The Florida Senate - Interim Project Report 2006-223 - Pharmacy Licensure by Endorsement Requirements (S. 465.0075, F.S.)

Sep 17, 2026

Interim Project Report 2006-223 evaluates Florida’s statutory requirements for pharmacy licensure by endorsement. It summarizes the 2001-166 enactment codified in s. 465.0075, F.S., and the Legislature’s 2006 review requirement under ch. 2001-166, §2. The report explains who qualifies, contrasts endorsement with licensure by examination, and details examination application and eligibility requirements. Staff recommends amending the endorsement rule to require 30 hours of continuing education within the 24 months immediately preceding application.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Background

Regulation of the Practice of Pharmacy

Licensure by Examination

Pharmacy Licensure by Endorsement

The Florida Senate Interim Project Report 2006-223 October 2005 Committee on Health Care Senator Durell Peaden, Jr., Chair PHARMACY LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS, S. 465.0075, F.S. SUMMARY The Legislature enacted pharmacy licensure by endorsement requirements in ch. 2001-166, L.O.F., which is currently codified in s. 465.0075, F.S. Section 465.0075, F.S., provides licensure by endorsement requirements for a pharmacist who is licensed in another jurisdiction and who has met certain other requirements to practice pharmacy in Florida. Section 2 of ch. 2001-166, Laws of Florida, requires the appropriate committee of each house of the Legislature to review, during the 2006 Regular Session of the Legislature, the effect of this act and make recommendations to the presiding officer of that house regarding such review. Section 465.0075, F.S., was not subject to repeal bylaw and therefore does not require reenactment by the Legislature. Based on the findings contained in this report, the staff recommends that the pharmacy licensure by endorsement requirements contained ins. 465.0075, F.S., be amended to require applicants to obtain the required 30 hours of continuing education within the 24 months, rather than 2 calendar years, immediately preceding their application. BACKGROUND Regulation of the Practice of Pharmacy The practice of pharmacy in the State of Florida is regulated by the Board of Pharmacy within the Department of Health (DOH) . The statutory provisions for the regulation of the practice of pharmacy are found in the “Florida Pharmacy Act,” ch. 465, F.S. Although the Florida Pharmacy Act specifies exceptions to pharmacy licensure in Florida for the sale of home remedies or preparations (patents or proprietary preparations) 1, any person who practices pharmacy in Florida must be a licensed pharmacist or registered as a pharmacy intern. A pharmacy intern is a person who is currently registered in, and attending, an accredited school or college of pharmacy, or who is a graduate of a school or college of pharmacy, and whois registered with DOH.2 A person wishing to practice pharmacy as a pharmacist may become licensed to practice that profession by applying under licensure by examination or licensure by endorsement statutory provisions. Licensure by examination is a licensure option that requires an applicant to sit for the licensure examination for entry into the profession at the time of application, in addition to meeting other licensure requirements. Under licensure by examination requirements, the Florida Board of Pharmacy assures that the applicant scheduled to sit for the licensure examination is qualified to do so.3 A pharmacist who is already licensed and practicing pharmacy in another state may not wish to sit for the licensure examination as an initial applicant to practice in Florida if the pharmacist has already met substantially equivalent requirements for licensure atthe time he or she was originally licensed to practice the profession. Licensure by endorsement is a licensing procedure that allows an out-of-state practitioner who holds an active license in a state which has licensing requirements substantially equivalent to, or more stringent than, those in the state in which the practitioner is seeking licensure to obtain a license without meeting all of the licensure requirements for a person who is obtaining licensure for the first time. Licensure by Examination 1 See s. 465.027, F. S. 2 See s. 465.003(12), F. S. 3 See s. 465.007, F. S. Section 465.007, F.S., provides requirements forlicensure by examination for persons who wish to practice pharmacy in Florida. Applicants must complete the application form and submit to DOH an examination fee no greater than $100 plus the actual cost to the department for purchase of portions ofthe examination from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®)4 or a similar national organization. Pursuant to s. 465.007(1)

FAQs

What is the purpose of Interim Project Report 2006-223?

It reviews and assesses the effects of Florida’s pharmacy licensure by endorsement requirements enacted in ch. 2001-166 and codified in s. 465.0075, F.S.

How does licensure by endorsement differ from licensure by examination?

Endorsement allows an out-of-state pharmacist with an active, substantially equivalent or more stringent license to obtain Florida licensure without meeting all first-time requirements, while examination requires an applicant to sit for a licensure exam and satisfy additional eligibility conditions.

What change do staff recommend for endorsement applicants’ continuing education?

Staff recommends amending s. 465.0075, F.S. to require endorsement applicants to obtain the required 30 hours of continuing education within 24 months, rather than within two calendar years, immediately preceding application.

Sep 17, 2026

Upload by Aria Callaghan