West Virginia BOARD OF PHARMACY
CE REQUIREMENTS | LIVE CERT

Pharmacy licenses can be verified through the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy website.

West Virginia Board of Pharmacy licensees must renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. Additionally, licensees must complete 30 continuing education (CE) hours and pay a fee of $120. Renewal applications are due on June 30 every other year. 

To renew a pharmacist license, visit the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy website. Navigate to the “Practitioners” and then “Pharmacists” section, where you will find the “Renew” tab. Log into the portal and follow the prompts to complete the application. The Board does not accept paper renewals.

Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

West Virginia Board of Pharmacy requires 30 continuing education (CE) hours to be completed every 2 years. A minimum of 6 hours must be completed through live instruction and 2 hours must Board approved Drug Diversion education (unless the Drug Diversion waiver is signed).

Additional CE Requirements

If a pharmacist is immunization-trained and certified, 2 hours of CE must be completed on the topic of vaccines annually. 

Section 15-3-4: Continuing Pharmacy Education Requirements

4.1.  A licensed pharmacist shall complete a minimum of thirty CPE hours every two years, inclusive of any CPE requirements for consultant pharmacist registration, pharmacist immunization registration, and drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances training, in order to renew his or her license to practice pharmacy in West Virginia, and each reporting period thereafter.

4.2.  Hours earned may only be used to meet the requirements for one reporting period.  Hours in excess of the number required at the end of each reporting period shall not be transferred or applied to future reporting periods to satisfy future CPE requirements.  Hours earned in a new reporting period but used to meet the requirements of a prior reporting period may only be used for the prior reporting period.

4.3.  Six hours of the thirty CPE hours required every two years shall be obtained through a live presentation requiring the direct presence of the pharmacist at the CPE activity.

4.4.  Unless a pharmacist has completed and timely provided to the board on the form to be provided by the board a waiver request attesting that he or she has not administered or dispensed a controlled substance during the entire previous reporting period, every pharmacist shall, as a prerequisite to license renewal, complete a minimum of two hours of drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances training during the previous reporting period.

4.4.a.  Said two hours of CPE shall be a part of the 30 hours of CPE required, and is not two additional hours.

Section 15-16-5: License and Registration Renewal

5.1. The board shall charge and collect the following fees:

5.1.1. Biennial renewal of license of pharmacist: $100.00, provided that if the applicant is sixty-five (65) years of age or older at the time of renewal then the fee shall be $50.00;

5.1.2. License of pharmacy intern: $10.00 for the original license; $5.00 for each renewal for the remaining periods of his or her internship;

5.1.3. Registration of a consultant pharmacist: $20.00 for each application; and

5.1.4. Registration of a pharmacy technician: $25.00 for the original registration; $20.00 for each biennial renewal

5.2. All licenses of pharmacists and registrations of pharmacy technicians expire on the thirtieth day of June. One half of all licenses for pharmacists and registrations for pharmacy technicians shall be renewed for a period of one year to expire on the thirtieth day of June, and shall be biennially thereafter. The Board shall renew one half of all licenses for pharmacists and registrations for pharmacy technicians for a period of two years, to expire on the thirtieth day of June, and shall renew those licenses and registrations biennially thereafter: Provided That, registrations of pharmacy interns shall continue to be renewed annually. Every licensed pharmacist, pharmacy intern or pharmacy technician who desires to renew his or her license or registration shall apply to the state board of pharmacy for renewal of his or her license or registration, and shall transmit with his or her application the fee prescribed. The renewal application may be sent by the board at least thirty days prior to expiration of the license or permit. The notification may be sent electronically to an e-mail or be mailed to the last known address of each pharmacist, pharmacy intern or pharmacy technician, in the discretion of the board and as shown on record with the Board. The Board has until August 31 of each year to issue the license or registration and no license or registration shall be considered lapsed until September 1. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make timely application for renewal, and if he or she has not received an application by June 1 of the year in which his or her authorization expires, the applicant should request one from the Board. Applications for renewal received in the office after June 30 of the year in which his or her authorization expires will require the payment of a late fee equal to the amount of the renewal application fee, as well as the regular renewal fee. If the applicant submitted a renewal application by June 30, and has not received his or her license or registration by July 31, the applicant should contact the Board.

