22 Tex. Admin. Code § 283.6 – Preceptor Requirements and Ratio of Preceptors to Pharmacist-Interns

(a) Preceptor requirements.
1. (1) Preceptors shall be:
  1. (A) a pharmacist whose license to practice pharmacy in Texas is current and not on inactive status with the board; or
  2. (B) a healthcare professional preceptor.
2. (2) A pharmacist preceptor shall publicly display the pharmacist preceptor certificate with his/her license to practice pharmacy and the license renewal certificate.
3. (3) To be recognized as a pharmacist preceptor, a pharmacist must:
  1. (A) have at least:
    1. (i) one year of experience as a licensed pharmacist in the type of internship practice setting; or
    2. (ii) six months of residency training if the pharmacy resident is in a program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists;
  2. (B) have completed:
    1. (i) for initial certification, three hours of pharmacist preceptor training provided by an ACPE approved provider within the previous two years. Such training shall be:
      1. (I) developed by a Texas college/school of pharmacy; or
      2. (II) approved by:
        (-a-) a committee comprised of the Texas college/schools of pharmacy; or
        (-b-) the board; or
    2. (ii) to continue certification, three hours of pharmacist preceptor training provided by an ACPE approved provider within the pharmacist's current license renewal period. Such training shall be:
      1. (I) developed by a Texas college/school of pharmacy; or
      2. (II) approved by:
        (-a-) a committee comprised of the Texas college/schools of pharmacy; or
        (-b-) the board; and
  3. (C) meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Ratio of preceptors to pharmacist-interns.
1. (1) A preceptor may supervise only one pharmacist-intern at any given time (1:1 ratio) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
2. (2) The following is applicable to Texas college/school of pharmacy internship program only.
  1. (A) Supervision. Supervision of a pharmacist-intern shall be:
    1. (i) direct supervision when the student-intern or intern-trainee is engaged in functions associated with the preparation and delivery of prescription or medication drug orders; and
    2. (ii) general supervision when the student-intern or intern-trainee is engaged in functions not associated with the preparation and delivery of prescription or medication drug orders.
  2. (B) Exceptions to the 1:1 ratio.
    1. (i) There is no ratio requirement for preceptors supervising intern-trainees and student-interns as a part of a Texas college/school of pharmacy when the intern-trainees and student-interns are not engaging in dispensing activities, patient counseling, or any activities requiring independent judgement.
    2. (ii) A preceptor for a Texas college/school of pharmacy internship program may supervise one intern-trainee and one student-intern except as described in clause (i) of this subparagraph.
    3. (iii) Texas college/schools of pharmacy may request a different preceptor to pharmacist-intern ratio during the board's annual review and approval of their college/school based, structured internship program. Any such ratio shall apply only to the internship experience acquired as a part of the college/school based, structured internship program.
    4. (iv) In an emergency caused by a natural or manmade disaster or any other exceptional situation that causes an extraordinary demand for preceptors, the executive director of the board, in his/her discretion, may allow a preceptor in a Texas college/school of pharmacy internship program to supervise up to two interns. The executive director shall notify the Texas colleges/schools of pharmacy of the length of time a preceptor may supervise up to two interns.
(c) No pharmacist may serve as a pharmacist preceptor if his or her license to practice pharmacy has been the subject of an order of the board imposing any penalty set out in the Act, §565.051, during the period he or she is serving as a pharmacist preceptor or within the three-year period immediately preceding application for approval as a pharmacist preceptor. Provided, however, a pharmacist who has been the subject of such an order of the board may petition the board, in writing, for approval to act as a pharmacist preceptor. The board may consider the following items in approving a pharmacist's petition to act as a pharmacist preceptor:
1. (1) the type and gravity of the offense for which the pharmacist's license was disciplined;
2. (2) the length of time since the action that caused the order;
3. (3) the length of time the pharmacist has previously served as a preceptor;
4. (4) the availability of other preceptors in the area;
5. (5) the reason(s) the pharmacist believes he/she should serve as a preceptor;
6. (6) a letter of recommendation from a Texas college/school of pharmacy if the pharmacist will be serving as a pharmacist preceptor for a Texas college/school of pharmacy; and
7. (7) any other factor presented by the pharmacist demonstrating good cause why the pharmacist should be allowed to act as a pharmacist preceptor.

Source Note:The provisions of this §283.6 adopted to be effective February 17, 1988, 13 TexReg 610; amended to be effective February 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 110; amended to be effective January 12, 1998, 23 TexReg 134; amended to be effective October 4, 1998, 23 TexReg 9745; amended to be effective June 20, 2001, 26 TexReg 4478; amended to be effective June 13, 2002, 27 TexReg 4947; amended to be effective September 10, 2003, 28 TexReg 7709; amended to be effective March 4, 2004, 29 TexReg 1950; amended to be effective March 6, 2006, 31 TexReg 1439; amended to be effective June 11, 2006, 31 TexReg 4628; amended to be effective June 8,2008, 33 TexReg 4304.