# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 34 — Board of Pharmacy

### Chapter 38 — Pharmacy Interns

**Authority:** Health-Occupations Article, §§12-205, 12-206, 12-301, 12-315 — 12-317, 12-319, 12-320, 12-505, 12-6D-01 — 12-6D-15, and 12-707, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

#### Regulation .01 Scope.

*COMAR 10.34.38.01*

A. This chapter applies to applicants for registration as pharmacy interns and to registered pharmacy interns.

B. This chapter does not apply to pharmacy students:

  (1) In a school of pharmacy sanctioned experiential learning program; or

  (2) Registered as pharmacy technicians with the Board performing delegated pharmacy acts.

C. This chapter applies to individuals functioning as a pharmacy intern regardless of whether they are paid.

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 10.34.38.02*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Board” means the State Board of Pharmacy.

  (2) “Direct supervision” means that a licensed pharmacist is physically available, notwithstanding appropriate breaks, on-site and in the prescription area or in an area where pharmacy services are provided to supervise the practice of pharmacy and delegated pharmacy acts.

  (3) “Pharmacy student” means an individual who is enrolled as a student in a school or college of pharmacy:

    (a) Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education; or

    (b) Having precandidate or candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

  (4) “Registered pharmacy intern” means an individual who is registered with the Board to practice pharmacy under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.

  (5) “Registration” means in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, a registration issued by the Board to practice pharmacy under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

  (6) “Supervision” means reviewing the work, guiding and directing the activities, and monitoring the performance of an individual.

#### Regulation .03 Prohibited Pharmacy Acts.

*COMAR 10.34.38.03*

A registered pharmacy intern may not:

A. Delegate a pharmacy act;

B. Perform a final verification of a prescription drug or device before dispensing;

C. Perform any act that has not been authorized by the supervising pharmacist;

D. Represent themselves as a pharmacist;

E. Dispense prescription medications when the pharmacist is not in the pharmacy;

F. Be present in the pharmacy when the pharmacist is not physically available onsite;

G. Act within the parameters of a therapy management contract as provided under Health Occupations Article, Subtitle 6A, Annotated Code of Maryland;

H. Independently compound prescriptions; or

I. Accept the return of prescription drugs or devices directly from a patient.

#### Regulation .04 General Requirements.

*COMAR 10.34.38.04*

A. Each registered pharmacy intern shall:

  (1) Display the pharmacy intern’s registration in the office or place of business in which the pharmacy intern is practicing pharmacy under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist; or

  (2) Have the registration on the pharmacy intern’s person available for viewing.

B. When practicing pharmacy under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, the registered pharmacy intern shall wear identification that conspicuously identifies the registered pharmacy intern as a registered pharmacy intern.

C. When performing tasks in the prescription area, a pharmacy intern shall maintain proper:

  (1) Sanitation;

  (2) Hygiene;

  (3) Biohazard precautions; and

  (4) Infection control.

D. A pharmacy intern, who has obtained a registration as an actively enrolled student, shall immediately notify the Board if the pharmacy intern’s enrollment as a student has been revoked, suspended, terminated, or otherwise discontinued.

#### Regulation .05 Limitation on Supervision.

*COMAR 10.34.38.05*

A licensed pharmacist may not directly supervise more than two registered pharmacy interns at one time.

#### Regulation .06 Registration Requirements.

*COMAR 10.34.38.06*

A. An applicant shall be an individual who:

  (1) Is currently enrolled and has completed 1 year of professional pharmacy education in a doctor of pharmacy program:

    (a) Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education; or

    (b) Having precandidate or candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education;

  (2) Has graduated from a doctor of pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education; or

  (3) Is a graduate of a foreign school of pharmacy who:

    (a) Has established educational equivalency as approved by the Board; and

    (b) Has passed an examination of oral English approved by the Board.

B. An applicant identified in §A of this regulation shall:

  (1) Submit to the Board a signed completed application on a form provided by the Board;

  (2) Pay a fee as set forth in COMAR 10.34.09;

  (3) Submit a request for a State Criminal History Records check; and

  (4) Be of good moral character.

C. The Board may not approve an application until the State Criminal History Records Check is completed.

D. The Board of Pharmacy shall provide the pharmacy intern with a registration card and pocket identification card upon initial registration and renewal.

#### Regulation .07 Renewal Requirements.

*COMAR 10.34.38.07*

A. The pharmacy intern’s registration shall expire on the last day of the birth month following 1 year after initial registration.

B. Except as provided in §C of this regulation, the Board shall send to each registrant, at least 1 month before a registration expires, a renewal notice by first–class mail to the last known address of the registrant.

C. If requested by a registrant, the Board shall send to the registrant, at least two times within the month before a registration expires, a renewal notice by electronic means to the last known electronic address of the registrant.

D. If a renewal notice sent by electronic means under §C of this regulation is returned to the Board as undeliverable, the Board shall send to the registrant a renewal notice by first-class mail to the last known address of the registrant.

E. A renewal notice sent under this regulation shall state:

  (1) The date on which the current registration expires;

  (2) The date by which the renewal application must be received by the Board for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the registration expires; and

  (3) The amount of the renewal fee.

F. A registered pharmacy intern who qualifies for registration under Regulation .06A(1) of this chapter may renew the registration one time if the registered pharmacy intern is:

  (1) Otherwise entitled to be registered as a pharmacy intern;

  (2) Submits to the Board a renewal application on the form that the Board requires; and

  (3) Pays to the Board a renewal fee set by the Board.

G. A registered pharmacy intern who qualifies for registration under Regulation .06A(2) and (3) of this chapter may not renew the registration.

H. The registration of a pharmacy intern registered under this chapter is void when the registered pharmacy intern becomes a licensed pharmacist.

I. The Board shall renew the registration of each pharmacy intern who meets the requirements of this chapter.