The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the rule’s language and revise the incorporated forms.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Pharmacy

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B16-26.2031Licensure by Examination; Foreign Pharmacy Graduates

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the rule’s language and revise the incorporated forms.

SUMMARY: Language will be updated and the incorporated forms will be revised.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 465.005, 465.007 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 465.007 FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allison Dudley, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B16-26.2031 Licensure by Examination; (Foreign Pharmacy Graduates); Application.

In order for a foreign pharmacy graduate to be admitted to the professional licensure examination, the applicant must be a graduate of a four year undergraduate pharmacy program at a school or college outside the United States and have completed an internship program approved by the Board.

(1) All applications for licensure by examination must be made on form DH-MQA 103 (Rev. 04/16 09/09), Pharmacist Examination Application For Foreign Graduates and Instructions, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-    , the Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254, or the Board's website at http://floridaspharmacy.gov/Applications/app-pharmacist-exam-foreign-grad.pdf. Contact the Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254, or [phone] to request an application or download the application from the Board’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy. The application must be accompanied with an non-refundable examination fee and an initial license fee as set forth in Rules 64B16-26.1001 and 64B16-26.1002, F.A.C.

(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), tThe applicant must submit proof of having met the following requirements:

(a) For applications received at the Board of Pharmacy on or before June 30, 2009, the applicant must:

1. Successfully pass the foreign pharmacy graduate equivalency examination which is given by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Commission with a minimum score of 75%.

2. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of English by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered by the Educational Testing Service, Inc., with a score of at least 500 for the pencil and paper test or 173 for the computer version and by passing the Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a score of 45 on the recalibrated TSE; or

3. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of English by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL ibt) with scores of: Listening – 18; Reading – 21; Speaking – 26; and Writing – 24.

(b) For applications received at the Board of Pharmacy on or after July 1, 2009, the applicant must:

1. Successfully pass the foreign pharmacy graduate equivalency examination, which is given by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Commission, with a minimum score of 75%;

(b)1. 2. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of English by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered by the Educational Testing Service, Inc., with a score of at least 550 for the pencil and paper test or 213 for the computer version and by passing the Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a score of 50 on the recalibrated TSE; or

2.3. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of English by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL ibt) with scores of: Listening – 18; Reading – 21; Speaking – 26; and Writing – 24; and;.

(c)(2) Complete 2080 hours of supervised work activity, of which a minimum of 500 hours must be completed within the State of Florida.  Such experience must be equivalent to that required in the internship program as set forth in Rule 64B16-26.2032, F.A.C. The work experience program, including both the preceptor and the permittee, must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. The wWork experience shall be documented on form DH-MQA 1153 (Rev. 02/16 01/10), Foreign Graduate Intern Work Activity Manual, which is hereby incorporated by reference and which can be obtained from http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-    ; the Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254; or the Board's website at http://floridaspharmacy.gov/Applications/info-foriegn-grad-reg-intern-manual.pdf. Contact the Board of Pharmacy, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C04, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254 or [phone] to request a manual or download the manual from the Board’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy. Further, nNo program of supervised work activity shall be approved for any applicant until said applicant has obtained the specified passing scores on the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination.

(3) Completion of a Board approved course not less than hours on medication errors that covers the study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety. For applicants who apply within one year following receipt of their pharmacy degree, completed academic course work on medication errors will be accepted by the Board as an educational course under this section, provided such course work is no less than contact hours and that it covers the study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety as evidence by a letter attesting to subject matter covered from the Dean of the University.

Rulemaking Authority 465.005, 465.007 FS. Law Implemented 456.013(1), (7), 456.025(3), 465.007(1) FS. History–New 1-11-05, Amended 8-8-07, 6-10-09, 5-27-10,                  .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Pharmacy

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Pharmacy

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 5, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 6, 2016