Iowa Board of Pharmacy |
CE Requirements

Last Updated: October 27, 2023

45 Hours

  • 23 Hours Live
  • 19 Hours General
  • 3 Hours Medication Errors
  • No carry-over credit is allowed

License Deadline: 6/30 every 2 years

30 Hours

  • 11 General
  • 2 Law
  • 15 Drug Therapy
  • 2 Patient Safety

45 Hours

  • 23 Hours Live
  • 19 Hours General
  • 3 Hours Medication Errors
  • No carry-over credit is allowed

45 Hours

  • 23 Hours Live
  • 19 Hours General
  • 3 Hours Medication Errors
  • No carry-over credit is allowed

45 Hours

  • 23 Hours Live
  • 19 Hours General
  • 3 Hours Medication Errors
  • No carry-over credit is allowed

Iowa Board of Pharmacy

Iowa CE Requirements For Pharmacists

Licenses may be verified through the Iowa State Board of Pharmacy’s Online License/Registration Verification Portal.

Iowa licensed pharmacists must renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. Renewal applications are due by June 13 for every 2-year cycle with a renewal fee of $180. The renewal period is defined as the timeframe spanning from April 1 (prior to the previous license expiration) through June 30. Renewals may be completed online by signing into the Board’s Online Profile Login. Click the “Renew” option and follow the prompts.

Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy requires 30 continuing education (CE) hours to be completed every 2 years. These education hours may be completed in a live or home study setting. 

Pharmacist licensees may earn a maximum of 13 CPE hours by participating in activities offered by an accredited CME or other health care providers. The content of the activity, however, must be directly relevant to a pharmacist’s practice. 

Total hours

30

General Hours

11

ACPE-Accrediated Drug Therapy Topics

15

Pharmacy Law

2

Patient or Medication Safety

2

 

Rule 657-2.12: Continuing education requirements Pharmacists shall complete continuing education for license renewal pursuant to the requirements of this rule, except as provided in subrule 2.12(6) or rule 657-2.17 (272C). Nothing in these rules precludes the board from requiring an applicant for license renewal or reactivation to submit to a relicensure examination. (1)Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) required. A pharmacist shall complete no less than 30 hours of CPE during each renewal period except as provided in subrule 2.12(6) or rule 657-2.17 (272C).
  1. A pharmacist who fails to complete the required CPE hours within the renewal period shall be required to complete one and one-half times the number of delinquent CPE hours prior to reactivation of the license.
  2. CPE hours that are used to satisfy the CPE requirement for one renewal period shall not be used to satisfy the requirement for a subsequent renewal period.
  3. Failure to receive a license renewal application or notice of license renewal shall not relieve the pharmacist of the responsibility of meeting CPE requirements.
(2)CPE activity completion. a.ACPE provider activity. CPE activities that carry the seal of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited provider will automatically qualify for CPE credit. Successful completion and record of CPE activities in CPE Monitor is mandated in order for a pharmacist to receive credit for ACPE-accredited provider CPE activities. b.Non-ACPE provider activity. A maximum of 13 CPE hours of the total 30 CPE hours required pursuant to subrule 2.12(4) may be obtained through completion of non-ACPE provider activities if such activities are provided by an accredited health-professional continuing education provider, such as a continuing medical education (CME) provider, and if the activity content directly relates to the pharmacist’s professional practice. Non-ACPE provider activity completion shall be recorded, evaluated, and reported pursuant to the provisions of rule 657-2.17 (272C) regarding continuing professional development. (1) The pharmacist is responsible for ensuring that the activity content directly relates to the pharmacist’s professional practice. (2) If one or more non-ACPE provider activities are intended to fulfill the requirement in paragraph 2.12(4) “c,” the pharmacist is responsible for ensuring the activity content relates to patient or medication safety. (3) If the non-ACPE provider is not able to transmit the activity record to CPE Monitor, the provider shall provide to the pharmacist a statement of credit that indicates the pharmacist’s participation in and successful completion of the continuing education activity. The statement of credit shall include all information identified in subrule 2.12(3), except for the pharmacist’s CPE Monitor e-profile identification number. (3)CPE activity record of credit. An ACPE-accredited provider will be required to transmit to CPE Monitor information regarding an individual pharmacist’s participation in and successful completion of a CPE activity. The record shall be accessible to the board and shall include the following information:
  1. Pharmacist’s full name and CPE Monitor e-profile identification number.
  2. Number of contact hours or CEUs awarded for activity completion.
  3. Date of live activity or date of completion of home study activity.
  4. Name of accredited provider.
  5. Activity title and universal activity number.
(4)CPE activity topics. Each pharmacist is required to obtain CPE by completing activities in the topics specified in this subrule. a.Drug therapy. A minimum of 15 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with drug therapy. Activities qualifying for the drug therapy requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “01” or “02” followed by the letter “P” at the end of the universal activity number. b.Pharmacy law. A minimum of 2 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with pharmacy law. Activities qualifying for the pharmacy law requirement will include the ACPE topic designator “03” followed by the letter “P” at the end of the universal activity number. c.Patient or medication safety. A minimum of 2 CPE hours of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in activities dealing with patient or medication safety. Activities completed to fulfill this requirement may be ACPE-accredited provider activities, in which case the universal activity number will end with the ACPE topic designator “05” followed by the letter “P.” A pharmacist may complete non-ACPE provider activities as provided in paragraph 2.12(2) “b” to fulfill this topic requirement. d.Immunization. If the pharmacist is engaged in the administration of immunizations during the renewal period, a minimum of 1 CPE hour of the required 30 CPE hours shall be in ACPE-accredited provider activities dealing with immunization or vaccine administration. Activities qualifying for the immunization requirement will include the ACPE topic designator of “06” followed by the letter “P” at the end of the universal activity number. (5)Reporting CPE credits.
  1. A pharmacist shall provide or report to the board, in the format specified on or with the pharmacist license renewal application, attestation that the CPE requirements have been met.
  2. The board may require a pharmacist to submit activity statements of credit or other documented evidence of successful completion of the activities reported as fulfilling the CPE requirements.
(6)Exemptions and waivers to CPE requirements. a.Credit for health-related graduate studies. A pharmacist who is continuing formal education in a health-related graduate program, including participation in a pharmacy residency program, may be granted credit for health-related learning during the period of such enrollment or participation. As an alternative to requesting credit for health-related learning, the pharmacist may complete a CPD portfolio pursuant to rule 657-2.17 (272C). (1) An applicant for credit for health-related learning shall petition the board, as soon as possible following enrollment in the qualifying graduate program or commencement of the pharmacy residency program and prior to completion of the qualifying program, on forms provided by the board. (2) At the discretion of the board, credit granted for health-related learning during part-time or short-term enrollment in a health-related graduate program may be prorated for the actual period of such enrollment. b.Exemption for new license holders licensed by examination. After the initial license is issued by examination, the licensee is exempt from meeting CPE requirements for the first license renewal. However, if the licensee qualifies as a mandatory abuse reporter, the licensee shall not be exempt from mandatory training for identifying and reporting abuse pursuant to rule 657-2.16 (235B,272C). c.Waiver from CPE requirements due to physical disability or illness. The board may, in individual cases involving physical disability or illness, grant a waiver pursuant to 657-Chapter 34 of the minimum CPE requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the same or make the required reports. The board may grant a waiver of the minimum CPE requirements for physical disability or illness for any period of time not to exceed one renewal period. In the event that the physical disability or illness upon which a waiver has been granted continues beyond the period of the waiver, the licensee must reapply for an extension of the waiver. The board may, as a condition of any waiver granted, require the licensee to make up all or any portion of the waived CPE requirements by any method prescribed by the board. A waiver request pursuant to this paragraph and 657-Chapter 34 shall be signed by the licensee and the licensee’s physician. d.Active military duty. A licensee shall be deemed compliant with the CPE requirements of this rule during periods that the licensee serves honorably on active duty in the military services. e.Nonresident. A licensee who is not actively practicing in Iowa is a resident of another state, and holds an active pharmacist license in the licensee’s home state during the renewal period shall be deemed compliant with the CPE requirements of this rule.   We cannot guarantee this is the most up-to-date version of this code section. Please refer to the Iowa Code for the most accurate information.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy does allow for licensure by reciprocity for pharmacists. The applicant must: 

