Utah BOARD OF PHARMACY
CE REQUIREMENTS | LIVE CERT

Pharmacy licenses can be verified through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing Licensee Lookup & Verification System.

Utah Board of Pharmacy licensees must renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. Licenses expire on September 30 of odd years. DOPL will send a renewal notice to your address 60 days before your license expires. Make sure your address is up to date with DOPL to get these important notices on time.

Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

Additional CE Requirements

Pharmacists providing immunization administration must get two hours in immunization or vaccine-related topics. Pharmacists providing administration of long-acting injectable drug therapy need two hours in topics related to long-acting injectables. If dispensing a self-administered hormonal contraceptive you need two hours in topics related to hormonal contraceptive therapy.

Pharmacists can track their completed CE credits on NABP CPE Monitor, a collaborative service from NABP and ACPE.

Licensees should maintain a certificate of completion or any other suitable documentation for any CE activities that cannot be tracked through NABP CPE Monitor.

R156-17b-309. Continuing Education.

In accordance with Section 58-17b-310 and Subsections 58-1-203(1)(g) and 581-308(3)(b), the continuing education (CE) requirements for renewal or reinstatement of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician license for each two year renewal cycle are established as follows:

(1)  A pharmacist shall complete at least 30 CE hours, which shall include at minimum:   (a) 12 hours of live or technology-enabled participation in lectures, seminars, or workshops;  (b) 15 hours of disease state management/drug therapy, AIDS/HIV therapy, or patient safety;  (c)  one hour of pharmacy law or ethics;   (d)  if providing immunization administration as defined in R156-17b621, two hours in immunization or vaccine-related topics;  (e)  if providing administration of long-acting injectable drug therapy as defined in R156-17b-621a, two hours in topics related to long-acting injectables; and  (f) if dispensing a self-administered hormonal contraceptive in accordance with Title 26, Chapter 62, Family Planning Access Act, two hours in topics related to hormonal contraceptive therapy.

(2)  (a) A pharmacy technician shall complete at least 20 CE hours, which shall include at minimum:   (i) six hours of live or technology-enabled participation at lectures, seminars, or workshops;   (ii) one hour of pharmacy law or ethics; and  (iii)  if providing immunization administration as defined in R156-17b621, two hours in immunization or vaccine-related topics.       (b)  Current PTCB or ExCPT certification shall fulfill all CE requirements for a pharmacy technician, except for any required hours in immunization or vaccine-related topics.

(3) (a) If a licensee first becomes licensed during the two-year renewal cycle, the licensee’s required number of CE hours shall be decreased proportionately according to the date of licensure.  (b)  The Division may defer or waive CE requirements as provided in Section R156-1-308d.

(4) CE credit shall be recognized as follows:  (a) One “live” CE hour for attending one Utah State Board of Pharmacy meeting, up to a maximum of two CE hours during each two-year period. These hours may count as “pharmacy law or ethics” hours.  (b) Two CE hours for each hour of lecturing or instructing a CE course or teaching in the licensee’s profession, up to a maximum of ten CE hours during each two-year period. The licensee shall document the course’s content and intended audience (e.g., pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns, physicians, nurses). Public service programs, such as presentations to schoolchildren or service clubs, are not eligible for CE credit.     (c) All CE shall be approved by, conducted by, or under the sponsorship of one of the following:   (i) institutes, seminars, lectures, conferences, workshops, various forms of mediated instruction, and programmed learning courses, presented by an ACPE-approved institution, individual, organization, association, corporation, or agency;   (ii) programs approved by health-related CE approval organizations,  2 provided the CE is nationally recognized by a healthcare accrediting agency and is related to the practice of pharmacy;   (iii) Division training or educational presentations;       (iv) educational meetings that meet ACPE criteria and are sponsored by the Utah Pharmacy Association, the Utah Society of Health-System Pharmacists, or other professional organization or association; and    (v) for pharmacists, programs of certification by qualified individuals, such as certified diabetes educator credentials, board certification in advanced therapeutic disease management, or other certification as approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board.

(5)  A licensee shall maintain documentation sufficient to prove compliance with this section, for a period of four years after the end of the renewal cycle for which the CE is due, by:  (a)  maintaining registration with the NABP e-Profile CPE Monitor plan or the NABP CPE Monitor Plus plan; and   (b) maintaining a certificate of completion or other adequate documentation for any CE that cannot be tracked by the licensee’s NABP plan. 

This is the latest version of Pharmacy Practice Act Rule R156-17b-309 as of September 13, 2023. Please refer to Utah’s laws and rules for the most updated information.

Pharmacists in Utah need to complete at least 30 CE hours, including at least 12 live hours, 15 hours of disease state management/drug therapy, AIDS/HIV therapy, or patient safety, and 1 hour of pharmacy law or ethics.

Pharmacists providing immunization administration must get 2 hours in immunization or vaccine-related topics. Pharmacists providing administration of long-acting injectable drug therapy need 2 hours in topics related to long-acting injectables. If dispensing a self-administered hormonal contraceptive you need 2 hours in topics related to hormonal contraceptive therapy.

The following criteria must be satisfied:

• Successful completion of both the NAPLEX and UT MPJE exams (mandatory before initiating the application process)

• Submission of fingerprint cards. 

• Educational Qualifications:

  • For U.S. Graduates: Provision of official transcripts as proof of graduating from an ACPE accredited program. Please note that transcripts are considered “official” when they are sent directly from the educational institution to DOPL or enclosed in an envelope that bears the school’s stamp or seal on the envelope flap

  • For Foreign Graduates: Submission of a copy of the FPGEC Certificate

• Internship Hours:

  • Verification of 1,740 hours for U.S. Graduates

  • Verification of 1,440 hours for Foreign Graduates

Finding high-quality online live CE is important for pharmacists in Utah, but it can be difficult to find affordable and engaging courses that meet your CE requirements. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out freeCE’s Gold Membership. For one low price, you can access all the CE you need to renew your license in one place, saving you valuable time and energy.

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The Utah Board of Pharmacy requires 12 contact hours of live CE every two years. Traditionally, pharmacists would earn live CE through in-person seminars or meetings. However, you also have the option to earn these credit hours with online webinars. Online live CE fulfills all the requirements of in-person activities, including interactive Q&A sessions with the faculty, all while being fully digital.

If you struggle to fit in-person live CE into your busy schedule, live webinars may be an excellent option for you. Webinars come in different lengths and formats and cover a variety of topics, allowing you to choose the activity that’s right for you.

Are you looking for online live CE? Look no further. freeCE has the most comprehensive webinar schedule around. 

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Pharmacists in Utah are required to earn 30 hours of CE credit biennially, 12 of which must be live. In order for an activity to be valid, the CE provider must satisfy the criteria of the Utah Board of Pharmacy. As an ACPE-accredited continuing education provider, freeCE can help you meet both your live and general requirements. freeCE offers a wide variety of activities. We add new content to our catalog on a regular basis so you can always find relevant activities that genuinely interest you.