Campbell University School of Pharmacy Office of Continuing Education Receives Reaccreditation

     Campbell University School of Pharmacy (CUSOP) Office of Continuing Education has been reaccredited for a six-year term by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) for the fourth time. This is the maximum term awarded by ACPE for continuing education providers.

     The CUSOP Office of Continuing Education supplied statements of credit to over 2,500 pharmacists during 2006-2007, through post-graduate programs offered in cooperation with groups like the North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company, Walgreens, Kroger, Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, PPD Medical Communications and the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists to name a few.

     “It’s vital that pharmacists continue a lifetime of learning after graduation,” said Dr. J. Andrew Bowman, Director of Continuing Education for the School of Pharmacy. “Each State’s Board of Pharmacy makes rules regarding continuing education requirements for pharmacists licensed in their states. It is our goal to provide pharmacists in North Carolina and nationally with opportunities to meet these requirements.”

     Recently, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy increased the number of continuing education credit hours pharmacists must earn in order to maintain licensure. Effective January 1, 2008, licensees will be required to obtain a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education annually. This change represents an increase of 5 hours of continuing education credit per year, which will be more consistent with requirements in other states. Dr. Bowman is a member of the Tripartite Committee between the three schools of pharmacy in North Carolina, which promoted an increase in continuing education hours for pharmacists in our state. “This was an important move in ensuring that practitioners in North Carolina are maintaining their pharmacy knowledge base,” stated Bowman.

     Dr. Bowman and Program Coordinator, Rhonda Kaalund, are proud of the School of Pharmacy’s continuing education track record. In 2007, the office further enhanced its relationship with the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists by serving as the primary provider for the first annual Chronic Care Practice Forum. This was the first opportunity for Campbell’s School of Pharmacy to function as the primary provider for a state-wide North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP) symposium. This annual event provides six hours of “live” continuing education credit to the participants.

     “We’re excited about our future plans for increasing continuing education options for pharmacists,” Bowman said. “The Board of Pharmacy’s decision to increase required credit hours provides us with even more opportunities to offer programming, while promoting the good name of Campbell University School of Pharmacy.”

     Future plans for the Office of Continuing Education include, expansion of online programs, new relationships with industry partners and new programming opportunities with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Research.

     “Our online Pharmacy Law programming has been well received and frequently utilized,” Kaalund noted. “We are currently evaluating additional topics for online delivery.”

     The Campbell University School of Pharmacy was established in 1986 as the first new school of pharmacy to open in the United States in 35 years. In 1990, the charter class distinguished itself with a 100 percent passage rate on state and national board examinations. Subsequent classes have maintained a record of 99 percent passage rate on the national board exam and 99 percent on state board exams. The school is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Additional courses are taught at the School of Pharmacy Department of Clinical Research located on Campbell University’s RTP campus.

     Photo Copy: Dr. Andrew Bowman, director of the Office of Continuing Education at Campbell University’s School of Pharmacy, confers with Rhonda Kaalund, program coordinator, over the office’s recent reaccreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.