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.
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.