1. (a) The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy adopts the accreditation guidelines set out by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education for establishment of acceptable continuing education.

2. (b) The requirements for continuing education will be as follows:

   1. (1) Thirty (30) hours of continuing education each biennium, as approved by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education;
   2. (2) A minimum of twelve (12) continuing education hours of the thirty (30) required hours must be live contact hours as defined by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education; and
   3. (3) A minimum of twelve (12) continuing education hours of the thirty (30) required hours must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

3. (c) The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will accept continuing education credits, approved by state boards of pharmacy in other states, toward licensure as a pharmacist in Arkansas provided that:

   1. (1) There is a reciprocal arrangement; and
   2. (2) The requirements of this section are met.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Pharmacists are required to:

      1. (A) Retain certificates of participation in continuing education for a period of four (4) years; and
      2. (B) Certify completion of the required continuing education on a form furnished by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy with the license renewal forms.
   2. (2) The pharmacist must present certificates of participation to any representative of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy if requested to do so.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Pharmacists who wish to retain their licenses, but do not want to meet the continuing education requirements, may go on inactive pharmacist status for an indefinite period.
   2. (2) To reestablish active status and return to practice in Arkansas, or to reinstate their license, a pharmacist must acquire the continuing education hours missed plus the continuing education hours for the current licensure period.
   3. (3) If the pharmacist has been on inactive status with regard to continuing education for two (2) calendar years or more and has not been actively practicing pharmacy in another state, said pharmacist shall also comply with all requirements in 17 CAR § 160-203.
6. (f) Certifications awarded by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties during any biennium will satisfy continuing education requirements for that biennium subject to approval by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education.
7. (g) Completion of postgraduate health professional course work may satisfy continuing education requirements subject to approval by the Arkansas Tripartite Committee on Continuing Pharmacy Education.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “(4/07/89, Amended 04/30/93, 6/98, 8/2001, 7/10/2009, 11/30/2010, and 8/1/2020)"