Virginia Pharmacy Law Review

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Participants are encouraged to fill out the Study Guide Handout as they watch the video presentations. This Study Guide Handout aims to help participants engage with the material through active learning and provide a comprehensive study guide upon completing the CE course. Please download and save the participant Study Guide Handout before you begin the course. 

Please click "Download Participant Study Guide," to download and save the Virginia Pharmacy Law CE Study Guide Handout.

Pharmacy practice would be nothing without the people and the place, right?! This module will focus on the laws and regulations surrounding the definitions of a pharmacy, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy personnel. It also includes the application procedures for pharmacy licensures, certifications, and permits. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define pharmacy practice and the requirements for pharmacy permits 
• Describe the operational requirements of a pharmacy practice setting 

Pharmacy practice would be nothing without the people and the place, right?! This module will focus on the laws and regulations surrounding the definitions of a pharmacy, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy personnel. It also includes the application procedures for pharmacy licensures, certifications, and permits. 

Learning Objectives:

• List the requirements for pharmacy personnel licensure or certification 
• Summarize the legal responsibilities of the pharmacist and other pharmacy personnel 

Dispensing pharmacists will receive numerous prescriptions while practicing. Pharmacists must distinguish if those prescribers have both the authority to prescribe and have followed prescribing restrictions in Virginia. This module will focus on all elements of the issuance of a prescription. This content will not include the dispensing of prescriptions, as that will be the focus for the Dispensing module. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Virginia practitioners' prescribing abilities and limitations 

Dispensing pharmacists will receive numerous prescriptions while practicing. Pharmacists must distinguish if those prescribers have both the authority to prescribe and have followed prescribing restrictions in Virginia. This module will focus on all elements of the issuance of a prescription. This content will not include the dispensing of prescriptions, as that will be the focus for the Dispensing module. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define prescription order requirements and mechanisms for issuance
• List requirements for the transfer of an existing prescription from one pharmacist to another 

Dispensing pharmacists will receive numerous prescriptions while practicing. Pharmacists must distinguish if those prescribers have both the authority to prescribe and have followed prescribing restrictions in Virginia. This module will focus on all elements of the issuance of a prescription. This content will not include the dispensing of prescriptions, as that will be the focus for the Dispensing module. 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe limitations for the issuance of controlled medications 
• Recognize limitations for refilling medications, including controlled medications

In Virginia, dispensing includes the prescribing and administering, packaging, labeling, and compounding of a drug that is ultimately delivered to a patient following a prescription (VA Code § 54.1-3300). This module picks up from the Prescriptions module to follow a prescription that arrives at a pharmacy as it is prepared then dispensed to the patient. This module will also include scenarios where Virginia laws and regulations allow for the dispensing of select drug products without a prescription.  

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize procedures necessary to properly dispense a pharmaceutical product pursuant to a prescription 
• Identify conditions when a prospective drug use review is conducted prior to dispensing 
• Recognize labeling requirements for dispensing pursuant to a prescription order 
• Explain conditions when a preparation or device may not be dispensed 

In Virginia, dispensing includes the prescribing and administering, packaging, labeling, and compounding of a drug that is ultimately delivered to a patient following a prescription (VA Code § 54.1-3300). This module picks up from the Prescriptions module to follow a prescription that arrives at a pharmacy as it is prepared then dispensed to the patient. This module will also include scenarios where Virginia laws and regulations allow for the dispensing of select drug products without a prescription.  

Learning Objectives:

• Outline conditions regarding the ability to return or reuse pharmaceutical products
• Describe requirements and documentation for patient counseling 
• List requirements and documentation for delivery 
• Identify requirements for reporting the Prescription Monitoring Program 

In Virginia, dispensing includes the prescribing and administering, packaging, labeling, and compounding of a drug that is ultimately delivered to a patient following a prescription (VA Code § 54.1-3300). This module picks up from the Prescriptions module to follow a prescription that arrives at a pharmacy as it is prepared then dispensed to the patient. This module will also include scenarios where Virginia laws and regulations allow for the dispensing of select drug products without a prescription.  

Learning Objectives:

• Explain conditions when a prescription order may be filled or refilled without a prescription order 
• Describe conditions when a pharmacist may dispense a drug product, including controlled substances, without a prescription 

Managing a pharmacy goes beyond the people and prescriptions. Ensuring accurate inventory and organized records is crucial to complying with Virginia and federal regulations. This module covers key topics, including ordering Schedule II substances, maintaining inventory for all medication schedules, meeting storage and disposal requirements, keeping comprehensive records, and safeguarding health record privacy.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the content, maintenance, storage, and reporting requirements for records in the operation of a pharmacy 
• Compare the record-keeping requirements pertaining to controlled substances
• List the confidentiality requirements without a patient’s written authorization 

Managing a pharmacy goes beyond the people and prescriptions. Ensuring accurate inventory and organized records is crucial to complying with Virginia and federal regulations. This module covers key topics, including ordering Schedule II substances, maintaining inventory for all medication schedules, meeting storage and disposal requirements, keeping comprehensive records, and safeguarding health record privacy.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the legal requirements for ordering Schedule II drugs in a pharmacy with an official written order 
• Compare inventory requirements based on drug Schedules 
• Identify the storage requirements of prescription drugs, expired drugs, and devices/paraphernalia 
• List the acceptable methods of drug disposal 

Pharmacy practice takes place in a variety of settings with special considerations in Virginia state law for each of these settings. This module will focus on the application of pharmacy law and regulations in compounding pharmacies, institutions, collaborative practice agreements, and other settings not covered in the previous modules. 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the requirements for distributing compounded drug products 
• Identify the requirements of outsourcing facilities to practice pharmacy 
  

Pharmacy practice takes place in a variety of settings with special considerations in Virginia state law for each of these settings. This module will focus on the application of pharmacy law and regulations in compounding pharmacies, institutions, collaborative practice agreements, and other settings not covered in the previous modules. 

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the lawful practice of pharmacy services provided to hospitals, including drug product distribution, central and remote order processing, automated dispensing cabinets, non-pharmacist access to drug products, and emergency kits 
• List the requirements for the use of investigational drug therapy 
• Characterize pharmacy services provided to long-term care facilities (LTCF), community services board facilities (CSB), behavioral health authority facilities (BHA), or program of all-inclusive care for the elderly facilities (PACE), including drug product distribution, repackaging, and emergency drugs or stat-drugs 
  

Pharmacy practice takes place in a variety of settings with special considerations in Virginia state law for each of these settings. This module will focus on the application of pharmacy law and regulations in compounding pharmacies, institutions, collaborative practice agreements, and other settings not covered in the previous modules. 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the requirements for pharmacists to participate in collaborative practice agreements 
• Explain the requirements for non-pharmacist distribution of controlled substances 
• Identify settings outside of community pharmacy that engage in the distribution of pharmaceutical products, including nuclear pharmacies, infirmaries, animal shelters, and correctional facilities 
• List the requirements for approval of non-traditional pharmacy settings to engage in the distribution of pharmaceutical products, including manufacturers, wholesalers, warehousers, medical equipment suppliers, third-party logistics providers, and non-resident pharmacies