Pharmacist

To be licensed as Pharmacist in Florida, you must have met the following requirements pursuant to Section 465.007, Florida Statutes:

1. FORM A or OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: A degree from a school or college of pharmacy accredited by an accrediting agency recognized and approved by the United States Office of Education. Form A or official transcripts must be submitted directly from the university or they will not be accepted. If you graduated outside of the U.S., then you are considered a foreign graduate. Please do not apply by this method.
2. FORM B/INTERNSHIP OR WORK EXPERIENCE: A total of 2080 hours of an internship program approved by the Board.
   1. If you graduated with your Pharm.D. after January 1, 2001, you will only need to submit FORM A. You will not be required to submit FORM B.
   2. If you graduated with your B.S. or Pharm. D. before January 1, 2001, you will be required to submit both FORM A and FORM B.
      1. If you have worked as a licensed pharmacist in another state for one (1) year or more, you only must show your work experience to satisfy the 2080-hour requirement. Please have your employer complete the Form B.
      2. If you are self-employed as a pharmacist, please submit a notarized statement with your Form B attesting to your ownership of the pharmacy.
      3. If you are the supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager, you cannot sign Form B. You must have a hiring manager, supervisor or human resource representative verify years/hours of work experience and employment.
3. EXAM: Passing scores on both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) (also referred to as the “Florida law exam”).
   1. The board is a participant in the NAPLEX Score Transfer Program. If you elect to transfer your NAPLEX score to Florida, the score is valid for three (3) years from the date you took the examination.
   2. If you passed the NAPLEX examination, please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement to see if you qualify by this method.
4. LICENSE VERIFICATION: This form is required for applicants who hold or have ever held a license in another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country. Please have the office that issued the license or certification complete the License Verification Form. A license verification is required for all applicants. Online license verifications will be accepted as long as they are current and display discipline history.

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a licensed health care practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with prior disciplinary actions are required to submit the following:

Board Actions – Certified copies of document(s), i.e. Final Order and Administrative Complaint, relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must come from the agency that took the disciplinary action and must be certified by that agency.

Self-Explanation – A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of the disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life, which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. The section above does not apply to candidates or applicants for initial licensure or certification who were enrolled in an educational or training program on or before July 1, 2009, which was recognized by a board or, if there is no board, recognized by the department, and who applied for licensure after July 1, 2012.

Forms

• Form A
• Form B
• License Verification Form
• Social Security Form
  • Note: The Social Security Form is only required if you did not submit your Social Security Number with your original application.

Links

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
• NAPLEX Exam Request/Score Transfer
• MPJE Exam Request
• Pharmacy Laws and Rules Booklet – February 2020

To be licensed as Pharmacist in Florida, you must have met the following requirements pursuant to Section 465.007, Florida Statutes:

1. 500 FLORIDA INTERSHIP HOURS: A total of 500 internship hours completed as a Florida Pharmacy Intern Non-U.S. Graduate under an approved preceptor. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED YOUR FLORIDA INTERNSHIP, PLEASE FIRST APPLY AS A PHARMACY INTERN NON-U.S. GRADUATE.
2. FORM B/INTERNSHIP OR WORK EXPERIENCE: A total of 2080 hours of an internship program approved by the Board—500 Florida internship hours registered as a Pharmacy Intern Non-U.S. Graduate plus 1580 hours of internship or work experience hours. Form B must document the completion of 1580 internship or work experience hours. The hours documented on Form B may not overlap with the 500 Florida internship hours.
   1. If you are self-employed as a pharmacist, please submit a notarized statement with your Form B attesting to your ownership of the pharmacy.
   2. If you are the supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager, you cannot sign Form B. You must have a hiring manager, supervisor or human resource representative verify years/hours of work experience and employment.
3. NON-U.S. GRADUATE: A graduate of a 4-year undergraduate pharmacy program of a school or college of pharmacy located outside the United States must demonstrate proficiency in English pursuant to Section 465.007(2), F.S. and Rule 64B16-2.031, F.A.C. by successfully passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination and the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT).
   1. English proficiency can be met in one (1) of two (2) of the following pathways:

2. EXAM: Passing scores on both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) (also referred to as the “Florida law exam”).
   1. The board is a participant in the NAPLEX Score Transfer Program. If you elect to transfer your NAPLEX score to Florida, the score is valid for three (3) years from the date you took the examination.
   2. If you passed the NAPLEX examination, please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement to see if you qualify by this method.
3. LICENSE VERIFICATION: This form is required for applicants who hold or have ever held a license in another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country. Please have the office that issued the license or certification complete the License Verification Form. A license verification is required for all applicants. Online license verifications will be accepted as long as they are current and display discipline history.

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a licensed health care practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with prior disciplinary actions are required to submit the following:

Board Actions – Certified copies of document(s), i.e. Final Order and Administrative Complaint, relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must come from the agency that took the disciplinary action and must be certified by that agency.

Self-Explanation – A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of the disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life, which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. The section above does not apply to candidates or applicants for initial licensure or certification who were enrolled in an educational or training program on or before July 1, 2009, which was recognized by a board or, if there is no board, recognized by the department, and who applied for licensure after July 1, 2012.

Forms

• Form B
• License Verification Form
• Social Security Form
  • Note: The Social Security Form is only required if you did not submit your Social Security Number with your original application.
• Work Activity Manual

Links

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
  • NAPLEX Exam Request
  • MPJE Exam Request
  • FPGEE Information
    • Pre-FPGEE Practice Exam Information
  • FPGEC Information
• Pharmacy Laws and Rules Booklet – February 2020

To obtain a Consultant Pharmacist license in Florida, an individual must meet the following requirements pursuant to Section 465.0125, Florida Statutes, and Rule 64B16-26.300, Florida Administrative Code:

1. Florida Pharmacist License: An individual must currently hold a Florida pharmacist license that is active and in good standing.

2. Consultant Pharmacist Course: Applicants must have successfully completed a consultant pharmacist course that is no fewer than twenty (20) hours approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy Tripartite Continuing Education Committee which is based on the Statement of the Competencies Required in Institutional Pharmacy Practice and subject matter set forth in Rule 64B16-26.301, F.A.C. The course shall be instructionally designed to include a cognitive test on which the applicant must score a passing grade for certification of successful completion of the course.

• Forms
  • Social Security Disclosure Form
  Note: The Social Security Form is only required if you did not submit your Social Security Number with your original application.Links
  • CE Broker

To obtain a Nuclear Pharmacist license in Florida, an individual must meet the following requirements pursuant to Section 465.0126, Florida Statutes, and Rule 64B16-26.303, Florida Administrative Code:

1. Florida Pharmacist License: An individual must currently hold a Florida pharmacist license that is active and in good standing.
2. Proof of Eligibility: The applicant must have successfully completed 200 clock hours of formal didactic training sponsored by an approved program or university. The training must meet the requirements set forth in Rule 64B16-26.303, Florida Administrative Code. This training must be certified by the university or approved program and will serve as proof of eligibility.
3. Completion of a Period of Training and Experience: The applicant must have successfully completed 500 hours of training and experience under a supervising nuclear pharmacist. If the didactic and experiential training have not been completed within the last seven (7) years, the applicant must have been engaged in the lawful practice of nuclear pharmacy in another jurisdiction at least 1,080 hours during the last seven (7) years. The training and experience must meet the requirements set forth in Rule 64B16-26.303(2), Florida Administrative Code.

• Forms
  • Certificate of Training and Experience Form
  • Social Security Disclosure Form
  Note: The Social Security Form is only required if you did not submit your Social Security Number with your original application.