FL MPJE cheat sheet

Florida Board of Pharmacy consists of 9 members: 7 pharmacists licensed and practicing in Florida, plus 2 consumer members; all appointed by the Governor.

Pharmacist license renewal is biennial; 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, including 2 hours on medication errors and 2 hours on HIV/AIDS.

A pharmacist may not dispense a prescription unless the prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.

Florida requires a pharmacist to report to the Board within 30 days any arrest or conviction for a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

Continuing education for pharmacy technicians is 20 hours per biennial cycle; the pharmacist-in-charge must maintain CE records for at least 4 years.

The Board may impose penalties including reprimand, probation, fine up to $5,000 per violation, suspension, or revocation of license.

A Florida pharmacist license is required before practicing; a license issued by another state does not authorize practice in Florida without licensure or reciprocity.

Permits for pharmacies must be conspicuously displayed; a change of ownership or location requires a new or amended permit before operation.

Community pharmacy permit requires designation of a pharmacist-in-charge who is responsible for compliance with all laws and rules.

Pharmacy technician registration in Florida requires submission of fingerprints and a criminal background check; registration is required before performing technician duties.

A pharmacy permit is not transferable; a new permit application is required when ownership changes, and the Board must approve before the new owner operates.

Florida permits several pharmacy types including community, hospital, nuclear, specialty, and internet pharmacy; each has distinct permit requirements.

Prescription department closures require notification to the Board; the pharmacist-in-charge must ensure controlled substance inventories are accounted for.

A person may not use the title pharmacist or pharmacy technician without holding the corresponding Florida license or registration.

Nonresident pharmacies that dispense to Florida patients must register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy and comply with Florida law.

Pharmacy interns must be enrolled in an accredited college of pharmacy and registered with the Board; intern hours are documented and reported.

A prescription label must include the pharmacy name and address, prescription number, date, patient name, directions for use, prescriber name, and drug name and strength.

Florida requires that a prescription be retained for at least 2 years from the date of last refill; controlled substance records must be kept 2 years.

Prescriptions may be transmitted orally, in writing, or electronically; electronic prescriptions must meet Florida and federal electronic prescription requirements.

Refills are limited to the number authorized by the prescriber; a pharmacist may not refill a prescription beyond its authorized refills or expiration.

Prescriptions for controlled substances in Schedules II, III, IV, and V require specific recordkeeping and may not be refilled unless authorized for Schedules III-V.

A pharmacist must verify the prescriber's DEA number and Florida license for controlled substance prescriptions; invalid or expired prescriber credentials bar dispensing.

Patient records must be maintained for at least 2 years and be readily retrievable for inspection by the Board or its agents.

Labeling of compounded prescriptions must include the name and strength of the drug, beyond-use date, and storage requirements.

Florida adopts the federal controlled substance schedules (II-V) and adds state-specific requirements for prescribing and dispensing.

Schedule II prescriptions may not be refilled; a pharmacist may dispense up to a 90-day supply of Schedule II if the prescription so specifies and state law permits.

Florida requires prescribers to use electronic prescribing for controlled substances, with limited exceptions such as technical failure or emergency.

The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) requires dispensers to report controlled substance dispensing within 24 hours of dispensing.

A pharmacist must consult the PDMP before dispensing a controlled substance, subject to specified exceptions.

Schedule II controlled substances require a written or electronic prescription; oral prescriptions are permitted only in emergencies with prompt written follow-up.

Controlled substance inventories must be conducted biennially and maintained; theft or significant loss must be reported to DEA and Florida authorities.

Florida limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a 3-day supply, with exceptions for specified conditions such as cancer or palliative care.

Florida drug product selection permits substitution of a therapeutically equivalent generic unless the prescriber indicates no substitution or the patient objects.

When substituting, the pharmacist must inform the patient of the substitution and record the manufacturer and generic name dispensed on the prescription record.

Compounding must follow USP standards; sterile compounding requires an ISO Class 5 environment and appropriate beyond-use dating.

Florida requires compliance with USP <795> for nonsterile compounding and USP <797> for sterile compounding, including training and environmental monitoring.

Drugs must be stored at controlled room temperature (typically 20-25°C) unless the label specifies otherwise; refrigeration and freezing requirements must be observed.

Outdated, adulterated, or misbranded drugs must be removed from inventory and may not be dispensed; expired stock must be segregated and disposed of properly.

A pharmacist must ensure that drugs are stored securely and that controlled substances are kept in a locked cabinet or area.

Compounded preparations must be labeled with the beyond-use date and stored under conditions consistent with stability data.

A pharmacist must offer patient counseling on new prescriptions and on refills when requested; counseling may be declined by the patient and the refusal documented.

Counseling must address proper use, storage, precautions, interactions, and the importance of adherence to the prescribed regimen.

The pharmacist-in-charge is responsible for establishing written policies and procedures for patient counseling and quality assurance.

Grounds for discipline include dispensing errors, practicing beyond scope, fraud, unprofessional conduct, and failure to maintain required records.

Florida requires reporting of medication errors to the Board and participation in a quality assurance program that reviews dispensing errors.

A pharmacist may not dispense a drug without a valid prescription except as authorized by law, such as certain emergency or institutional situations.

Confidentiality of patient records is required; disclosure is permitted only as authorized by law or with patient consent.

Failure to comply with continuing education, recordkeeping, or controlled substance reporting requirements may result in disciplinary action by the Board.