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Board of Pharmacy 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Licensing/Applications

Does a Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC) of an Out-of-State Pharmacy need to have an active Alaska pharmacist license?

Yes. With the signing of HB 112 by Governor Mike Dunleavy, Out-of-State Pharmacies will need to be licensed rather than registered in Alaska. The following changes will be taking place:

  1. If an Out-of-State Pharmacy is currently registered in Alaska, it will not need to do anything until renewal time, which is scheduled for June 2024. At renewal time, currently registered Out-of-State Pharmacies will renew as normal however they will submit applications to be licensed rather than registered if they want to continue providing pharmacy services in Alaska.
  2. If an Out-of-State Pharmacy is not currently registered in Alaska, they will need to apply to be licensed rather than registered beginning November 27, 2023.
  3. All Internet based/Online Pharmacies will fall under the same statutory and regulatory requirements as Out-of-State Pharmacies if they want to provide pharmacy services in Alaska.
  4. Beginning November 27, 2023, all licensed Out-of-State Pharmacies must also have a Pharmacist-in-Charge that holds an active Alaska Pharmacist license. Out-of-State Pharmacies that are currently registered and will renew in June 2024 must have a Pharmacist-in-Charge that holds an active Alaska Pharmacist license at renewal time.

November 27, 2023 to June 30, 2024 is the transition period to ensure compliance with the upcoming statutory and regulatory changes to Out-of-State Pharmacies providing pharmacy services in Alaska.

What are the requirements for changes of name, physical location, ownership, pharmacist-in-charge, or facility manager? (This question only applies to pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers).

For pharmacies:
An in state or out of state pharmacy that has changed its name, ownership, or physical address shall notify the board in writing not later than 30 days after the change. A notification of a change of physical address must include an attestation that a new self-inspection will be completed not later than 30 days after the start of business.

A pharmacist designated to replace the pharmacist-in-charge of a licensed pharmacy, including both in state and out of state pharmacies, shall notify the board in writing not later than 30 days after that designation. Notwithstanding 12 AAC 52.425(a), a pharmacist may not serve as a pharmacist-in-charge unless the pharmacist is physically present in the pharmacy for a sufficient amount of time to provide supervision and control. A pharmacist may not serve as pharmacist-in-charge for more than one pharmacy at any one time except upon obtaining written permission from the board.

For all other facilities:
A facility that has changed its name, physical address, or ownership must notify the board in writing not later than 30 days after the change. A notification of a change of physical address must include an attestation that a new self-inspection will be completed not later than 30 days after the start of business.

A designated representative of a wholesale drug distributor, outsourcing facility, third-party logistics provider, or manufacturer designated to replace an outgoing designated representative of a facility shall notify the board not later than 30 days after that designation, by submitting a completed change of designated representative notice in writing. The outgoing designated representative shall also notify the board in writing not later than 30 days after departure. A designated representative may be in charge of more than one location and may be designated as the designated representative for multiple facilities simultaneously.

How do I register to take the NAPLEX and/or MPJE?

The North American Pharmacy Licensing Exam (NAPLEX) and the Multi Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exams (MPJE) are the recognized exams accepted by the Alaska Board of Pharmacy. To take an exam, you must contact the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to register, schedule, and sit for your exam(s). When eligibility is granted, the NABP will send you an Authorization to Test (ATT) which explains the logistics and details of your exam(s). Once you pass your exam(s) please send an email to boardofpharmacy@alaska.gov informing the licensing staff so they can move your application forward.

Examinations | National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (nabp.pharmacy)

Is a reverse distributor receiving controlled substances for the purposes of returning the substances or processing the substances for disposal on behalf of another entity registered by the DEA required to obtain a license?

No, the board does not require a reverse distributor to become licensed in Alaska so long as the facility is not selling or intending to sell the substances.

How can I find out about the status of my application?

All applications and documents are processed in the order they are received and updates to your application will be available through the My License portal after you receive the web authorization. If your application is incomplete, you will be notified of the status and what is needed for completion as soon as your application is reviewed. Please use your My License portal for status updates rather than send emails to the Alaska Board of Pharmacy.

What should I do if I have a Conviction, but still want to apply for a license?

Carefully read the instructions in this section of the application. It will instruct you to submit a letter of self explanation and a copy of the legal/court/board documents addressing the conviction. When your application is complete, it will be forwarded to Investigations for review. It will then be reviewed by a quorum of Board of Pharmacy members who will make the final licensing decision.

What are the licensing requirements for Durable Medical Equipment vendors?

All DME vendors must have an Alaska Business License. If you also ship prescription medications or devices directly to Alaska residents (vs. shipping to a facility), you are also required to be licensed by the Board of Pharmacy.

Can I fax or scan an application document?

Yes. Documents can be sent via fax to (907) 465-2974 or mailed to the address at the top of the document. If you submit a document via fax please do not also send it via mail as this will create double processing for staff which will lead to longer processing times. We cannot accept applications or any other documents with payment information via email.

How do I download a List of Licensees from your database?
  1. Go to the homepage for Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
  2. Choose the Professional Licensing Box.
  3. Under Important Links, select Download List of License Holders
  4. Select Pharmacy from the drop down list of professions & hit continue.
  5. Make the selection you want from Step 2 and Step 3
  6. Enter the email address to send the information in Step 4 AND choose Get Count and email the Data OR Give me a Count
Is my license activity public record?

