SECTION 283.4. Internship Requirements

(a) Goals and competency objectives of internship.

(1) The goal of internship is for the pharmacist-intern to attain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely, efficiently, and effectively provide pharmacist-delivered patient care to a diverse patient population and practice pharmacy under the laws and regulations of the State of Texas.

(2) The following competency objectives are necessary to accomplish the goal of internship in paragraph (1) of this subsection:

(A) Provides drug products. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in determining the appropriateness of prescription drug orders and medication orders; evaluating and selecting products; and assuring the accuracy of the product/prescription dispensing process.

(B) Communicates with patients and patients' agents about prescription drugs. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in interviewing and counseling patients and patients' agents on drug usage, dosage, packaging, routes of administration, intended drug use, and storage; discussing drug cautions, adverse effects, and patient conditions; explaining policies on fees and services; relating to patients in a professional manner; and interacting to confirm patient understanding.

(C) Communicates with patients and patients' agents about nonprescription products, devices, dietary supplements, diet, nutrition, traditional nondrug therapies, complementary and alternative therapies, and diagnostic aids. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in interviewing and counseling patients and patients' agents on conditions, intended drug use, and adverse effects; assisting in and recommending drug selection; triaging and assessing the need for treatment or referral, including referral for a patient seeking pharmacist-guided self-care; providing information on medical/surgical devices and home diagnostic products; and providing poison control treatment information and referral.

(D) Communicates with healthcare professionals, patients, and patients' agents. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in obtaining and providing accurate and concise information in a professional manner and using appropriate oral, written, and nonverbal language.

(E) Practices as a member of the patient's interdisciplinary healthcare team. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in collaborating with physicians, other healthcare professionals, patients, and patients' agents to formulate a therapeutic plan. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in establishing and interpreting databases, identifying drug-related problems and recommending appropriate pharmacotherapy specific to patient needs, monitoring and evaluating patient outcomes, and devising follow-up plans.

(F) Maintains professional-ethical standards. The pharmacist-intern is required to comply with laws and regulations pertaining to pharmacy practice; to apply professional judgment; to exhibit reliability and credibility in dealing with others; to deal professionally and ethically with colleagues and patients; to demonstrate sensitivity and empathy for patients/care givers; and to maintain confidentiality.

(G) Compounds. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in using acceptable professional procedures; selecting appropriate equipment and containers; appropriately preparing compounded non-sterile and sterile preparations; and documenting calculations and procedures. Pharmacist-interns engaged in compounding non-sterile preparations shall meet the training requirements for pharmacists specified in §291.131 of this title (relating to Pharmacies Compounding Non-Sterile Preparations). Pharmacist-interns engaged in compounding sterile preparations shall meet the training requirements for pharmacists specified in §291.133 of this title (relating to Pharmacies Compounding Sterile Preparations).

(H) Retrieves and evaluates drug information. The pharmacist-intern shall demonstrate competence in retrieving, evaluating, managing, and using the best available clinical and scientific publications for answering a drug-related request in a timely fashion and assessing, evaluating, and applying evidence based information to promote optimal health care. The pharmacist-intern shall perform investigations on relevant topics in order to promote inquiry and problem-solving with dissemination of findings to the healthcare community and the public.

(I) Manages general pharmacy operations. The pharmacist-intern shall develop a general understanding of planning, personnel and fiscal management, leadership skills, and policy development. The pharmacist-intern shall have an understanding of drug security, storage and control procedures and the regulatory requirements associated with these procedures, and maintaining quality assurance and performance improvement. The pharmacist-intern shall observe and document discrepancies and irregularities, keep accurate records, and document actions. The pharmacist-intern shall attend meetings requiring pharmacy representation.

(J) Participates in public health, community service, or professional activities. The pharmacist-intern shall develop basic knowledge and skills needed to become an effective healthcare educator and a responsible participant in civic and professional organizations.

(K) Demonstrates scientific inquiry. The pharmacist-intern shall develop skills to expand and refine knowledge in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical sciences or pharmaceutical services. This may include data analysis of scientific, clinical, sociological, or economic impacts of pharmaceuticals (including investigational drugs), pharmaceutical care, and patient behaviors, with dissemination of findings to the scientific community and the public.

(b) Hours requirement.

(1) The board requires the number of hours of internship required by ACPE for licensure. These hours may be obtained through one or more of the following methods:

(A) in a board-approved student internship program, as specified in subsection (c) of this section;

(B) in a board-approved extended-internship program, as specified in subsection (d) of this section;

(C) graduation from a college/school of pharmacy. Persons graduating from such programs shall be credited the number of hours obtained and reported by the college; or

(D) internship hours approved and certified to the board by another state board of pharmacy.

(2) Pharmacist-interns participating in an internship may be credited no more than 50 hours per week of internship experience.

(3) Internship hours may be used for the purpose of licensure for no longer than three years from the date the internship is completed.

(c) College-/School-Based Internship Programs.

(1) Internship experience acquired by student-interns.

(A) An individual may be designated a student-intern provided he/she:

(i) submits an application to the board that includes the following information:

(I) name;

(II) addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, and social security number;

(III) college of pharmacy and expected graduation date; and

(IV) any other information requested on the application;

(ii) is enrolled in the professional sequence of a college/school of pharmacy; and

(iii) has met all requirements necessary for the board to access the criminal history records information, including submitting fingerprint information and being responsible for all associated costs.

(B) The terms of the student internship shall be as follows.

(i) The student internship shall be gained concurrent with college attendance, which may include:

(I) partial semester breaks such as spring breaks;

(II) between semester breaks; and

(III) whole semester breaks, provided the student-intern attended the college/school in the immediately preceding semester and is scheduled with the college/school to attend in the immediate subsequent semester.

