Delaware licensed pharmacists must renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. Renewal applications are due by September 30 of each renewal period. 

Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

If it is the first renewal period for the licensee, 1.25 continuing education (CE) hours are required per month between the initial date of licensure and the biennial renewal date. 

For active licensees, there is a total minimum requirement of 30 continuing education (CE) hours. All hours may be obtained in a home study format. Specifics of the mandated hours are outlined below. 

Additional CE Requirements

If the pharmacist is immunization-trained and authorized, 2 hours of CE is required on the topic. The subject must be on the topic of administering injectable medications and biological and adult immunizations.

TITLE 24 REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS DELAWARE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

1.4 Continuing Education Requirements

1.4.1 A pharmacist must acquire 3.0 C.E.U.’s (30 hours) per biennial licensure period. No carry over of credit from 1 registration period to another period is permitted. Each biennial licensure renewal period, the required 30 hours must include the following:

1.4.1.1 At least 2 hours of continuing education in the area of medication safety/errors and;

1.4.1.2 At least 2 hours of continuing education in: 1) the distribution, dispensing or delivery of controlled substances; or 2) the detection and recognition of symptoms, patterns of behavior, or other characteristics of impairment and dependency resulting from the abusive or illegal use of controlled substances.

1.4.2 Persons who are newly licensed after the registration period begins, must complete continuing education units proportional to the total number of continuing education units required for the biennial licensure renewal. (1.25 hours/per month).

1.5 Continuing Professional Educational Programs

1.5.1 Topics of Study shall be subject matter designed to maintain and enhance the contemporary practice of pharmacy.

1.5.2 Providers must be approved by ACPE.

1.5.3 A maximum of 2 credit hours will be awarded for First Aid, attendance at a Board of Pharmacy meeting and CPR/BCLS courses 1 time only per registration period.

1.5.4 Credit for Instructors of Continuing Education

1.5.4.1 Any pharmacist whose primary responsibility is not the education of health professionals, who leads, instructs or lectures to groups of nurses, physicians, pharmacists or others on pharmacy related topics in organized continuing education or inservice programs, shall be granted continuing education credit for such time expended during actual presentation, upon adequate documentation to the Delaware Board of Pharmacy.

1.5.4.2 Any pharmacist whose primary responsibility is the education of health professionals shall be granted continuing education credit only for time expended in leading, instructing, or lecturing to groups of physicians, pharmacists, nurses or others on pharmacy related topics outside his/her formal course responsibilities (that is, lectures or instructions must be prepared specifically for each program) in a learning institution.

1.5.4.3 Credit for presentations of in‑service training programs or other lectures shall be granted only for topics meeting the criteria for continuing pharmacy education, and shall be granted only once for any given program or lecture. (Any topic completely revised would be eligible for consideration.)

1.5.4.4 A maximum of 6 hours (0.6 C.E.U.’s) in this category may be applied toward fulfilling the total biennial continuing education requirements.

1.5.5 Credit for On the Job Training:

1.5.5.1 The Board of Pharmacy does not as a general rule encourage the submission of “on the job training” for fulfilling the continuing education requirements. All programs meeting this definition shall be reviewed on an individual basis.

1.5.5.2 All programs that are submitted for credit must meet the criteria for continuing pharmacy education.

1.5.5.3 No credit shall be awarded for programs required by an employer for continued employment of the employee. (Examples OSHA training, Infection Control Education required by JCAHO.)

1.5.5.4 A maximum of 4 hours (0.4 C.E.U.’s) in this category may be applied toward fulfilling the total biennial continuing education requirements.

1.6 Audit of Continuing Education Hours

1.6.1 Audit. Each biennium, the Division of Professional Regulation shall randomly select from the list of renewed licensees a percentage of licensees, determined by the Board, to be audited. The Board may also audit based on complaints or charges against an individual license, relative to compliance with continuing education requirements or based on a finding of past non-compliance during prior audits.

1.6.2 Documentation. When a licensee is selected for audit, the licensee shall be required to submit documentation accounting for the continuing education hours claimed by the licensee. For ACPE-approved courses, the CPE log from NABP is acceptable documentation. For other courses, programs or activities, licensees selected for random audit are required to supplement the attestation with supporting materials which may include a syllabus, agenda, itinerary or brochure published by the sponsor of the activity and a document showing proof of attendance (i.e., certificate, a signed letter from the sponsor attesting to attendance, report of passing test score). The Board shall attempt to verify the continuing education shown on the documentation provided by the licensee. Upon completion of the review, the Board will decide whether the licensee’s continuing education meets the requirements of these regulations.

1.6.2.1 Any continuing education not meeting all provisions of these regulations shall be rejected in part or in whole by the Board.

1.6.2.2 Any incomplete or inaccurate documentation of continuing education may be rejected in part or in whole by the Board.

1.6.3 Board Review and Hearing Process. The Board shall review all documentation requested of any licensee shown on the audit list. If the Board determines the licensee has met the requirements, the licensee’s license shall remain in effect. If the Board initially determines the licensee has not met the requirements, the licensee shall be notified and a hearing may be held pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. This hearing will be conducted to determine if there are any extenuating circumstances justifying the apparent noncompliance with these requirements. Unjustified noncompliance of these regulations shall constitute a violation of 24 Del.C. §2512(b) and may subject the licensee to discipline pursuant to 24 Del.C. §2516.

