Human Resources
Policy/Procedure Title:Continuing Education Reimbursement / Date of Issue:
April 2009 / Policy Number:
HR505
Approved By: / Revision Dates: / Last Review Date:
Don Nickleson, CEO
Purpose:
¨ CPS encourages professional development and enhancement of knowledge and skills for its pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and assists these employees to obtain the necessary continuing education (CE) credits for re-licensure and/or re-certification by providing reimbursement for qualified CE programs.
Scope:
¨ Regional Vice President (RVP)
¨ Directors of Pharmacy Services (DOPS)
¨ Clinical Staff Pharmacists
¨ Pharmacy Technicians
¨ Employees in positions which require a pharmacist license or technician certification
Definitions:
¨ ACPE – Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
¨ Continuing Education (CE) – ACPE approved education, whether live or self study, for topics and subject matter pertinent to the contemporary practice of pharmacy.
¨ FTE – Full Time Equivalent
¨ PTCB – Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Policy:
I. CPS business units shall, on an annual basis, budget for staff to obtain CE credits applicable for re-licensure and re-certification or other applicable professional educational programs as follows:
A. Full-time clinical staff pharmacist - $300 per budget year
B. Full-time pharmacy technician - $100 per budget year
C. Part-time employees – Budgeted year amount is prorated based on standard hours in the ADP payroll system
D. Non-site based employee – amount is based on license or certification requirement as stated above
II. All eligible and reimbursable continuing education expenses must be submitted and approved following the company’s travel and expense policy.
Procedures:
A. Budget
The Director of Pharmacy Services (DOPS) or Manager shall include the appropriate yearly allocation in the annual budget for eligible employees to obtain appropriate CE credits.
B. ACPE
Allotted budget amounts are used for ACPE approved CE credits which relate to pharmacy practice and/or an area of specialty.
C. Pharmacy Technicians
CPS pharmacy technicians may only apply CE funds to cover expenses related to their recertification under the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification or other state approved pharmacy technician certification. If a pharmacy technician wants to obtain his/her initial certification, see Educational Assistance Reimbursement policy.
D. Renewals
CE funds cannot be used for the annual renewal of a license or certification.
E. Approval Process
1. The DOPS or Manager shall approve attendance at CE programs based upon the scheduling needs of the business unit.
2. Approval of CE expenses shall be submitted through the travel and expense (T&E) policy form and approved by the employee’s DOPS or Manager and Human Resources.
a. Approved expenses forms shall be forwarded to Human Resources for processing.
F. Records
1. Clinical Staff Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are responsible for maintaining their records of CE program attendance.
a. Employees shall provide their manager with a copy of the CE statement of credit upon course completion.
G. Use of CE Funds
1. CE funds may be used for the following purposed:
a. Attendance at national, state and local organizational meetings relevant to the employee’s job or profession.
b. Subscriptions to professional journals, references or other educational material.
2. CE funds shall not be used to purchase pharmacy or individual employee assets.
H. Pay When Attending CE Education Programs
1. Employees attending a CE education program during their regularly scheduled hours will need to use Personal Time Off (PTO).
a. Hours paid cannot exceed scheduled hours of work missed due to the CE program.
b. The DOPS or Manager shall make the necessary notation to the employee’s time record to pay for scheduled hours during which the employee attends the CE program.
2. Employees who attend a CE program on a day they are not regularly scheduled to work shall not be paid for the time to attend the program.
3. Employees who are asked to moderate or speak as part of a CE education program and receive compensation from a pharmaceutical company or other entity shall not be paid by CPS.
a. Employees who moderate or speak as part of a CE education program may use PTO for time away from work for this CE program.
I. PTO
Employees who attend, moderate or speak as part of a CE education program on their regular day off shall not be paid by CPS and may not use PTO.
Exceptions:
Any exceptions to this policy may not be made unless they are approved by the employee’s Manager and the Director of Human Resources.
These policies do not create a contract of employment for any length of time, nor does it change the at-will nature of employment. Some of the policies described may require further interpretations. The Company reserves the right to add, modify, or terminate its employee policies, practices and procedures and/or benefits at any time. This on-line policy supersedes all prior policies, including (without limitation, any hard-copy version of this policy previously distributed) and all prior practices and procedures on subjects covered in this policy. Because our on-line policies are updated from time to time, employees should review the on-line policies to be informed of the current policies in effect.
HR505 Continuing Education Reimbursement Policy
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