Board of Pharmacy - Frequently Asked Questions

I completed a 20-hour course on immunization administration and used this course to obtain my initial license to from the Board to immunize; can I use this same course to fulfill my continuing education requirement for pharmacist licensure renewal?

Yes. At the November 15, 2010, board meeting the Board reconsidered and overturned its initial October 27, 2010, decision. A pharmacist who completed a 20-hour course on immunization administration to obtain initial licensure may use this same course to fulfill the continuing education requirements for pharmacist licensure renewal.

As a licensed pharmacist who does not hold a license to administer immunizations, am I required to complete the 2-hours of continuing education in immunization administration as stated in 32 MRSA § 13735?

	*(ref)§13735. Continuing pharmacy education*
	"An annual renewal license may not be issued by the board until the applicant certifies to the board that, during the calendar year preceding an application for renewal, the applicant has participated in not less than 15 hours of approved courses of continuing professional pharmaceutical education as set out in this section. Of the 15 hours to be completed, at least 2 hours must be in board-approved courses on drug administration as described in section 13702-A, subsection 28 ."

Yes. The law requires all licensed pharmacist to obtain at least 2 of the required 15 continuing education hours for licensure renewal to be in drug administration.

How many days does the owner of a drug outlet have to notify the Board of Pharmacy, that there has been a change in the Pharmacist in Charge (PIC)?

The pharmacy owner must notify the Board of any change in PIC within 7 days after the change. A new application and a $100 fee must be filed with the board whenever a new PIC is designated. See, Board Rules Chapter 8 Section 6.

I am a Pharmacist-in-Charge leaving employment at a drug outlet-what should I do?

Pharmacy law requires that you file a notice with the board no later than 7 days after the change. 32 MRSA § 13753(1)(C).

I am a new incoming Pharmacist-in-Charge at a drug outlet. Should I notify the Board?

In addition to making sure that you file a PIC change application, you must conduct an audit of scheduled drugs and report any unresolved inventory discrepancies. See, Board Chapter 23, Section 3(2) (B).

I have a new address. Do I have to report this to the board?

Yes. Licensed pharmacists and licensed pharmacy technicians must report changes in contact address within 30 days of a change of address. (Chapter 4 Section 3-pharmacist; Chapter 7 Section 1(2)(5) --pharmacy technician)

Can I work as a pharmacy technician before I am registered?

No. You be licensed before you can work as a pharmacy technician. First, you must file an application with the required fees. New applicants with complete applications will be identified on the OPOR website in a "pending" status. Pending status does not entitle you to practice. When you application has been approved and license is issued to you, you may start practice as a pharmacy technician. When your license is issued, our website will be updated to show that your status has changed from "pending" to "active."

I am a pharmacy technician in the process of changing work sites. What should I do?

You are required to report your change of work site or termination of employment within 30 days of the change. You can notify the board by letter, fax or email. See, Board Rule Chapter 7 Section 1(2)(5).

I am a pharmacy technician but I am no longer employed as a pharmacy technician. Can I renew my license?

No. You must be employed in order to renew your pharmacy technician registration. See, 32 MRSA § 13702 Section 19-A.

Does the Maine Board of Pharmacy register or license interns?

Yes. If you are employed by a drug outlet as an intern, you must register with the board as a pharmacy technician pursuant to board rule Chapter 6. Your accumulated internship hours must be reported to the board at the end of your internship. It is important that you keep detailed records of your internship hours.

I am a foreign-trained pharmacist. Can I take the NAPLEX (exam) and obtain a Maine license?

Yes but you must first contact the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy ("NABP") www.nabp.net and pass the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination ("FPGEE") and obtain the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Education Committee Certification ("FPGEC"). After completing this process, you may submit a licensure application which can be access on-line at www.maine.gov/professionallicensing

I am a pharmacy student. Can I take the NAPLEX prior to graduation or obtaining my degree?

No. In order to qualify to sit for the NAPLEX you must confirm that you have received your undergraduate pharmacy degree.

I want to become licensed as an out-of-state mail order pharmacy, contact lens supplier, wholesale distributor, or manufacturer. The application instructions require license verification from all states in which my company is currently licensed including those states in which the company is no longer licensed. Why is this necessary?

Yes. You must submit official verification of licensure from each state in which your company is or has been licensed. A photocopy of your company's license(s) is not sufficient and will not be accepted.

Can a Maine licensed mail order pharmacy, contact lens supplier, manufacturer, or wholesale distributor change ownership and just send written notification to the board?

No. Company change of ownership requires the filing of a new application.

What is my responsibility as a Pharmacist in Charge for a pharmacy technician who has been terminated?

When a pharmacy technician employed by the pharmacy for which you are designated as PIC, you are required to requires to notify the board by letter, fax or email within 14 days of termination of the pharmacy technician. See, board rule Chapter 7 Section 3(3).

When a complaint is filed but the complainant does not identify a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, who is the complaint filed against?

Complaints that do not name a specific pharmacist or pharmacy technician are considered to be filed against the Pharmacist-in-Charge.

I am a pharmacist practicing in a licensed drug outlet. Am I obligated to dispense large amounts of syringes?

A licensed pharmacist is an authorized seller of hypodermic apparatus (32 MRSA § 13787-A. As such, a pharmacist is not restricted as to the quantity of hypodermic syringes provided they are for legitimate medical purposes. However, it is unlawful for a person to be in possession of more than ten hypodermic needles without a valid prescription. Quantity is a matter that is left to professional judgment and not regulated by the board.

Today, there are many categories of health care practitioners that have prescriptive authority. Who are they?

In Maine Who Can...

PRESCRIBE LEGEND DRUGS TO OUTPATIENTS	Prescribe Legend Drugs	Prescribe Controlled Substances	Schedule II Prescribe Controlled Substances Schedule III-IV-V
Nurse Practitioners(NP) Nurse Midwives(CNM)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chiropractor	No	No	No
Dentist	Yes	Yes	Yes
Doctor of Osteopathy	Yes	Yes	Yes
Doctor of Homeopathy	No	No	No
Medical Doctor	Yes	Yes	Yes
Naturopathic Doctor(ND)	Yes³	No	No
Optometrist	Yes²	Yes²	Yes²
Physician Assistant(PA)	Yes	Yes¹ Only with specific authorization by the Board	Yes¹
Podiatrist	Yes	Yes⁴	Yes
Veterinary	Yes	Yes	Yes

Chart last updated on 2001

¹PAs cannot prescribe schedule II drugs without specific authorization from the Board of Licensure in Medicine. At this time no PAs have such authorization. For further information contact: Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine (207) 287-3601.
²Prescribing privileges, according to a limited formulary, and as authorized by the Board for Optometrists with Advanced Therapeutic Licenses. For further information about such persons authorized, contact the Board of Optometry at: (207) 624-8691.
³NDs may prescribe noncontrolled legend drugs by law within a limited formulary as identified in Chapter 6 of the Board of Complementary Health Care Provider rules. A copy of this rule may accessed at the following web site: www.maine.gov/professionallicensing.
⁴A licensed podiatrist may prescribe narcotic drugs for the treatment of ailments within the scope of the podiatrist's license with the approval of the Drug Enforcement Administration (32 MRSA § 3553).

Last Updated: November 15, 2011

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