North Dakota Pharmacy Practice Act and Board Rules
North Dakota Pharmacy Practice Act and Board Rules
This domain tests NDCC Chapter 43-15 and Title 61 of the ND Administrative Code: who may practice, how pharmacies are licensed, what the pharmacist-in-charge must do, and how dispensing, labeling, counseling, and substitution work in ND.
Core rules
- Licensure: pharmacies, pharmacists, technicians, and interns must be licensed or registered by the ND Board. A pharmacy may not operate without a pharmacist on duty; the prescription department must be closed when no pharmacist is present.
- PIC: the pharmacist-in-charge is responsible for compliance, records, security, and supervision. The PIC must be a ND-licensed pharmacist and must be designated to the Board.
- Supervision: technicians may prepare and assist but may not perform final verification or professional judgment reserved to pharmacists. "Tech-check-tech" is not a substitute for pharmacist verification unless specifically authorized.
- Prescription labeling: pharmacy name/address, Rx number, date, patient name, directions, prescriber, drug name/strength/quantity, refills, and beyond-use or expiration information.
- Counseling: a pharmacist must offer counseling on new prescriptions and document refusal. Counseling may be delegated only as allowed.
- Substitution: unless the prescriber indicates "dispense as written" or "brand medically necessary," a pharmacist may substitute a therapeutically equivalent generic and must inform the patient.
Worked example
A prescriber writes "Lipitor 20 mg #30, no substitution." The pharmacist may not switch to atorvastatin. If the prescriber had written only "Lipitor 20 mg #30," ND substitution rules would permit a therapeutically equivalent generic, but the pharmacist must still counsel the patient and document the substitution.
Traps
- Letting an unlicensed clerk or technician perform pharmacist-only duties.
- Missing PIC designation or failing to close the pharmacy when the pharmacist leaves.
- Counseling only when the patient asks; ND requires an offer.
- Assuming a federal rule overrides a stricter ND licensing or labeling rule.