ARC 3099C

ARC 3099C

PHARMACY BOARD[657]

Adopted and Filed

Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 147.76, the Board of Pharmacy hereby amends Chapter 2, "Pharmacist Licenses," Iowa Administrative Code.

The amendment decreases the waiting period for retaking the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) from 91 days to 45 days, with a limit of three attempts to pass the NAPLEX within a 12-month period. Due to this decrease in the waiting period, no waivers or exceptions to the 45-day waiting period will be accepted or honored because reducing the waiting period to less than 45 days would pose a threat to the integrity of the NAPLEX. This amendment is the result of program changes implemented by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which maintains and administers the national pharmacist licensure examinations.

Requests for waiver or variance of the discretionary provisions of these rules will be considered pursuant to 657—Chapter 34.

Notice of Intended Action was published in the December 7, 2016, Iowa Administrative Bulletin as ARC 2859C. The Board received one written comment supporting the amendment. The adopted amendment is identical to the amendment published under Notice.

The amendment was approved during the May 10, 2017, meeting of the Board of Pharmacy.

After analysis and review of this rule making, no substantial impact on jobs has been found. However, reducing the waiting period between failure to pass the NAPLEX and the opportunity to retake the examination may result in faster entry into the practice work force by an applicant for pharmacist licensure.

This amendment is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 147.34 and 147.36.

This amendment will become effective on July 12, 2017.

The following amendment is adopted.

Amend rule 657—2.6(147) as follows:

657—2.6(147) Reexamination applications and fees. A candidate who fails to pass either the NAPLEX or the MPJE, Iowa Edition, once shall be allowed to schedule a time to retake the examination as provided in this rule. To ensure the integrity of the examinations, no waiver or variance of the specified waiting period between reexaminations will be granted.

2.6(1) NAPLEX. A candidate who fails to pass the NAPLEX once shall be allowed to schedule a time to retake the examination no less than 91 45 days following administration of the failed examination. The candidate may be approved to retake the NAPLEX no more than three times in a 12-month period.

2.6(2) MPJE, Iowa Edition. A candidate who fails to pass the MPJE, Iowa Edition, once shall be allowed to schedule a time to retake the examination no less than 30 days following administration of the failed examination.

2.6(3) Reexamination after two or more attempts. A candidate who fails to pass either examination following a second or subsequent examination may petition the board for permission to take the examination again. Determination of a candidate's eligibility to take an examination more than two times shall be at the discretion of the board.

2.6(4) Applications and fees. Each applicant for reexamination shall file an application on forms provided by the board. Processing fees A processing fee of $36 each will be charged to take for each NAPLEX or MPJE, Iowa Edition, reexamination and shall be paid to the board as provided in subrule 2.3(1). In addition, candidates will be required to complete the appropriate examination registration application as provided in rule 657—2.2(155A) and to pay to NABP the registration and administration fees for each examination as provided in subrule 2.3(2). All applications, registration forms, and fees shall be submitted as provided in subrules 2.3(2) and 2.3(3).

[Filed 5/15/17, effective 7/12/17]

[Published 6/7/17]

Editor's Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 6/7/17.