Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing Education required for pharmacist license renewal per 201 KAR 2:015 must be earned between March 1 and February 28 of each year. For licensing years 2023 through 2028, one (1) contact hour of the fifteen (15) must be on the opioid epidemic or opioid use disorder.
Pharmacists should have proof of fifteen (15) hours of general pharmacy continuing education completed and certified by February 28, and prior to renewing their pharmacist license. Pharmacists shall keep valid records, receipts, and certifications of continuing pharmacy education programs completed for three (3) years and submit the certification to the board on request. The Board utilizes the NABP CPE Monitor to conduct CE audits. Please check your profile periodically to avoid any discrepancies. All courses and/or providers shall be American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) or Kentucky Board of Pharmacy approved. Courses that have pending approval should not automatically be accepted as proof of completion.
ACPE vs IPCE Credit
IPCE stands for “interprofessional continuing education” and is a joint accreditation program founded by ACPE (CPE credits), ACCME (CME credits), and ANCC (nursing CE credits) in partnership with several health care professions. Joint Accreditation is for CE providers who offer continuing education for the health care team and provides them with a pathway to become simultaneously accredited to offer accredited CE for multiple health professions. IPCE-accredited providers meet the same stringent continuing education standards as required for accredited providers for a single health profession.
IPCE credits are transmitted to CPE Monitor by accredited providers in the same way ACPE credits are. CPE Monitor reports and displays IPCE-accredited CE just like ACPE-accredited CE and is subsequently accepted by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.
To obtain Board approval for a non-ACPE accredited continuing education course, please follow the instructions below:
Any pharmacist requesting approval of individually obtained continuing pharmacy education shall submit the Application for Pharmacist CE Approval via their Licensure Gateway Portal within 30 days of completion of the educational presentation. The board will notify the requesting pharmacist whether the application has been approved or denied. Continuing education that has not been approved by ACPE or the board shall not be used to meet continuing education requirements for renewal or issuance of a license.
Providers who sponsor a continuing education program shall submit the Application for Provider CE Approval to obtain authorization for the course 60 days preceding through 30 days following presentation for approval. Applications may be sent via email to pharmacy.board@ky.gov.
Pharmacists attending the board approved program are still required to submit the Application for Pharmacist CE Approval to obtain CE credit.