By: Aaron Claxton and Mena Arsalai

The California Board of Pharmacy (the “Board”) is a member of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (the “NABP”), and as a member of the NABP the Board has certain reporting requirements to the NABP.  This article sheds light on why you should care about the Board reporting to the NABP.

● What is the NABP Clearinghouse?

The NABP Clearinghouse “is a national database of disciplinary and administrative information from NABP’s member states and jurisdictions. It houses information reported by the member boards of pharmacy on actions taken against wholesale distributors, pharmacies, pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and interns. That information is used to: 

            [1] Determine the acceptability and qualifications of pharmacists who request the transfer of examination scores and licenses into other states or jurisdictions; and

            [2] Screen applicants for [NABP’s] Drug Distributor, Digital Pharmacy, and DMEPOS Pharmacy Accreditation programs.” 

● When is the Board required to report a licensee to the NABP?

As a member of the NABP, the Board’s reporting requirements are dictated by the NABP’s Constitution and Bylaws:  https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Constitution-Bylaws-2020-1.pdf.

Therefore, if you are currently licensed in multiple states or may want to become licensed in multiple states in the future, the NABP reports are vital to the licensure process as reports may affect your license eligibility in other jurisdictions.  Furthermore, understanding the Board’s reporting requirements and the impact of that reporting to other boards of pharmacy is critical in determining whether to pursue an appeal.

If you find yourself needing help, you may wish to contact an experienced healthcare attorney to help navigate this difficult terrain.