How many CPE credits do California Pharmacists need to renew their license?

California Pharmacists must complete 30 CPE Credits every every 2 years renewal cycle to maintain their license.

How often does a California Pharmacist license renew?

The California Pharmacist license renews on an every 2 years cycle. Specifically, the renewal date is Last day of the month in which it was originally issued.

Is AchieveCE accredited for California Pharmacist CPE?

Yes. AchieveCE is accredited by Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and our courses are accepted toward California Pharmacist license renewal.

Does AchieveCE automatically report CPE credits for California Pharmacists?

Yes. After course completion, your CPE credits are automatically reported to CPE Monitor, typically within 24 hours.

How are AchieveCE courses delivered?

All courses are 100% online with mobile and desktop access. You can pause and resume anytime, and there are no time limits or restrictions on test attempts. Certificates are delivered instantly upon completion.

How much does AchieveCE cost for California Pharmacist CE?

The California Pharmacist CE Package is priced at $67. Individual courses and a full Pharmacist membership are also available.

California Pharmacist CPE

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ACPE-accredited CPE activities with state-required topic coverage

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Trusted by pharmacy licensing boards and compliance agencies across the nation National Accreditation: ACPE via CPE Monitor - Reports to CPE Monitor nationally for pharmacy and to CE Broker in Florida

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Plans for California Pharmacist

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CA Pharmacist

CE Package

Meets state requirements

30.0 CPE Credits

$117$67/year

Save 43%

ACPE accredited
Auto-reporting to CPE Monitor
Instant reporting to CE Broker
State-required course topics
Instant certificates
Unlimited course attempts
No time limits
7-day live chat & phone support
Mobile app & web access

Choose your preferred courses
Standard course library
Unlimited live webinars
Advanced pharmacy courses

Pharmacy Lite

Membership

Meets state requirements + course library

Unlimited Credits

$167$97/year

Save 42%

ACPE accredited
Auto-reporting to CPE Monitor
Instant reporting to CE Broker
State-required course topics
Instant certificates
Unlimited course attempts
No time limits
7-day live chat & phone support
Mobile app & web access
Choose your preferred courses
Standard course library

Unlimited live webinars
Advanced pharmacy courses

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Pharmacy Advanced

Membership

Meets state requirements + Course library

Unlimited Credits

Unlimited Live CE

Includes live webinars

$247$147/year

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ACPE accredited
Auto-reporting to CPE Monitor
Instant reporting to CE Broker
State-required course topics
Instant certificates
Unlimited course attempts
No time limits
7-day live chat & phone support
Mobile app & web access
Choose your preferred courses
Standard course library
Unlimited live webinars
Advanced pharmacy courses

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Most Helpful reviews

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I am always interested in continuing education in the areas of health, wellness, nutrition and mental health. Your course was well written, well organized and helpful in meeting state licensure requirements.

Dawn O.Nutritionist

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Very well written, easy to digest, time efficient, and straight to the point. Thank you!

Priya M.Occupational Therapist

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I appreciate the convenience of the course being online and accessible through my phone and that it directly reports to CEBroker to support mandated education requirements.

Cristina GRegistered Nurse

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I really loved this information. I was hospitalized last year for almost a month and I noticed multiple medical errors (not being hooked up to my IV multiple times, given wrong medication which caused my sodium to be very low, etc.) which lengthened my stay. I can now define those exact errors and better understand what happened to me. I hate that these medical errors are so common and I appreciate how well laid out your breakdown and categorization of them was.

Allison B.Nurse Practitioner

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I am always looking for concise ,thorough, and up to date continuing education, and this course provided exactly what I was looking for. Thank you

Ronald H.Dentist

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Enjoyed this course! It squarely met my license renewal requirement as a physician. It was well-written, and an altogether enjoyable read.

