NC MPJE key terms

The pharmacist designated on a North Carolina pharmacy permit as responsible for the pharmacy's day-to-day compliance with law, including recordkeeping, security, and supervision of all personnel.

The license issued by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy that authorizes a specific location to operate as a pharmacy; it must be displayed and renewed before it expires.

The credential issued by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy after an applicant passes required examinations and meets character and internship requirements, allowing the holder to practice pharmacy.

The Board-issued credential a non-pharmacist must hold to perform technician duties in North Carolina; registration is tied to the employing pharmacy and is not a license to practice pharmacy.

The process by which a pharmacist licensed in another state obtains a North Carolina license through score transfer or licensure transfer rather than sitting again for the full examination sequence.

The number of approved contact hours a licensee must complete each renewal cycle, including any mandatory topics such as pharmacy law, to keep a North Carolina license active.

The periodic process of paying fees and attesting to completed continuing education so a license or permit stays valid; practicing after expiration is unlawful practice.

The requirement that a pharmacist be physically present and directly overseeing pharmacy activities, including technician work, rather than being available only by telephone.

The maximum number of registered technicians who may be supervised by one pharmacist at a given time, set by Board rule and subject to change.

A drug that federal or state law requires to be dispensed only on the order of a practitioner licensed to prescribe it, as distinguished from an over-the-counter product.

A drug bearing the federal legend statement warning that dispensing without a prescription is prohibited; the term is often used interchangeably with prescription drug in state law.

A lawful communication from a prescriber authorizing dispensing of a drug for a specific patient, which may be written, oral, or electronic and must contain legally required elements.

A prescription transmitted by computer to the pharmacy in a form that meets federal electronic prescribing standards; it is not the same as a faxed or scanned paper document.

The prescriber's instruction permitting the pharmacy to dispense additional quantities of a prescription without a new order, limited by the number of refills stated or allowed by law.

The communication of prescription information from one pharmacy to another so the receiving pharmacy may dispense refills, subject to federal and state rules on content and documentation.

Dispensing a therapeutically equivalent generic product in place of the prescribed brand-name drug, permitted or required under North Carolina law unless the prescriber directs otherwise.

The affixed information on a dispensed container that must include patient, drug, directions, quantity, and pharmacy details, plus any required auxiliary or warning statements.

A supplemental sticker or printed statement added to a dispensed prescription to convey cautionary information such as "may cause drowsiness" or "take with food."

The offer of verbal information by a pharmacist about proper use, storage, interactions, and precautions for a dispensed drug, which must be made available to each patient or caregiver.

The retained documentation of prescriptions dispensed to a patient, including drug, strength, quantity, prescriber, and dates, which must be available for inspection and patient care.

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm, including prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring mistakes.

A pharmacy's internal system for detecting, documenting, and analyzing medication errors and near misses in order to prevent recurrence and improve safety.

A drug or substance regulated under federal and state schedules because of abuse or dependence potential, requiring special registration, security, and recordkeeping.

The federal registration issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration that authorizes a practitioner or pharmacy to handle controlled substances; it must be renewed periodically.

A controlled substance with high abuse potential and accepted medical use, subject to the strictest dispensing rules, including no refills and specific order requirements.

A running, continuously updated record of controlled substances received and dispensed that allows the pharmacy to reconcile actual stock against documented transactions.

A complete count of controlled substances in stock taken at least every two years, and whenever there is a change in the person responsible for the inventory.

The state prescription monitoring database that collects dispensing information for controlled substances so prescribers and pharmacists can review a patient's controlled substance history.

The preparation, mixing, or alteration of a drug product to meet the needs of an individual patient, which must follow applicable standards for sterility, stability, and documentation.

Preparation of products intended to be sterile, such as injections, requiring specialized facilities, environmental controls, personnel training, and validated procedures.

The date beyond which a compounded preparation should not be used, determined from stability data, storage conditions, and the type of preparation.

A complimentary unit of a prescription drug provided by a manufacturer for patient use, subject to federal restrictions on distribution, recordkeeping, and resale.

The lawful path a drug takes from manufacturer to patient, such as through a wholesaler to a pharmacy, or through a licensed distributor to a practitioner.

The state authorization required for an entity that buys drugs for resale to pharmacies or practitioners rather than dispensing directly to patients.

An examination of a pharmacy's premises, records, and practices by Board agents or authorized inspectors to verify compliance with pharmacy law.

A civil sanction imposed by the Board for violations of pharmacy law, which may accompany a reprimand, suspension, or revocation of a license.

Behavior falling below the standards expected of a licensee, such as dispensing without a valid order or practicing while impaired, which can lead to discipline.