Tennessee § 63-10-306 - License requirements.

§ 63-10-306. License requirements.

Except as otherwise provided in parts 2-5 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any individual to engage in the practice of pharmacy unless currently licensed or otherwise authorized under parts 2-5 of this chapter to practice under any facet of the provisions of parts 2-5 of this chapter. The board is authorized to establish the experience and education qualifications necessary for admission to the board's licensure or certification examination or examinations. The board may utilize any national certification or licensure examination or contract any qualified examination agency to prepare and administer its licensure examination or examinations, and the board shall establish by rule the minimum score necessary to pass any licensure or certification examination or examinations required by the board. An applicant for licensure as a pharmacist shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, be a graduate of a school or college of pharmacy recognized by the board, and submit an application for licensure on a form or forms approved by the board in writing or via online application and pursuant to board rules and regulations. When satisfied that the qualifications of pharmacists licensed in other states are equivalent to or greater than requirements for licensure in this state, the board may grant licenses to reciprocal applicants from other states. The board may refuse to issue licenses to reciprocal applicants from other states on such grounds as the board may establish in its regulations. The board has the authority to license and register pharmacists, pharmacies, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacy technicians, manufacturers, third-party logistics providers, and such other persons as the board may be required to license under federal or state law upon requirements established by the board's rules. This subsection (f) shall not be construed to include manufacturers' representatives, unless otherwise required by federal or state law. The board shall have the authority to establish the criteria, timing and procedure for renewal of licenses and certifications. The board is authorized to establish any and all necessary requirements for continuing education for those the board licenses or to whom the board issues certificates. This authority includes, but is not limited to, the establishment of the number of hours required, approval of providers and course content, enforcement and qualification for waiver of the requirements or extension of time in which to obtain the continuing education. The board shall define by rule the scope of practice of a pharmacy technician and the qualifications necessary to practice as a pharmacy technician. The board may designate by rule which national or other qualified pharmacy technician certification agencies will be recognized in this state for purposes of holding the status of a certified pharmacy technician. Any person licensed by the board of pharmacy under this section and holding a valid wholesaler license is considered to be licensed as a drug distributor until such a time when the board can promulgate rules to implement the third-party logistic provider (3PL) licensing process. Acts 1996, ch. 651, § 14; T.C.A. § 63-10-506 ; Acts 2007, ch. 407, §§ 2, 17, 18; 2014, ch. 949, § 9; 2015, ch. 293, § 5; 2017, ch. 268, § 1. Amendments. The 2017 amendment added (j). Effective Dates. Acts 2017, ch. 268, § 2. May 4, 2017. Cross-References. Licensing, §§ 63-1-103 – 63-1-112 . Tennessee Pharmacy Practice Act of 1996, title 63, ch. 10, parts 2-5.