  2. (B) Must be evaluated prior to its presentation.
12. (4) The program description, which is presented for accreditation, shall have a statement of objectives and goals.
13. (5)
  1. (A) The program outline shall indicate how performance and effectiveness by the pharmacist will be measured.
  2. (B) Live programs in themselves shall be acceptable for accreditation.
  3. (C) Audiovisual and correspondence programs shall require a live moderator or testing procedure.
14. (6) The program shall allow the pharmacist a method to evaluate the presentation.
15. (7)
  1. (A) The program shall demonstrate a quality educational process.
  2. (B) Appropriate handout materials will be used with live presentations and correspondence courses.
  3. (C) Appropriate audiovisual materials will be used with audiovisual presentations and correspondence courses when necessary.
16. (8)
  1. (A) The program administrator shall present accreditation certificates to pharmacists who satisfy requirements of the program.
  2. (B) The application for approval shall specifically state how the accreditation certificates will be presented to participants.
17. (9) The executive director must approve changes in the date, starting time, or duration of the program being presented if said changes are made after initial accreditation.
18. (10) Changes in speakers are acceptable if the quality of the program being presented is not diminished.
19. (11) The executive director must receive any changes in topics to be presented at least seven (7) days before the program is to be presented.
20. (12) The organization presenting a continuing education program must provide reasonable notification to potential participants of any changes in:
  1. (A) Date, time, or duration of the program;
  2. (B) Speakers; or
  3. (C) Topics to be presented.
21. (13) The program administrator shall require all participating pharmacists to sign in and out to show attendance during the entire CE session unit in order to be eligible for credit.
22. (14) The program administrator must keep a record of all attendees receiving credit for four (4) years for verification by the board.
(e) Programs sponsored and conducted by local pharmacists’ associations will be accredited provided that the programs meet the criteria outlined in subsections (c) and (d) of this section in addition to the following procedures:
1. (1) The program shall be structured and shall be offered to all pharmacists who are members of the local association;
2. (2) Each program shall be a minimum of one (1) hour in length; and
3. (3) The local pharmacists’ association shall provide a method of registration and verification of attendance as outlined in subsection (d) of this section.
(f) Failure to follow the guidelines and requirements of 17 CAR § 160-802 will disqualify the program administrator or other entity requesting CE accreditation from being eligible for approval of future program requests.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “(Revised 11/30/2010 Amended 8/1/2020)" "CE" means continuing education.