Section 2.2: License Renewal & Continuing Education Requirements

Continuing Education & License Renewal in Texas

Once a pharmacist has successfully navigated the initial licensure process, they must maintain their license through periodic renewal and continuing education. The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) mandates these requirements to ensure that practicing pharmacists remain competent, stay updated on clinical advancements, and are fully aware of changes in pharmacy law.

1. The Biennial Renewal Cycle

In Texas, pharmacist licenses are renewed on a biennial (two-year) cycle.

• Expiration Date: A pharmacist's license expires on the last day of their birth month in their designated renewal year. For example, if a pharmacist was born in March, their license will always expire on March 31st of their renewal year.
• Renewal Notice: The TSBP typically sends a renewal reminder approximately 60 days before the expiration date. However, the Board is not legally responsible for failure to receive a notice; the pharmacist bears sole responsibility for renewing on time.
• Renewal Requirements: To renew, the pharmacist must submit a completed renewal application online, pay the biennial licensing fee, and certify that they have completed the required hours of continuing education.

2. Continuing Education (CE) Hour Requirements

Active pharmacists in Texas must complete a minimum of 30 contact hours (equivalent to 3.0 Continuing Education Units or CEUs) during each two-year renewal period.

• Time Tracking: One contact hour is defined as at least 50 minutes of participation in an organized, approved learning experience.
• No Carryover: CE hours completed during one renewal cycle cannot be carried over to the next cycle. All 30 hours must be earned within the 24 months immediately preceding the renewal deadline.
• Home Study vs. Live CE: Unlike some states, Texas does not require a minimum number of "live" (in-person or interactive webinar) CE hours. All 30 hours may be completed via home study, written correspondence, or online courses, provided they are approved.
• Approved Providers: The TSBP accepts CE hours from providers accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Courses offered by non-ACPE providers must be approved directly by the TSBP to count toward the renewal.

3. Mandatory CE Topics

Within the 30-hour requirement, the TSBP mandates specific topics that all pharmacists must complete. These are highly specific and frequently tested:

1. Texas Pharmacy Law/Rules: At least 1 hour of the 30 hours must be related specifically to Texas pharmacy law or Board rules. General pharmacy law courses (e.g., federal law overviews) or law courses focused on other states do not meet this requirement. The ACPE course code suffix for pharmacy law is "03" (e.g., ACPE program ending in -H03-P or -L03-P).
2. Human Trafficking Prevention Course: Pursuant to Texas House Bill 2059 (passed in 2019), all healthcare practitioners, including pharmacists, must complete a human trafficking prevention training course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) during each renewal cycle.
   • Exam Trap: The HHSC course must be completed, but it may not always carry ACPE continuing education credit. If the approved course does not offer ACPE credit, the pharmacist must still complete it to satisfy the licensing law, and they must obtain their 30 hours of ACPE CE through other courses.
3. Controlled Substances Prescribing & Monitoring (Initial Renewal Only): Pharmacists licensed on or after September 1, 2020, must complete at least 2 hours of CE regarding the prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances. This training must be completed no later than the first anniversary of their initial licensure (meaning within their first year of practice, prior to their first biennial renewal).

4. Specialized Practice CE Requirements

Pharmacists who engage in specialized practice areas or hold specific board registrations must complete additional continuing education. These hours are generally counted toward the 30-hour total:

• Immunization Authority: To maintain the authority to administer immunizations and vaccines under a physician protocol, a pharmacist must:
  • Complete at least 3 hours of CE related to disease states, drugs, and administration of immunizations/vaccines every two years.
  • Maintain active certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Preceptor Registration: To maintain registration as a preceptor, the pharmacist must complete at least 3 hours of preceptor training CE every two years. This training must cover the instruction, evaluation, and mentoring of pharmacist-interns.
• Sterile Compounding: Pharmacists who compound sterile preparations or supervise pharmacy technicians who do so must meet strict initial and ongoing CE requirements:
  • Initial Training: Must complete a minimum of 20 hours of instruction and experience in sterile compounding (usually satisfied during pharmacy school or through an ACPE-accredited compounding course).
  • Ongoing CE: Must complete at least 2 hours of CE related to sterile compounding for low- to medium-risk preparations, or 4 hours of CE for high-risk sterile compounding every two years.
• Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM): Pharmacists who manage drug therapy under a physician's collaborative practice agreement must complete at least 6 hours of CE annually (12 hours per renewal cycle) in the specific therapeutic areas covered by the collaborative protocol.

5. Record Retention, Audits, and CPE Monitor

• CPE Monitor: Texas pharmacists are required to have an NABP e-Profile ID and have their CE credits reported electronically to the CPE Monitor system.
• Record Retention: Although CPE Monitor tracks hours electronically, the pharmacist must retain paper or electronic copies of certificates of completion for at least 3 years from the date the course was completed. This is crucial in the event of a Board audit.
• Board Audits: The TSBP routinely conducts random audits of renewal applications. If selected for an audit, the pharmacist must submit proof of all 30 CE hours (including mandatory topic certificates) to the Board within 30 days of receiving the audit notice. Failure to provide adequate documentation can result in disciplinary action, including fines and suspension.
• CE Exemption for New Graduates: As noted previously, new graduates are exempt from the 30-hour CE requirement during their first renewal cycle. However, this exemption does not apply to the HHSC Human Trafficking prevention course or the 2-hour controlled substances course (for those licensed after Sept 1, 2020), which must still be completed.

Summary of Continuing Education Requirements by Role