1.6.4 Sanctions for Unjustified Noncompliance. The minimum penalty for the first finding of unjustified noncompliance shall be a $250 monetary penalty. However, the Board may impose any of the additional penalties specified in 24 Del.C. §2516. The minimum penalty for the second finding of unjustified noncompliance shall be a $500 monetary penalty. However, the Board may recommend to the Board imposing any of the additional penalties specified in 24 Del.C. §2516.

1.6.5 Requests for Extension- Extenuating Circumstances. A licensee applying for renewal may request an extension and be given up to an additional 12 months to make up all outstanding required continuing education providing he/she can show good cause why he/she was unable to comply with such requirements at the same time he/she applies for renewal. The licensee must state the reason for such extension along with whatever documentation he/she feels is relevant. The Board shall consider requests such as extensive travel outside the United States, military service, extended illness of the licensee or his/her immediate family, or a death in the immediate family of the licensee. The written request for extension must be received by the Board prior to the licensure renewal. The Board shall issue an extension when it determines that 1 or more of these criteria have been met or if circumstances beyond the control of the licensee have rendered it impossible for the licensee to obtain the required continuing education. A licensee who has successfully applied for an extension under this paragraph shall make up all outstanding hours of continuing education within the extension period approved by the Board. Make-up credits may not be used in the next renewal period.

1.7 Reciprocal Requirements

1.7.1 An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall meet the requirements of 24 Del.C. §2510 and shall:

1.7.1.1 Submit proof of licensure in good standing from each state where he or she is or has been licensed;

1.7.1.2 Obtain a passing score on the MPJE on the laws applicable in this State as provided in subsection 1.2; and

1.7.1.3 Get fingerprinted at your local police agency and have the original state and federal criminal history record or statement that there is no criminal history record sent directly to the Board office.

1.7.2 Reciprocity applicants who took examinations after June 1, 1979, must have passed the NAPLEX or an examination deemed equivalent by the Board and obtained scores required for applicants for licensure by examination.

1.7.3 Applicants who are licensed by reciprocity must begin accruing continuing education units at a rate of 1.25 hours/per month beginning with the month of licensure.

1.8 Late Renewal – If a pharmacist license or pharmacy permit expire for failure to renew before the deadline, the license or permit may be renewed at any time within the 60 days immediately following expiration upon application and payment of the renewal fee and a late fee. In accordance with 24 Del.C. §§2507 and 2526, it is unlawful for a licensee or permittee to practice or operate while their license or permit is expired. All late pharmacist license renewals will be audited for compliance with the CE renewal requirement. While a pharmacist may renew his or her license within 60 days immediately following expiration of the license, all CE requirements must be met by the renewal deadline, which is September 30 of even years.

We cannot guarantee this is the most up-to-date version of this code section. Please refer to the Delaware Code for the most accurate information.

Delaware does allow for reciprocity or “license transfer.” Potential licensees may qualify for this transfer if they meet 1 of the following criteria:

• The applicant passed the NAPLEX less than 1 year prior AND Delaware was not designated as a score transfer state.
• The applicant passed the NAPLEX over 1 year prior AND currently holds a license in another state/jurisdiction.

The potential licensee must create a DELPROS user account, select Apply/Manage a License and Service Request, and follow the prompts.

If a pharmacist holds an active license (in good standing) in other jurisdictions, the NABP Electronic License Transfer Program may help. Their duties include screening the preliminary application, verification of the provided information, and creation of an online NABP Official Application for Transfer of Pharmacist License. Applicants should also register to take the MPJE at this time. Further instructions can be found here.

Additional requirements for the application process include:

• Passing NAPLEX and MPJE scores
• Certificate of graduation from an accredited pharmacy school or foreign program that meets the equivalency requirements
• Criminal history check authorization/fingerprinting

For more information regarding reciprocity and the requirements in the state of Delaware, click here.

The Delaware State Board of Pharmacy requires a minimum of 30 continuing education hours every 2 years. The CE requirement must be fulfilled during even-numbered years from October 1 to September 30.

The applicant must create a DELPROS user account, select Apply/Manage a License and Service Request, and follow the prompts.

Potential licensees should apply by examination if 1 of the following scenarios applies:

• They have not passed the NAPLEX and want Delaware to be your primary state for eligibility   
• They have passed the NAPLEX more than one year ago and are not currently licensed elsewhere

Potential licensees should apply by score transfer if 1 of the following scenarios applies:

• They have not passed the NAPLEX yet but have applied to take it in another state and requested the scores be transferred to Delaware
• They have passed the NAPLEX less than one year ago and requested to have the scores transferred to Delaware at the time of the examination

Additional requirements for the application process include:

• Passing NAPLEX and MPJE scores
• Certificate of graduation from an accredited pharmacy school or foreign program that meets the equivalency requirements
• Criminal history check authorization/fingerprinting
• Complete a minimum of 1500 hours of Board approved practical experience under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist

For more information regarding the application for pharmacist licensure and requirements, click here.

While Delaware does not mandate live CE hours for pharmacist license renewal, opting for them can be highly beneficial. Participating in live online CE sessions allows you to engage in real-time interactions, discussions, and clarifications.

Join our freeCE Gold Membership now to easily access all of our home study materials and live webinars, ensuring compliance with your state’s continuing education requirements. With this subscription, you are granted daily access to a diverse selection of live sessions and on-demand training, enabling you to select the topics that interest you. This flexibility empowers you to create a personalized schedule that aligns with your needs.

Delaware-licensed pharmacists are specifically required to earn CE related to patient safety, medication errors as well as controlled substances. freeCE provides a large array of options for pharmacists to not only complete these requirements but also to choose topics that specifically appeal to you or your area of expertise.