Georgia Board of Pharmacy

Pharmacy licenses can be verified through the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Georgia Board of Pharmacy licensees must renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. Pharmacist licenses must be renewed by December 31 of each even-numbered year.

Late renewals will be accepted until January 31 of the following year, but late renewals will incur an additional late renewal fee. Licenses not renewed by January 31 of the year following the renewal deadline will be revoked.

Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

CE Requirements for Your First Biennium Renewal

Special Pharmacy Practice

Not all pharmacists will need to report their continuing education credits along with their renewal applications. If you are randomly selected for an audit, you will receive specific instructions on how to submit proof of your continuing education credits.

The board instructs all licensed pharmacists to maintain their certificates of attendance (or other proof of CE credit completion) for two years after the preceding renewal period.

Tracking CE in Georgia with CPE Monitor

What is CPE Monitor?

How does it work?

• As a requirement for the biennial renewal of his/her license, a pharmacist must complete not less than thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education.
• One hour of C.E. is defined as 0.1 C.E.U.
• Each pharmacist in the State of Georgia must obtain 30 hours of continuing education or 3.0 C.E.U.’s per biennium for license renewal
• Certificates documenting that 30 hours of approved continuing education or 3.0 C.E.U.’s must be completed and dated within the biennium.
• A pharmacist licensed before or during the first six (6) months of the biennium (January to June), shall be required to obtain 30 hours of C.E.
• A pharmacist licensed during the following twelve (12) months (June to July) shall be required to obtain 15 hours of C.E. A pharmacist licensed during the last six (6) months of the biennium shall be exempt from continuing education for that biennium only.
• In the event of an audit and a pharmacist fails to submit certificates, which document his/her required continuing education credits, the Board will not process his/her request to renew the license until the continuing education requirements are provided to the Board.
• The pharmacist may not carry over continuing education credits from one licensing period to the next.
• Nothing is meant to prohibit representatives from the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA) from assisting, auditing, or verifying a pharmacist’s continuing education certificates as needed.
• Each licensed pharmacist shall maintain these certificates of attendance at continuing education meetings for a period of two (2) years from the date of the preceding renewal period.
• The staff of the Georgia Board of Pharmacy may audit, or otherwise select randomly, the continuing education of a percentage of licensees as determined by the Board.
• The Board may accept continuing education approved by other Boards of Pharmacy where such continuing education meets the requirements established by the Board.
• Approval of providers and sponsors shall be as follows:
  • All providers and sponsors of continuing education must be approved by the Board.
  • American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (A.C.P.E.) approved providers shall submit documentation to the Board of such approval every two (2) years and have blanket approval.
  • All other providers shall request approval of programs as a provider on the program approval form each time a program is presented.
  • Nothing in these rules are meant to prohibit the Board and/or GDNA from establishing a program or programs which can be granted special program approval(s) by the Board, and which may be utilized on more than one occasion or whenever such program or programs are presented by the Board or GDNA during a biennium.

• There shall be an administrative authority charged with the responsibility of maintaining the criteria for quality in continuing education programming for each provider.
• The administration shall be stable and an established procedure shall exist that insures an orderly transfer of responsibilities in the event there is a change in administration.
• Providers shall present a program or activity based on the needs of the target audience or the timeliness of the topic.
• Program objectives and rationale shall be stated.
• Providers shall give adequate, advanced promotional information, material about target audience, goals and objectives, program content, faculty credentials and fees.
• Each approved provider of continuing education in the State of Georgia shall provide a means of registration of the participants at each program and a record of attendance shall be maintained for a period of five (5) years.
• The provider shall also furnish to each participant, adequate documentation of his successful completion of the program.
• There shall be a method of program evaluation established and a statement of the evaluation process planned shall accompany each application. (The Board may supply sample forms.)

• Name and license number in each state of participant;
• Name of provider;
• Name of program;
• Hours/C.E.U. completed;
• Date of completion;
• Authorized signature.
• The provider shall develop policies and procedures for the management of grievances. (This does not have to be submitted to the Board.)
• The facility shall be appropriate and adequately equipped to support the delivery of the program.
• Approval of programs shall be as follows:

• Institutes, seminars;
• Lectures, conferences, workshops;
• Correspondence and electronically delivered courses that are A.C.P.E. approved.

• Welcoming remarks, business sessions, unstructured demonstrations, degree programs, or medical continuing education programs which are not A.C.P.E. or Georgia Board approved.
• All continuing education providers seeking approval of the continuing education program by the Georgia Board shall submit a program approval form for each program presented.
• These forms should be submitted sixty (60) days in advance. The Board may exempt programs from this advance time requirement period as set forth by Board policy.
• The rules provided are from the latest version of Chapter 480-3 as of November 2, 2022. Please refer to the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia for the most updated version of these rules.

The Georgia State Board of Pharmacy does have reciprocity with all states. The only caveat pertains to California applicants. Georgia has reciprocity with applicants who were licensed in California after 2004. If you were licensed in California before 2004, you must take the complete pharmacy examination (practical and MPJE).

Pharmacists in Georgia must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each 2-year biennial cycle to qualify for license renewal.

The renewal deadline is December 31 of each even-numbered year.

There are specific continuing education requirements for your first biennium renewal:

• If you were licensed before or during the first six months of the biennium (January to June), you must earn 30 hours of continuing education
• If you were licensed during the following 12 months, you must earn 15 hours of continuing education
• If you were licensed during the last 6 months of the biennium, you are exempt from continuing education for that biennium only

You can apply for a pharmacist license by filling out an online application and submitting a supplemental packet. Click here for a full list of application requirements.

Finding engaging, affordable, and approved online CE is important for pharmacists in Georgia, but it can be difficult to find free courses that meet your professional needs. If you are looking for free online live CE that covers a wide array of topics including medication errors and controlled substances, you can unlock unlimited access to freeCE’s live calendar with a Gold Membership. For one low price, you can access all the CE you need to renew your license in one place and save valuable time and energy finding multiple options that fit your schedule and professional needs.

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Pharmacists in Georgia are required to earn 30 hours of CE credit biennially. To help you find the CE you need to renew your license, freeCE has a wide variety of activities. We add new content to our catalog on a regular basis so you can not only meet your requirements each cycle, but you can choose the activities which interest you most. freeCE doesn’t just offer adequate training—we provide training that is both educational and interesting. These activities are available in both live and on-demand formats and cover important topics from diverse perspectives. Explore freeCE’s packages here.