Meghan L.Physician

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State requirements for California Pharmacists

Next Renewal Date

Every 2 years on the last day of your birth month

Total Hours Required

30 Hours

General Hours

27 General Hours

Required Courses

2 hours law & ethics (Board-issued webinars)
1 hour cultural competency (Every renewal for all Pharmacists)
1 hour immunization (Every renewal if you administer vaccines)
1 hour on the Prescribing Schedule II drugs (Every other renewal if you prescribe Schedule II)
2 hours of travel medicine (Every renewal if you furnish travel medications)
1 hour of opioid antagonist CE (Only one time prior to furnishing an opioid antagonist)
10 hours Practice Related CE (Every renewal if you are an Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner)

Additional information

California Pharmacists (RPH,APH) must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years from ACPE-accredited providers or the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) to renew a pharmacist license with the California State Board of Pharmacy. This guide breaks down the standard CE requirements every pharmacist needs, the conditional requirements tied to specific practice authorities, first-time renewal rules, and how the Board verifies compliance.

Standard Renewal Requirements

Every California pharmacist must complete 30 hours of continuing education per two-year (biennial) renewal period. All hours must come from a ACPE-accredited provider, and within those 30 hours the Board requires two specific topics:

Law and ethics:
2 hours completed through the Board-provided webinars, consisting of a 1-hour law webinar and a 1-hour ethics webinar. Both must be viewed to satisfy the requirement. They are available free on the Board's website with no registration through the Board-provided law and ethics webinars.
Cultural competency:
1 hour of cultural competency CE is required for every pharmacist renewing after January 1, 2024. The Board does not offer this course. An approved course must focus on LGBTQ+ patient care, cover health disparities faced by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, address intersectionality, and be approved by a Board-recognized accreditation agency.

There is no live or in-person CE minimum; all 30 hours may be completed online. Full requirements are published by the California State Board of Pharmacy and codified in Business and Professions Code section 4231 .

Conditional Renewal Requirements

Below requirements apply only to pharmacists who hold a specific license modifier or practice authority. They are layered on top of the standard 30-hour requirement and are generally tied to the Board's elective practice protocols . If a given authority does not apply to you, its requirement does not apply either.

Advanced Pharmacist Practitioners (APP) must complete 10 additional hours, for a total of 40. This is the only requirement that is on top of the 30. BPC § 4233
Pharmacists who prescribe Schedule II controlled substances must complete 1 hour on the risks of addiction associated with Schedule II drugs once every four years. BPC § 4232.5
Pharmacists who administer vaccines must complete 1 hour of immunizations and vaccines CE every two years, and keep an approved immunization training program and current BLS/CPR certification on file. 16 CCR § 1746.4
Pharmacists who furnish travel medications must complete 2 hours of travel medicine CE every two years. 16 CCR § 1746.5
Pharmacists who provide smoking cessation therapy must complete 1 hour of smoking cessation CE . BPC § 4052.9
Pharmacists who furnish emergency contraception must complete 1 hour of emergency contraception CE. BPC § 4052.3
Pharmacists who furnish naloxone or other opioid antagonists must complete 1 hour of opioid antagonist CE before furnishing. 16 CCR § 1746.3
Pharmacists who furnish self-administered hormonal contraception must complete 1 hour of Board-approved hormonal contraception training , one time only. BPC § 4052.3 , 16 CCR § 1746.1

First-Time Renewal Requirements

All new pharmacist licensees are exempt from completing continuing education during their first renewal period. CE is not required until the end of the second renewal period, and this exemption applies to every CE requirement, including the mandatory law and ethics webinars and the cultural competency hour. New Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner licensees are likewise exempt during their first renewal period. Details are provided by the California State Board of Pharmacy .

Verification and Reporting

California does not use an electronic CE tracking system for verification. The Board has no access to CPE Monitor or any CE tracking database, so it confirms compliance through random CE audits. Licensees must retain their certificates of completion for four years and produce them if selected for audit. Audit notifications are sent by mail, so keeping your address of record and email of record current with the Board is essential. See the California State Board of Pharmacy CE audit information . AchieveCE holds your certificates and automatically reports to CPE Monitor as another form of certificate storage.

Explore plans that meet your CE requirements

Required Courses for
California Pharmacists

All courses below included with Plans

Vaccine Safety and Administration

2.0 CPE CreditsText-based

Required

Cultural Competency in Healthcare: Tools and Strategies for Better Patient Care

4.0 CPE CreditsText-based

Required

DEA MATE 8-Hour Training: SUD & Pain Management

8.0 CPE CreditsText-based

$79.00

Required

Live webinars for
California Pharmacists

All courses below included with Plans