A. Internship training, using academic training as a foundation, is to provide a learning experience in real life situations that will result in a complete professional, who is competent to practice pharmacy, and render professional services on their own, without supervision, at the time of licensure. The objectives shall be:[.]

1. (1) A practically, accurately and safely trained intern.
2. (2) An ethically trained intern.
3. (3) A legally trained intern. Standards of practice and internship program constitute the basic implementation of the approved internship program.

B. Instructional materials, affidavits, evaluation forms and reports.

1. (1) Forms shall be made available by the board.

   1. (a) Application for registration of intern.
   2. (b) Employers affidavit for internship.
   3. (c) Employers affidavit for externship/clinical.
   4. (d) Annual preceptors evaluation of intern.
   5. (e) Annual intern evaluation of preceptor.
2. (2) Reports and project assignments as may be required to accompany forms under the approved program.

C. Requirements for approved training: Areas may include retail and hospital pharmacies, radiopharmacies, state and county institutions, federal installations, agencies and clinics, board approved researchers, and drug manufacturers.

1. (1) General requirements include.

   1. (a) Current license or permit.
   2. (b) No unresolved deficiencies relevant to the observance of all federal, state and municipal laws and regulations governing any phase of activity in which the facility is engaged.
   3. (c) Required references: One current professional reference book of choice or internet access to approved resources.

D. Requirements for preceptor. Each preceptor shall:

1. (1) Be certified as a preceptor by the board or be an approved preceptor for intern training in another state, by that state board of pharmacy.
2. (2) Have been actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy for one year.
3. (3) Not have been convicted of violation of any laws or regulations relating to pharmacy, unless this provision is waived by the board on an individual basis.
4. (4) Submit all required forms, and evaluations to the board on or before the due date.
5. (5) Be aware and responsible for following regulations governing legal and ethical professional conduct as outlined in the standards of practice and train the intern in this area.
6. (6) Not be permitted to leave the intern alone to assume the responsibility of a pharmacist.

E. Requirements for intern.

1. (1) Application shall be made to the board on the required application form provided by the board prior to the beginning of internship. An applicant for registration as a pharmacist intern shall have satisfactorily completed all courses in the first semester of college of pharmacy curriculum, or its equivalent. Satisfactory completion requires that the student be eligible to progress in the college of pharmacy curriculum.
2. (2) The intern shall wear the standard identification tag, approved and issued by the board during any pharmacy area employment or internship training. A nominal fee is applicable. The intern will be responsible for imprinting their name on the identification tag.
3. (3) The intern is responsible for the knowledge and observation of the extent of his legal liability and legal restrictions applicable under the federal, state and municipal laws and regulations.
4. (4) The intern shall be responsible for ascertaining proper certification for him or herself, completion of all assignments, submittal of all forms, and reports under the approved program. After all assignments have been completed the preceptor will certify the affidavit and verify the completion of all requirements. Internship will not be evaluated or certified by the board until all forms are turned in to the board office in the form of certified affidavits.
5. (5) Employment and the internship training period are not to be interpreted as being the same. An intern may work in excess of his computed time. A maximum of 48 hours per week, however, shall be considered computed time for the purpose of completing the internship requirement of 1500 hours.
6. (6) The intern shall notify the board of any change of address, employment or college of pharmacy suspension or disenrollment, in writing, within 10 days of such change.
7. (7) The intern certificate of registration and renewal shall be displayed in the training area where the intern is employed.

8. (8) The registration shall be renewable under the following conditions:

   1. (a) the intern has received a degree from an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy, but has not completed the required intern hours to take the state board examination; or the intern has not completed the required number of hours and is enrolled as a pharmacy student;
   2. (b) a candidate who has failed the NAPLEX exam or the MPJE may renew their intern registration to be valid until the next scheduled examination date; provided the renewal does not exceed the period stated under 16.19.2.9 NMAC; or
   3. (c) by prior approval or by direction of the board.
9. (9) The intern registration must be renewed annually by the last day of September.

G. Out-of-state training.

1. (1) New Mexico registered interns wishing to earn intern hours out of state must comply with the regulations relating to internship and the approved program.
2. (2) Out of state registered interns or students wishing to earn internship hours in New Mexico must comply with the regulations relating to internship and the approved program of this state and shall register with the board.

3. (3) Computed time, under equivalent approved programs, submitted to the board by out-of-state applicants for licensure, will be evaluated.

   [8/27/1990; A, 3/02/1999; 16.19.5.8 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 19.5.8, 3/30/2002; A, 7/15/2002; A, 8/12/2013; A, 12/19/2013; A, 12/13/2015; A, 8/13/2024]

   HISTORY OF 16.19.5 NMAC:

   Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives:

   BOP 69-2, Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Pharmacy, 6/13/1969.

   BOP 69-3, New Mexico Laws and Regulations, Pharmacy Act, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Narcotic Drug Act, Poisons Act, Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations, 8/15/1969.

   BOP 72-1, New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations Promulgated Pursuant to New Mexico Drug and Cosmetic Act, Pharmacy Act, Controlled Substances Act, 7/31/1972.

   Regulation No. 5, Internship Training Program, 2/7/1980.

   Regulation No. 5, Internship Training Program, 10/23/1985.

   Regulation No. 5, Internship Training Program, 2/2/1987.

   Regulation No. 5, Internship Training Program, 7/27/1990.

   History of Repealed Material:

   BOP 72-1, New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations Promulgated Pursuant to New Mexico Drug and Cosmetic Act, Pharmacy Act, Controlled Substances Act - Repealed, 10/29/1985.

   Other History:

   16 NMAC 19.5, Pharmacists - Internship Training Program, filed 2/2/1996, reformatted and renumbered to 16.19.5 NMAC, Internship Training Program, effective 3/30/2002.