§ 34-23-50 — Licensed Required; Pharmacy Intern/Extern Permit; Distributing or Dispensing Controlled Substances

Alabama § 34-23-50

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 34: Professions and Businesses
• Ch. 23: Pharmacists and Pharmacies
• Art. 2: Licenses and Permits
• Div. 2: Pharmacists’ Licenses

Text

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to practice pharmacy in this state or to permit prescriptions to be compounded or dispensed by a person other than a person duly licensed by the board to practice pharmacy in this state.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the board may issue a pharmacy intern/extern permit as further provided in this subsection that authorizes a pharmacy intern or extern to compound and dispense prescriptions while serving under the immediate direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist on the premises of a permitted pharmacy.
(2) The following persons may apply to the board for a pharmacy intern/extern permit:
a. A person who holds a professional degree in pharmacy from a school of pharmacy recognized by the board who desires to serve as a pharmacy intern.
b. A person who is enrolled in a school of pharmacy recognized by the board who desires to serve as a pharmacy extern while pursuing his or her education as a pharmacist. In order to be considered enrolled in a school of pharmacy and pursuing education as a pharmacist, the person shall not be absent from the school of pharmacy for more than two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters, dependent upon the system in use in the school of pharmacy.
(3) A person requesting a pharmacy intern/extern permit shall submit an application to the board in a form as determined by the board. The person shall be required to be of good moral character and a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen, must be legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government. Further, the person shall not have engaged in any conduct that would be a violation of this chapter or board rule.
(4) The application shall be accompanied with an initial fee of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).
(5) The board shall require a background check on each applicant as part of the initial application process. The cost of the background check shall be paid by the applicant.
(6) A pharmacy intern/extern permit shall expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years. In order to continue to work as an intern or extern, a renewal fee of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), as determined by the board, shall be received by the board by December 31 of the year of expiration. If the renewal is not timely received by the board, the applicant for renewal shall pay a penalty of not more than fifty dollars ($50), as determined by the board, for each month the renewal is late.
(7) For the purposes of this subsection, “immediate direct supervision” means that at least one pharmacist is personally present and available on the premises of the pharmacy for consultation with the intern or extern at all times.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 20-2-51 or any other law to the contrary, each person licensed by the board to practice pharmacy may distribute or dispense controlled substances during the biennial period for which the person is licensed.

Legislative History

(Acts 1966, Ex. Sess., No. 205, p. 231, §9; Acts 1985, No. 85-702, p. 1151, §1; Act 2005-57, p. 84, §3; Act 2009-576, p. 1688, §1; Act 2022-130, §1.)