Navigating the Clinical Pharmacy Internship: A Comprehensive Guide

A clinical pharmacy internship is a crucial step for pharmacy students aiming to gain practical experience and develop their skills in a real-world healthcare setting. This article outlines the requirements and key aspects of clinical pharmacy internships, drawing upon various state regulations and program structures.

Eligibility and Application

The process begins with establishing eligibility. To be eligible for a pharmacist internship registration, applicants must be enrolled as a student of pharmacy in an accredited school or college of pharmacy. Some states, like Washington, accept internship hours completed as part of a commission-accredited school or college of pharmacy or certifying state.

Required Documentation

The application process typically involves submitting several forms and documents. While specific requirements may vary by jurisdiction, common elements include:

Completed application forms: These forms gather demographic data, verify identity, and collect contact information.
Social Security number: Providing a Social Security number is often required by state and federal law.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from the applicant's pharmacy school may be required to verify educational qualifications.
Out-of-State Credential Verification form: If the applicant holds or has held credentials in other states, verification from those states may be required.
Explanation and documentation for positive answers to personal data questions: Applicants must answer personal data questions. An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint and the settlement or final disposition.

Background Checks and Fees

As part of the application, a background check is typically processed for every applicant. This may involve a fingerprint-based background check with the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fees must be paid when an application is submitted. Credit card payments may incur a convenience fee.

Internship Structure and Requirements

Supervised Practice

A key component of a clinical pharmacy internship is supervised practice under a licensed pharmacist. A Limited (Intern) Permit must be issued in order to practice pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Anyone who has not applied for and received an intern permit from the New York State Education Department is not authorized to begin an internship and credit will not be granted for such practice.

Hour Requirements and Credit

Specific hour requirements and the acceptance of internship hours may vary. New York accepts intern hours accumulated that are in addition to the hours required for both introductory and advanced practice rotations of the ACPE pharmacy curriculum. New York does not accept clerkship or externship hours that form part of the school curriculum and are required to obtain the degree. Credit cannot be given for any hours that exceed 40 hours per week. Internships completed in another state may be accepted as long as the intern meets all requirements to practice pharmacy and is authorized to do so by that State's Board of Pharmacy. If you have already completed your internship in another state, request verification from that State Board to be sent directly to the New York State Education Department. The verification must include a detailed description of the internship and beginning and ending dates for each session. The New York State Board of Pharmacy office does not provide certification or verification of internship hours or clinical experiences.

Curriculum Integration

All graduates of accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy are required to complete both introductory and advanced practice rotations in pharmacies. Completion of these externship/internship hours is overseen by the colleges. The New York State Board of Pharmacy office does not independently audit or reconfirm these experiences. Further, all graduates of accredited programs with a PharmD are deemed to have met all experiential requirements for licensure in New York State. An intern permit is required for all students involved in advanced practice rotations and while practicing as an intern under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. PharmD graduates are deemed to have completed at least 1500 intern hours.

Core Competencies and Responsibilities

During the internship, students develop core competencies and take on increasing responsibilities. The Children’s Mercy Clinical Pharmacy Intern Program is designed to allow currently enrolled pharmacy students to grow professionally and academically while being immersed in a clinical hospital pharmacy experience. Clinical interns begin their training by functioning first as a pharmacy technician. Interns will participate in all duties of the pharmacy, including sterile and non-sterile compounding, dose preparation, medication delivery, unit dose packaging, and other necessary systems operations. After students are fully competent in the technician role, they will begin clinical training to advance into the intern role.

As the clinical pharmacy intern progresses in their coursework, their responsibilities increase. Clinical interns will learn to interview families regarding patients’ documented adverse drug reactions. They will also learn to perform certain medication teachings for discharge patient counseling, including but not limited to: DiaStat, EpiPen, Lovenox, specialty medications, and maintenance medications for cardiac patients. These medications are life-saving, and it is essential that families (and patients who are of age) be completely confident administering and monitoring them. The interns will transition from working with the emergency department pharmacists to being stationed in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with a PICU pharmacist. The interns will assist in recording daily lab values for patients and shadow the pharmacist during certain procedures and rounds with the health care team. They will continue to perform and document medication histories, adverse drug reaction assessments, and patient medication teachings. Throughout the program, clinical interns have the opportunity to participate in research projects, present posters, publish articles, and shadow other hospital pharmacists in various specialties. They gain valuable experience reading and documenting in patient charts. Clinical pharmacy interns will work with a variety of pharmacists and preceptors. As they begin training, interns will work with the emergency department pharmacists. Once they advance to the next step of the program, they will work with the pediatric critical care pharmacists. Review prescriptions - verification step prior to filling a prescription (checking that the correct patient, drug, dose, allergies, directions, etc.)

Renewal and Maintenance

Pharmacist interns must renew their registration bi-annually. The registration expires on the credential holder's birthday and may be renewed within 90 days of the expiration date. At the time of renewal, pharmacist interns must attest to currently being enrolled as a student of pharmacy in an accredited college (RCW 18.64.080); or otherwise authorized by the licensing authority for registration as an intern.

Contact Information and Updates

It is crucial to keep your address current. If your contact information is not current in the system, complete and submit the contact information change form.

Licensing After Internship

Examination Requirements

In order to take an exam, applicants must submit a complete pharmacist application. Applicants applying by score transfer must request a NAPLEX Score Transfer from the NABP within 89 days of taking the NAPLEX. The score transfer application will expire one year from the date the department receives the score transfer application. Applicants applying for license transfer/reciprocity must complete the electronic license transfer (e-LTP) NABP application and take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination for Washington.

Reciprocity and License Transfer

Applicants seeking a pharmacist license by reciprocity or license transfer must hold an active pharmacist license.

Foreign-Trained Applicants

Applicants whose academic training and education in pharmacy is from an institution in a foreign county must provide a copy of their certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) and their Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) score, and documentation of a passing score for the test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL iBT). Note, the FPGEC certificate program includes a review of the applicant's foreign education and license or registration, the FPGEE, and TOEFL iBT.

Final Review and Approval

Final review of an application for approval is completed only after a credentialing specialist verifies that the application is fully complete, and that it complies with requirements in chapter 18.64 RCW. Background checks are performed, and fees are verified. Credentialing supervisors and lead workers have the authority to approve routine applications. The disciplining authority may conduct further review if the credentialing supervisor cannot verify the applicant meets all requirements. Formal notification of a denial will be provided to applicants.

Read also: Clinical Research Internships

Renewal of Pharmacist License

Pharmacists must renew their license every two years. Credentials will expire on the credential holder's birthday and may be renewed within 90 days of the expiration date.

Additional Considerations

Communication and Responsiveness

Throughout the application process, promptly reply to all questions and requests. Delayed responses cause a longer wait for your credential to be issued.

Military Status

It is valuable to indicate your military or spouse status on your DOH application. Appropriate documentation is necessary for all military-related applications, and military education, training, and experience may count towards attaining certain health care professional credentials.

Controlled Substances Research

Applicants for a controlled substance researcher must list the controlled substances to be used, the purpose for such use, and the names of the people authorized to access the controlled substances. The applicant must develop policies and procedures for the storage, security, accountability, as well as recordkeeping for the acquisition and disposition of the controlled substances.

Pharmacy Assistants and Technicians

Pharmacy assistants must renew their registration every two years on or before their birthday. Pharmacy technicians must renew their certification every two years on or before their birthday by submitting the courtesy renewal notice and current renewal fee.

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