Continuing education requirements for pharmacists vary significantly by state. Understanding what your states require — and when — is essential for avoiding lapses in licensure.
How CE requirements are structured
Most states require 30 hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) per two-year renewal cycle, but this varies. Some states require 15 hours per year. Others align with a fixed calendar period rather than a rolling two-year cycle. CE must typically be ACPE-accredited.
Mandatory topic requirements
Beyond total hours, many states mandate specific topics. These vary by state but commonly include:
- Pain management and opioids — required in NY, OH, FL, and others
- Implicit bias training — required in IL, CA, and growing
- HIV/AIDS awareness — required in FL (1 hour)
- Domestic violence recognition — required in FL (2 hours), CA, and others
- Child abuse identification — required in NY, PA
- Controlled substance prescribing — required in OH, WV, and others
Key state-by-state highlights
California: 30 hours per two-year cycle. Mandatory: patient safety, law, and pain management. Home study limited to 20 hours.
Texas: 30 hours per two-year cycle. At least 1 hour must cover Texas pharmacy law. CPE Monitor reporting required.
Florida: 30 hours per two-year cycle. Mandatory: HIV/AIDS (1 hr), domestic violence (2 hrs), and medical errors (2 hrs).
New York: 45 hours per three-year cycle. Mandatory: pain management, palliative care, and end-of-life care (3 hrs combined).
Illinois: 30 hours per two-year cycle. Mandatory: implicit bias (1 hr) effective 2022.
Looking for another state? Browse CE and renewal requirements for all 50 states and DC →
CPE Monitor
NABP’s CPE Monitor is the national tracking system for pharmacist CE. Most states require CE to be reported through CPE Monitor. Verify your CE is posting to your e-Profile before your renewal deadline.
Verification
CE requirement data is sourced from state board of pharmacy websites. Requirements change — always verify current requirements directly with your state board before your renewal deadline.