(ii) The student internship shall be obtained in pharmacies licensed by the board, federal government pharmacies, or in a board-approved program.

(iii) The student internship shall be in the presence of and under the supervision of a healthcare professional preceptor or a pharmacist preceptor.

(C) None of the internship hours acquired outside of a school-based program may be substituted for any of the hours required in a college/school of pharmacy internship program.

(2) Expiration date for student-intern designation.

(A) The student-internship expires if:

(i) the student-intern voluntarily or involuntarily ceases enrollment, including suspension, in a college/school of pharmacy;

(ii) the student-intern fails more than once either the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination specified in this section; or

(iii) the student-intern fails to take either the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination or both within six calendar months after graduation.

(B) The executive director of the board, in his/her discretion, may extend the term of the student internship if administration of the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination is suspended or delayed.

(3) Texas colleges/schools of pharmacy internship programs.

(A) Student-interns completing a board-approved Texas college/school-based structured internship shall be credited the number of hours actually obtained and reported by the college. No credit shall be awarded for didactic experience.

(B) No more than 600 hours of the required number of hours may be obtained under a healthcare professional preceptor except when a pharmacist-intern is working in a federal government pharmacy.

(d) Extended-internship program.

(1) A person may be designated an extended-intern provided he/she has met one of the following requirements:

(A) passed the NAPLEX and Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination but lacks the required number of internship hours for licensure;

(B) applied to the board to take the NAPLEX and Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination within six calendar months after graduation and has:

(i) graduated and received a professional degree from a college/school of pharmacy; or

(ii) completed all of the requirements for graduation and receipt of a professional degree from a college/school of pharmacy.

(C) applied to the board to take the NAPLEX and Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination within six calendar months after obtaining full certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Commission;

(D) applied to the board for re-issuance of a pharmacist license which has expired for more than two years but less than ten years and has successfully passed the Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, but lacks the required number of hours of internship or continuing education required for licensure;

(E) is a resident in a residency program in the state of Texas and has not previously failed more than once either the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination; or

(F) been ordered by the Board to complete an internship.

(2) In addition to meeting one of the requirements in paragraph (1) of this subsection, an applicant for an extended-internship must:

(A) submit an application to the board that includes the following information:

(i) name;

(ii) addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, and social security number; and

(iii) any other information requested on the application; and

(B) meet all requirements necessary for the board to access the criminal history records information, including submitting fingerprint information and being responsible for all associated costs.

(3) The terms of the extended-internship shall be as follows.

(A) The extended-internship shall be board-approved and gained in a pharmacy licensed by the board, or a federal government pharmacy participating in a board-approved internship program.

(B) The extended-internship shall be in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a pharmacist preceptor.

(4) The extended internship remains in effect for two years. However, the internship expires immediately upon:

(A) the failure of the extended-intern to take the NAPLEX and Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination within six calendar months after graduation or FPGEC certification;

(B) the extended-intern failing more than once either the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination specified in this section;

(C) termination of the residency program; or

(D) obtaining a Texas pharmacist license.

(5) The executive director of the board, in his/her discretion, may extend the term of the extended internship if administration of the NAPLEX or Texas Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination is suspended or delayed.

(6) An applicant for licensure who has completed less than 500 hours of internship at the time of application shall complete the remainder of the required number of hours of internship and have the preceptor certify that the applicant has met the objectives listed in subsection (a) of this section.

(e) Pharmacist-intern identification.

(1) Pharmacist-interns shall keep documentation of designation as a pharmacist-intern with them at all times they are serving as a pharmacist-intern and make it available for inspection by board agents.

(2) All pharmacist-interns shall wear an identification tag or badge which bears the person's name and identifies him or her as a pharmacist-intern.

(f) Change of address or name.

(1) Change of address. A pharmacist-intern shall notify the board electronically or in writing within 10 days of a change of address, giving the old and new address.

(2) Change of name. A pharmacist-intern shall notify the board in writing within 10 days of a change of name by sending a copy of the official document reflecting the name change (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree).

Source Note: The provisions of this §283.4 adopted to be effective February 17, 1988, 13 TexReg 610; amended to be effective June 15, 1990, 15 TexReg 3334; amended to be effective June 1, 1994, 19 TexReg 3920; amended to be effective February 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 110; amended to be effective December 31, 1996, 21 TexReg 12297; amended to be effective June 30, 1997, 22 TexReg 5924; amended to be effective March 19, 1998, 23 TexReg 2814; amended to be effective December 27, 2000, 25 TexReg 12689; amended to be effective June 11, 2006, 31 TexReg 4628; amended to be effective September 3, 2006, 31 TexReg 6729; amended to be effective June 8, 2008, 33 TexReg 4304; amended to beeffective June 7, 2009, 34 TexReg 3390; amended to be effective September 12, 2011, 36 TexReg 5845; amended to be effective March 15, 2012, 37 TexReg 1705; amended to be effective June 12, 2016, 41 TexReg 4256; amended to be effective June 20, 2019, 44 TexReg 2945; amended to be effective June 18, 2020, 45 TexReg 4033; amended to be effective December 10, 2020, 45 TexReg 8850; amended to be effective September 9, 2021, 46 TexReg 5550; amended to be effective March 15, 2022, 47 TexReg 1276; amended to be effective August 24, 2022, 47 TexReg 4976; amended to be effective May 24, 2023, 48 TexReg 2576; amended to be effective August 27, 2023, 48 TexReg 4669