5.3. If any pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy technician whose license or registration has expired fails to apply to the board for a renewal of his or her license or registration by August 31 of the year in which his or her authorization expires, the Board shall remove his or her name from the register of pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians.

5.4. In order for any pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy technician whose name has been removed from the register of the board to again become licensed or registered, the pharmacist, pharmacy intern or pharmacy technician shall petition the board, or an authorized committee of the board, for reinstatement, in writing, to show cause for permitting the license or registration to lapse. If his or her license or registration has been expired for one year or less (i.e., the petition for reinstatement is received on or before June 30 of the year after his or her authorization expired), and if the board finds the person otherwise eligible and qualified to practice, the Board shall reinstate that person upon payment of reinstatement fee of $250.00 for a pharmacist plus the renewal fee of $100.00, or upon payment of a reinstatement fee of $50.00 for a pharmacy technician plus the renewal fee of $20.00. If the pharmacist license or pharmacy technician registration has been expired for more than one year (i.e., the petition is received after June 30 of the year after his or her authorization expired), the board finds the person has submitted to the board satisfactory reasons for allowing the license or registration to lapse, and satisfies the board as to his or her qualifications to practice the profession by successfully passing the examinations administered or otherwise required by the board for reinstatement, the Board shall reinstate that person upon payment of reinstatement fee of $250.00 for a pharmacist plus the renewal fee of $100.00, or upon payment of a reinstatement fee of $50.00 for a pharmacy technician plus the renewal fee of $20.00. If a pharmacy intern’s license has been expired for more than a year, he or she must make new application as an intern and pay the required application fee for an initial pharmacy intern license.

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

The West Virginia Board of Pharmacy does allow for licensure by reciprocity for pharmacists. The applicant should complete the following steps:

• Complete a background check.
  • After submission, a receipt with a UeID number will be generated. Enter this number into the reciprocity form.
• Complete and submit the West Virginia reciprocity form.
• Complete and submit the NABP Application on the NABP website.
• Apply, register, and pass the MPJE on the NABP website.

Requirement details and additional instructions can be found on the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy website.

The West Virginia State Board of Pharmacy requires a minimum of 30 hours every 2 years. Of these 30 hours, 6 hours must be completed in a live setting. 

Additionally, licensees are required to complete 2 hours on the topic of Drug Diversion.

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

• Log in to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy License Portal and follow all application prompts
• Pass the NAPLEX and MPJE

• Upload a 3×4 inch head and shoulders photograph
• Provide proof of graduation from an accredited school or college of pharmacy

• Provide a certificate of FPGEC completion (if applicable) 
• Provide certification of internship hours acquired in a pharmacy setting
• Complete a background check

Additional requirement details and instructions can be found on the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy website.

The West Virginia State Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacists to complete a total of 30 hours of continuing education (CE), with 6 of those hours needing to come from live sessions. West Virginia-licensed pharmacists also need to earn CE credits in areas such as drug diversion, controlled substances, and immunizations if applicable. Fortunately, with freeCE, you can easily fulfill both live and home study requirements from the comfort of your home.

Enroll in a freeCE Gold Membership today to conveniently access a variety of home study materials and live webinars that fulfill the West Virginia pharmacist license renewal criteria. This subscription provides unlimited access to daily live sessions and on-demand training options, giving you the flexibility to create a schedule that suits your needs perfectly.

West Virginia-licensed pharmacists can enhance their professional knowledge by earning continuing education (CE) credits through freeCE, encompassing essential areas like drug diversion and immunization. We have courses that cover these obligatory topics as well as subjects that will resonate with your individual interests or areas of specialization.