N.M. Code R. § 16.19.4.10 – Continuing Pharmacy Education Requirements

A. Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) shall include study in one or more of the general areas of socioeconomic and legal aspects of health care; the properties and actions of drugs and dosage forms; etiology; characteristics and therapeutics of the disease state, or such other subjects as the board may from time to time approve. Continuing pharmacy education approved in New Mexico shall be limited to programs and activities offered by the accreditation council for pharmacy education (ACPE), accredited provider, programs or courses approved by the board or other state boards of pharmacy and pharmacy law programs offered by the board.
B. Continuing pharmacy education, certified as completed by an approved provider will be required of a registered pharmacist who applies for renewal of New Mexico registration as follows: 3.0 CEU (30 contact hours) every two years. Effective January 1, 2013, pharmacist and pharmacist clinician renewal applications shall document.
1. (1) A minimum of 1.0 CEU (10 contact hours) excluding the law requirement, per renewal period shall be obtained through “live programs” that are approved as such by the ACPE or the accreditation council for continuing medical education (ACCME). Live programs provided by other providers (such as continuing nursing education) may be acceptable based on review and approval of the board.
2. (2) A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the area of patient safety as applicable to the practice of pharmacy.
3. (3) A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the subject area of pharmacy law offered by the New Mexico board of pharmacy.
4. (4) Effective January 1, 2015, a minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the area of safe and appropriate use of opioids. An educational program consisting of a minimum of 0.2 CEU (2 contact hours) that addresses both patient safety as applicable to the practice of pharmacy and the safe and appropriate use of opioids will satisfy requirements of Paragraphs (2) and (4) of Subsection B of this section.
C. The number of CEU's to be awarded for successful completion shall be determined by the accredited provider in advance of the offering of the activity.
D. The board will accept CPE education units for programs or activities completed outside the state; provided, the provider has been approved by the ACPE under its' criteria for quality at the time the program was offered.
E. Continuing pharmacy education will be required of all registrants holding an in-state status and out-of-state active status license. (61-11-13D). Pharmacists granted New Mexico initial licensure are exempt from CPE requirements. Inactive status licensees will be required to furnish CPE for the current licensing period, 1.5 CEU for each year the licensee was inactive, only for the purpose of reinstating to active status.
F. Not less than ten percent of the registrants will be randomly selected each year by the board for audit of certificates by the state drug inspectors. Pharmacists and pharmacist clinicians without sufficient documentation of completion of CPE requirements shall.
1. (1) Be subject to a fine of not less that $1000.00.
2. (2) Be required to complete the deficient CPE in a satisfactory time period as determined by the board.
G. In the event a pharmacist makes an application for renewal and does not furnish necessary proof of compliance upon request, the board will afford the applicant opportunity for hearing pursuant to the Uniform Licensing Act.
H. [RESERVED]
I. [RESERVED]
J. Pharmacy law requirement:
1. (1) Active status: A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) of the 3.0 CEU (30 contact hours) required for registration renewal, shall be in the subject area pharmacy law as offered by the board. In lieu of a board program, pharmacists not residing and not practicing pharmacy in New Mexico, may complete an ACPE accredited course, in the subject area pharmacy law, meeting the CEU requirements of this paragraph.
2. (2) Licensees may obtain 0.1 CEU (one contact hour) per year, in the subject area pharmacy law, by attending one full day of a regularly scheduled New Mexico board of pharmacy board meeting or serving on a board approved committee.
K. Board of pharmacy law programs shall offer 0.2 CEU and be two contact hours in length.
[02/26/1995; 16.19.4.10 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 19.4.10, 3/30/2002; A, 12/15/2002; A, 1/31/2007; A, 8/16/2010; A, 3/23/2013; A, 8/12/2013; A, 5/07/2024]