Pharmacy Test and Treat Certification

treats minor, nonchronic health conditions must meet the following requirements:

1. Hold an active and unencumbered license to practice pharmacy in this state.
2. Have completed an initial 20-hour course approved by the board, in consultation with the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
3. Maintain at least $250,000 of professional liability insurance coverage. However, a pharmacist who maintains professional liability insurance coverage pursuant to s. 465.1865 satisfies this requirement.
4. Have established a system to maintain records of all patients receiving services within the framework of a written protocol for a period of 5 years from each patient’s most recent provision of service.

Written Protocol Information

Section 465.1895(5), Florida Statutes, requires a written protocol must include terms and conditions imposed by the supervising physician relating to testing and screening for and treatment of minor, chronic health conditions that are appropriate to the pharmacist’s training.

The written protocol must include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Specific categories of patients who the pharmacist is authorized to test or screen for and treat minor, nonchronic health conditions.
2. The physician’s instructions for obtaining relevant patient medical history for the purpose of identifying disqualifying health conditions, adverse reactions, and contraindications to the approved course of treatment.
3. The physician’s instructions for the treatment of minor, nonchronic health conditions based on the patient’s age, symptoms, and test results, including negative results.
4. A process and schedule for the physician to review the pharmacist’s actions under the protocol.
5. A process and schedule for the pharmacist to notify the physician of the patient’s condition, tests administered, test results, and course of treatment.

A pharmacist acting under a written protocol may not:

1. Enter into a written protocol while acting as an employee without the written approval of the owner of the pharmacy.

The rules relating to the Test and Treat certification can be found here.

Within 5 business days of entering into a written protocol with a supervising physician, a pharmacist must submit a copy of the protocol to the board.

A pharmacist who enters into a written protocol and provides services under a test and treat certification must report a diagnosis or suspected existence of a disease of public health significance to the Department of Health pursuant to Section 381.0031, Florida Statutes. To review the reporting requirements please visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/index.html

A pharmacist providing services under this section must provide a patient with written information to advise the patient to seek follow up care from his or her primary care physician. 

The Pharmacy in which a pharmacist’s tests and screens for and treats minor, nonchronic conditions must prominently display signage indicating that any patient receiving testing, screening, or treatment services is advised to seek follow up care from his or her primary care physician.

Links

• CE Broker
• Disease Reporting and Management Information

Current licenses will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, on September 30, 2023.

The Test and Treat Certification is automatically renewed with your Pharmacist License Renewal.  If you have completed the requisite 3-hour continuing education (CE) course related to minor, nonchronic health conditions approved by the board in addition to your required pharmacist hours, you will be able to renew your pharmacist license with the test and treat certification.

If you no longer wish to hold the test and treat certification, please notify the Board office in-writing and the distinction will be removed from your license.

All pharmacists with a 50-year qualification who have held an active Florida pharmacist license are fee exempt. Pharmacists with this distinction are still required to meet the current continuing education (CE) requirements prior to each licensure renewal.

All renewal provisions must be met to successfully renew your license. To ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department, your current mailing address must be on file. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active or inactive before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.

The department will renew your pharmacist license with the immunization administration certification upon receipt of:

1. Completed CE requirements – reported to CE Broker
2. Completed renewal application for your pharmacist license. Please note that there is no separate renewal application for the immunization administration certification.
3. Required fees to renew your pharmacist license. Please note that there are no separate fees to renew your immunization administration certification.

To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders. If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.