How to Lose Your Pharmacy License

There are more than 20,000 pharmacists in Florida. While most of them have spotless records, some of them have faced administrative actions during their careers. Some may have even faced pharmacist license suspension and revocation.

Some pharmacists lose their license for seemingly minor oversights, such as failing to renew their licenses in a timely manner. Others may engage in fraud or break the law.

It’s important to understand the law and your obligations as a pharmacist. Your actions and inactions have a direct effect on your license. Your license is your livelihood, and you can lose it in a variety of ways.

Reasons for License Loss

Pharmacist licenses have expiration dates and must be renewed on a regular basis. A person who does not renew their license on time will become delinquent. The license becomes null and void. It is considered no longer active, so in order to reactivate it, the person has to pay fees and meet the continuing education requirements.

Fraud is huge in the medical field, particularly among pharmacists. Pharmacists have access to highly potent drugs. It is not uncommon for them to take some for themselves. Some engage in deceptive billing practices. They may defraud insurance companies. They may cheat customers. These actions are illegal and can lead to license loss.

Committing a crime—even if it was not pharmacy-related—can also be grounds for license suspension. A person convicted of fraud, theft or another felony charge is not eligible for licensure. A pharmacist who already has a license can get it suspended.

Incompetence is another reason why pharmacists lose their license. In the pharmacy field, accuracy is key. Filling the wrong dosages or the wrong prescriptions altogether can lead to deadly consequences. Pharmacists must also be aware of known allergies and counsel with patients as needed. Failing to act as needed and working in a careless manner may be grounds for license suspension.

Recordkeeping is important in the pharmacy field, but many pharmacists overlook it. They are disorganized and engage in sloppy tracking processes. Audits do occur and many of them discover shortages of drugs. In many cases, they are unable to reconcile them. A shortage of drugs could mean that the pharmacist is selling them or abusing them. In any case, it could result in license loss.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Pharmacist License & Pharmacy Permit Lawyer

As a pharmacist, things that you do in and out of the workplace can affect your license status. Make sure you are doing everything that you need to do to secure your license for years to come.

If you are a pharmacist facing administrative  issues, you need help right away. Your license is your livelihood, so don’t ignore the issues and hope they’ll go away. Get help from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. For the past 30 years, he has helped Florida pharmacists and other licensed professionals hold on to their licenses. For a consultation, fill out the online form or call (813) 968-6633.

Resources:

bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes291051.htm

floridaspharmacy.gov/renewals/pharmacist/

https://www.davidrankinlaw.com/pharmacist-faces-109-charges-license-suspended/