Section 1330.100  Continuing Education ("CE")

a)         CE Requirements

1)         Each person who applies for renewal of a license as a pharmacist shall complete 30 hours of CE during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the license, in accordance with Section 12 of the Act.

2)         A renewal applicant is not required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal after original licensure.

b)         Approved CE

1)         CE credit shall be based upon the completion of courses offered by providers approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.  These courses may be completed outside the State of Illinois.

2)         Undergraduate Coursework

A)        Undergraduate coursework taken after completion of a first professional degree in pharmacy through a recognized college or approved school of pharmacy (in accordance with Section 1330.300) may be used to fulfill the CE requirement if:

i)          Evidence of course completion through an official transcript and other documentation (e.g., certificate of completion or degree) of the university or college is submitted that indicates the number of course content hours completed; and

ii)         These courses are completed for college credit.

B)        CE credit will be earned for each undergraduate course completed. One semester hour is equivalent to 15 CE hours, and one quarter hour is equivalent to 10 CE hours.

c)         Certification of CE Requirements

1)         Each renewal applicant shall certify on the renewal application full compliance with CE requirements set forth in subsection (a).

2)         The Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE requirements.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of the compliance (e.g., certificate of attendance or completion).  Evidence shall be required in the context of the Division's random audit in accordance with Section 12 of the Act.

d)         The same CE hours cannot be used to fulfill the CE requirement for more than one renewal period.

e)         Waiver of CE Requirements

1)         Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with these CE requirements shall file with the Division a renewal application, along with the required fee, a statement setting forth the facts concerning noncompliance and a request for waiver of the CE requirements on the basis of these facts.  A request for waiver shall be made prior to the renewal date.  If the Division, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from the affidavit or any other evidence submitted that good cause has been shown for granting a waiver, the Division shall waive enforcement of the CE requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

2)         Good cause shall be defined as an inability to fulfill the CE requirements during the applicable period because of:

A)        Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States of America during the applicable period; or

B)        Extreme hardship, which shall be determined on an individual basis by the Board and shall be limited to documentation of:

i)          An incapacitating illness, documented by a currently licensed physician; or

ii)         Physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs, as documented by a currently licensed physician; or

iii)        Any other similar extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness of family member).

3)         If a renewal applicant requests an interview before the Board at the time the waiver request is submitted, the Board shall not deny the waiver request before an interview is conducted.  The renewal applicant requesting a waiver shall be given at least 20 days written notice of the date, time and place of the interview by mail, or email.

4)         Any renewal applicant who submits a request for waiver pursuant to subsection (e)(1) shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final Division decision on the application has been made.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 8352, effective June 2, 2023)