Renewal Reminder - Pharmacists

*RENEWAL REMINDER*

 

December 5, 2022

 

Dear Pharmacist, 

 

The License Renewal Portal opened for renewals on December 5, 2022. The deadline to renew your Pharmacist license is February 28, 2023. Please renew your license in advance of the deadline at https://doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.

 

You are required to complete a minimum of forty (40) contact hours of continuing education (CE) in approved programs during the period from 3/1/2021 through 2/28/2023 as specified by DC Municipal Regulations 17 DCMR Chapter 65. This requirement does not apply to Pharmacists renewing their licenses for the first time. Continuing Education credits must include the following:

·        At least two (2) hours in medication/dispensing errors

·        At least two (2) hours in cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression (“LGBTQ”).

·        At least ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District every five (5) years or less frequently, as deemed appropriate by the Director, with notice of the subject matter published in the D.C. Register.

·        Please note that the minimum of ten (10) live continuing education hours is back in effect for the 3/1/2021 through 2/28/2023 licensure period.

Immunization and Vaccination Certification

As a pharmacist with certification to administer immunizations and vaccinations, you are required to maintain current certification in CPR for health care providers and complete two (2) hours of continuing education relevant to the administration of immunizations and vaccinations. The continuing education requirement does not apply to pharmacists on the first renewal cycle of their pharmacist license. All pharmacists providing immunizations and vaccinations in the District of Columbia must register with the District of Columbia Board of Pharmacy. If you are certified to provide immunizations and vaccinations, your certification is due for renewal. You must renew your primary license first before renewing your certification to provide immunizations and vaccinations.

 

If you need to locate continuing education courses to fulfill the requirements for renewal, please visit the American Council for Pharmacy Education at https://plan.acpe-accredit.org/. DCRx, by DC Health, offers free online continuing education (CE) to DC healthcare professionals. To access course modules visit http://dchealth.dc.gov/dcrx. Additional, free CE courses sponsored by DC Health can be found at the Opioid Learning Institute (https://opioidhealth.org/education-training/elearning-courses-for-providers/). More detailed continuing education information can be found in the DC Municipal Regulations 17 DCMR Chapter 65 Pharmacists at www.dchealth.dc.gov/bop .

 

Please be advised that a CE audit will be conducted following the renewal period. If you indicate that you completed the required continuing education hours but you have not, you will be subjected to disciplinary action.