33-24-121. Renewal license certificate; late fee; expiration upon failure to renew; reinstatement; continuing professional education requirement for renewal; reduction or exception determined by board.

(a) On or before December 31 of each year, any pharmacist licensed to practice pharmacy in this state shall transmit to the board his signature, registration number and address together with proof of compliance with subsection (d) of this section, the annual fee determined by the board and the relevant information pertaining to criminal, substance abuse, professional liability and licensure history. Upon receipt and compliance with all requirements, the board shall issue a renewal license certificate.

(b) A late fee as provided by W.S. 33-24-112(a)(v) shall be charged to any licensee failing to renew his license by December 31.

(c) If the licensee fails to secure the renewal certificate before December 31, the license to practice expires ten (10) days after mailing of written notice to renew sent to the holder by certified mail to the address last recorded for the licensee with the board. An expired license may be restored by the board upon compliance with this section not later than March 31 following expiration of the license.

(d) The board may require that any person applying for renewal in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall satisfactorily complete not less than six (6) nor more than fifteen (15) contact hours or not less than three-fifths (3/5) of one (1) continuing education unit nor more than one and one-half (1 1/2) continuing education units of approved continuing pharmaceutical education courses each year. For purposes of this subsection, one (1) continuing education unit is equivalent to ten (10) contact hours. No hours or units used for one (1) year shall apply to any other year. The board shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer this subsection and may reduce or make exception to the requirements of this subsection for the initial year of application and for emergency or hardship cases. The board shall require one and one-half (1 1/2) hours of continuing education related to the responsible prescribing of controlled substances annually. The board may require a person licensed as an inactive pharmacist, who seeks to be licensed as an active pharmacist, to:

(i) Provide proof of meeting the continuing education requirements for each year the person was licensed as an inactive pharmacist; or

(ii) Complete the continuing education requirements for each year, up to a maximum of five (5) years, the person was licensed as an inactive pharmacist.