Pharmacists · North Carolina · Continuing education
North Carolina Pharmacist CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- Pharmacist: 15 hours every year; renewal on the date shown on your license.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
North Carolina Pharmacist CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 15hours
- Renewal cycle
- 1 year
- Deadline
- On license
- Reporting
- Other
- Renewal deadline
- On the date shown on your license
- Accepted credit
- Courses accredited by ACPE or the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists; 5 hours for precepting a student from a NC school of pharmacy for at least 160 hours
- Carryover
- Up to 5 surplus hours may be carried forward to the following year.
- New licensees
- Pharmacists licensed by reciprocity must meet the CE standards within the first renewal period after licensure.
- Audits & records
- CE hours are reported through the Board's online renewal portal; records, reports of accredited hours and certificates must be submitted if audited. Keep records 3 years (a provider's electronic database counts).
Alternatives & exemptions. Exempt if eligible for the armed forces extension/waiver (21 NCAC 46 .1613), or if for the whole preceding year the pharmacist lived in another state, did not practice in NC and met that state's CE requirement.
Good to know. 15 hours each year, 5 of them through contact programs with live two-way communication (live online counts). Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners need 35 hours of practice-relevant CE yearly. Reporting: in the Board renewal portal.
Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us · 21 NCAC 46 .2201 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in North Carolina
05 Questions
How many CE hours do pharmacists need in North Carolina?
15 hours every year.
Which CE courses count for pharmacists in North Carolina?
Courses accredited by ACPE or the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists; 5 hours for precepting a student from a NC school of pharmacy for at least 160 hours.
How do I verify a pharmacist license in North Carolina?
Use the license lookup of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy (ncbop.org); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
When is the renewal deadline for pharmacists in North Carolina?
Licenses renew on the date shown on your license (1 year cycle).