While the legislature can make and change laws affecting the profession of pharmacy, the Board of Pharmacy affects the profession on a daily basis.
Being aware and engaged in the actions of the Board is important, your CPhA staff advocates before the Board on your behalf but it is imperative that you also take an active role in the regulatory process.
The purpose of the Board is in statute and reads, “Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the California State Board of Pharmacy in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.
”The Board regulates:
Over 47,000 Pharmacists
Over 800 Advanced Practice Pharmacists
6,500 Intern Pharmacists
70,000 Pharmacy Technicians
Several Exemptees (those who are involved with the wholesale or manufacturer of drugs and medical devices, but not required to hold a pharmacist license).
The Board
Consists of 13 members who are appointed to four-year terms.
Members can serve only two terms.
The governor appoints seven registered pharmacists who reside in different parts of the state and work in various settings.
The governor also appoints four public members.
The Senate Rules Committee and the Speaker of the Assembly each appoint one public member.
Public members may not be licensed by this Board.
Members of the Board appoint the executive officer, with the approval of the Governor. The executive officer implements the Board’s operations and oversees staff, including inspectors who are licensed pharmacists.
The Board is responsible for enforcing Pharmacy Law and has broad authority to do so. In order to fulfill this responsibility, they employ inspectors to ensure Pharmacy Law is being adhered to. Working with the Executive staff, they can levy fines and citations for failure to adhere to Pharmacy Law. The Board also works with the State Attorney General and their deputies when a licensee has committed a serious violation of the law that requires license discipline.