Yes, licensing records are public documents and available to members of the public upon written request and payment of copying fees. Information considered confidential and not releasable to the general public include social security numbers and other information considered confidential by state or federal law. Your address of record is public information and is displayed on the division's online License Search. Licensees have expressed concern that their address is so readily available. Some licensees have elected to have a post office box or practice location for their official address of record to avoid having their residential address easily accessible. Please be advised that all notices from the Board (renewal notices, licenses, and other legal documents) will be mailed to the address of record provided.

What disciplinary actions or convictions must be disclosed for facility applicants and licensed facilities?

For facilities that are now or at any time have been licensed for the manufacture or distribution of drugs or devices including as a third-party logistics provider, wholesale facility, or wholesale drug distributor:

Disciplinary actions, including suspension or revocation by federal, state, or local government issued against the facility’s present or former license for the manufacture and distribution of drugs and devices.

For all facilities:
Felony convictions of an owner of the specific licensed facility.

Example: Real Estate Company (REC) owns the building where a pharmacy is located, and REC is convicted of felony wire fraud. REC may in turn be owned by Pharmacy Co., but it is only convictions of REC that must be disclosed, not all felony convictions of any Pharmacy Co. subsidiary or other facilities that are owned by Pharmacy Co. or its parent company.

Felony convictions of an employee of the specific licensed facility.

Example: Cashier at Anytown Pharmacy has been convicted of distribution of child pornography. Cashier’s conviction must be disclosed.

Felony convictions of the licensee.

Example: Anytown Pharmacy, owned by Pharmacy Co. is convicted of felony Medicaid fraud. Conviction of Anytown Pharmacy must be disclosed, not felony convictions of any other pharmacy owned by Pharmacy Co.

Disciplinary decisions issued against the licensee.

Example: Anytown Pharmacy is disciplined by the board for violating regulations relating to shared pharmacy services. Disciplinary action against Anytown Pharmacy must be disclosed.

Convictions of the licensee for any crime that affects the licensee’s ability to practice competently and safely.

Example: Anytown Pharmacy is convicted of a crime listed in 12 AAC 52.925. Conviction of Anytown Pharmacy must be disclosed, not convictions of similar crimes by any other licensee owned by Pharmacy Co.

Can I get a Temporary License?

Contact the Board of Pharmacy licensing examiner for temporary permit requirements or read 12 AAC 52.100 in the Pharmacy Statutes and Regulations book.

A prescriber in my area recently had his/her license to practice suspended/revoked or is deceased. Can I fill a prescription written by him/her? What about refills?

For a prescription to be valid it must be written by a licensed medical provider, for an actual patient of that provider, and be for a legitimate medical treatment of a diagnosed condition. As long as the provider’s license was valid when the prescription was written for that patient, then the prescription may be filled. The same applies for refills. For example, Dr. John Doe writes a prescription for his patient on April 06, 2023, with three refills. The next day, on April 07, 2023, Dr. John Doe surrenders his license and DEA registration, retires, passes away, etc. If the patient presents the prescription to the pharmacy and the pharmacist believes it was written in legitimate course of treatment and for a legitimate medical purpose, the prescription and refills should be filled. If a pharmacist has any concerns that a prescription may not be legitimate they should contact the board of pharmacy at boardofpharmacy@alaska.gov.


Regulations

Do registered/licensed pharmacies located outside of the state of Alaska need to submit an annual information update?

No. As of November 27, 2023, the statute (AS 08.80.158) requiring the registration of pharmacies located outside of state was repealed therefore making the requirement to submit an annual information update to the board obsolete. All pharmacies located both in and out of Alaska now fall under AS 08.80.157. LICENSING OF FACILITIES and 12 AAC 52.020. PHARMACY LICENSE.

12 AAC 52.130. REGISTRATION OF PHARMACIES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE is also in the process of being repealed to come into alignment with the repeal of AS 08.80.158. All pharmacies licensed in Alaska, regardless of their physical location, should now follow the regulatory guidelines of 12 AAC 52.020. PHARMACY LICENSE. Note that section (g) is also in the process of being repealed.

What are the requirements to independently administer vaccines and related emergency medications, and who is authorized to do this? Are there continuing education requirements associated with this?

Pharmacists and pharmacy interns can independently administer immunizations or an epinephrine injection or other medication for the treatment of a severe allergic reaction only after completion of required training accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and completion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. The full list of requirements can be found under AS 08.80.168, 12 AAC 52.992, and 7 AAC 27.650 under the Department of Health and Social Services (see the VacTrAK document here). The independent administration of immunizations or related emergency medications does not require prior board approval. The board also does not require pharmacists or pharmacy interns to submit to our department documentation of successful completion of these courses; however, pharmacists supervising an intern planning to engage in providing immunizations or related emergency medications should use their due diligence to ensure the pharmacy intern has complied with the training requirements. Only pharmacy interns whose supervising pharmacists prescribe the immunization or related emergency medication and otherwise comply with 12 AAC 52.992 can engage in this activity.

Licensees wishing to engage in the continuous administration of immunizations and related emergency medications must participate in one hour of continuing education activity in accordance with 12 AAC 52.320(e)

License Requirements for Individual Pharmacists Working for Tribal Health Programs How does the board determine license disciplinary action?

When the board is considering license disciplinary action, they use the two disciplinary matrices found below which were created using past disciplinary action precedent for similar violations of statute and/or regulation. Please note - these are suggested guidelines based on case precedent for the board to consider, and the board has the ultimate and final decision.

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