  1. Complete the NABP Application for Licensure Transfer.
  2. Complete the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Application for Licensure by License Transfer.
  3. Complete the criminal history background check/fingerprint packet.
  4. Register and pass the Iowa MPJE on the NABP website.

 

Note: An applicant for license transfer can request a temporary license for pharmacy practice. The license is valid for up to 3 months while the applicant completes and passes the MPJE.

The Iowa State Board of Pharmacy requires a minimum of 30 continuing education hours every 2 years. The CE requirement must be fulfilled by the renewal date of June 13.

A pharmacist license may be obtained through examination or reciprocity. To obtain licensure via examination, the applicant must:

  1. Complete the Licensure by Examination Application.
  2. Complete the criminal history background check/fingerprint packet.
  3. Register and pass the NAPLEX and MPJE with NAPB.
  4. Provide completed “Certification of Pharmacy Education” from an accredited college of pharmacy or FPGEC certification 
  5. Provide proof of 1500 internship hours under a licensed pharmacist

Iowa does not mandate live CE hours as a requirement for pharmacist license renewal, but incorporating them into your education can be extremely beneficial. Participating in live online CE sessions allows you to engage in interactive discussions and promptly obtain clarifications.

Take advantage of the opportunity by enrolling in a freeCE Gold Membership today. This membership grants you convenient access to our comprehensive library of home study materials and live webinars, all of which fulfill the state’s renewal requirements. With a wide selection of daily live sessions and the option for on-demand training, you have the flexibility to design a schedule that perfectly suits your needs.

Pharmacists licensed in Iowa must acquire continuing education in areas such as drug therapy, pharmacy regulations, and patient and medication safety. freeCE provides a large array of options for pharmacists to not only complete these requirements but to also choose topics that specifically appeal to you or your area of expertise. 

Iowa CE Requirements For Pharmacy Technicians

Iowa State Board of Pharmacy requires registered pharmacy technicians to become nationally certified. Technician registration must be renewed every two years in alignment with the national certification renewal cycle. 

For more information regarding national certification renewal, go to the PTCB website.

Iowa registered pharmacy technicians are required to obtain PTCB national certification and therefore, follow their recertification requirements. A minimum of 20 CE hours is mandated for the 2-year recertification period. 

For additional information regarding national certification CE requirements, visit the PTCB website.

 

PTCB CPhT Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

Required Subject AreaRequired Number of Hours
General Hours18 
Pharmacy Law1
Patient Safety1

In order to apply for pharmacy technician registration, go to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Online Profile Login. Applicants may create an account and follow the prompts for registration. 

For additional information concerning how to obtain certified technician registration, click here.

freeCE serves as a valuable asset for nationally certified technicians seeking to fulfill their CE obligations. The platform offers a wide array of accredited choices, including interactive webinars, on-demand sessions, and written activities, catering to various learning preferences. This diverse selection fosters an engaging and personalized educational journey.

By choosing freeCE, you gain access to the convenience of online learning, enabling you to take part in courses at your convenience and from your preferred location. This flexibility empowers you to effectively manage your professional responsibilities alongside your educational endeavors. To explore membership options that align with your requirements, please visit our website.

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