California Board of Pharmacy Updates and AB 1503 Changes

Board of Pharmacy News Roundup – January 2026 Welcome to the monthly News Roundup fro m the California State Board of Pharmacy. To receive more details on an y of the informatio n reported here, click on the Board’s website, ww w.pharma cy.ca.gov. Upcoming Meeting: ALL meetings are open to the public; all are encouraged to attend. Please check https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/ for meeting dates and times. Transition to Standard of Care Under the provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 15 03 (Berman, Chapter 196, Statutes of 2025), certain pharmacist - provided patient care services are t ransitioning to a S tandard of C are p ractice model effective January 1, 20 26. The policy statement can be found here. Pharmacist-in-Charge U nder AB 1503, new prov isions reinforce the decision - making autonomy of the PIC related to staffing decisions. Read the f ull policy statement here. Vaccines Under AB 1503, pharmacist authority to independently initiate and administer vaccines for persons three years of a ge and older will transition to a standard of care practice model. Such an approa ch is consistent with other health care practitioners with similar practice authority. California Albuterol and Epinephrine Standing Orders for Schools California schools are authorized to stock unassigned albuterol metered - dose inhalers (MDIs), single - use disposable spacers, and epinephrine auto - injectors for emergency use. The California Department of Public Health (CDP H) has issued statewide standing orders that enable all Ca lifornia TK – 12 public, charter, and private schools, as well as local education agencies (school districts), and county offices of education, to ob tain MDIs and sin gle - use disposable spacers, as well as epinephrine auto - injectors without an independent physician's prescription. Standing orders are issued to schools und er the name of the school a nd medications are not assigned to any spe cific student or staff. To learn more about program eligibility, training requirements, and how scho ols can apply or renew, please visit the CDP H website or contact the Office of Schoo l Health at SafeSch oolsTea m@cdph.ca.go v

New Requirements for Nonresident Pharmacies Effective July 1, 2026, nonresident pharmacies (i.e., pharmacies lo cated outside California that ship, mail, deliver, or otherwise dispense prescription medications or devices into California) must: Identify a California - licensed pharmacist employed and working at the nonresident phar macy to be proposed to serve as Pharmac ist -in- Charge (PIC) over the nonresident pharmacy’s California operations, and submit the p ropose d PIC’s na me, license number, and effective date to the Board within 90 days of desig nation. • Ensure the designated PIC is fully authoriz ed to ensure operational compliance with California law, including California - specific dispensing, recordkeeping, labeling, consultation, controlled substances, and staffing requirements. • Confirm the PIC has completed the required Board - provided PIC training. • Update the Board within 90 days of a ny subsequent PIC change. For forms and additional compliance informatio n, please visit the California State Board of Pharmacy ’s website. Take Action Now to ensure your nonresident pharma cy is in full compliance by July 1, 2026. California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) Register with ISMP to repo rt medication errors to the Califo rnia Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) system. Medication erro rs that occur on or after September 1, 2025, must be reported to the CAMER system. For info rmation on how to register with ISMP’s medication error reporting program, click here https://mederr ors.ismp.o rg/. For technical issues please email clientservices@ecri.org. FAQs regarding medication error repo rting can be found here. ###