Through the Lens of Expanded Scope of Practice: Training Requirements for Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception Across the United States

Thirty-one U.S. states and the District of Columbia currently authorize pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception. Expansion of pharmacist scope of practice into areas such as contraceptive prescribing represents an extension beyond traditional baseline licensure authority. As a result, jurisdictions frequently require additional training to address competency, patient safety, and liability considerations. Because regulation of pharmacy practice occurs at the state level, training requirements vary across jurisdictions. State boards of pharmacy websites and publicly available regulatory materials were reviewed to identify training requirements for pharmacists authorized to prescribe hormonal contraception. Relevant statutes, regulations, and prescribing protocols were examined. Identified requirements were extracted and categorized into thematic groupings based on the level and type of training specified. Most jurisdictions require pharmacists to complete training beyond standard pharmacy education prior to prescribing hormonal contraception. Such requirements are characteristic of newly expanded scope-of-practice authorities, where regulators seek to verify competency and mitigate liability risk. As prescribing activities become more fully incorporated into pharmacy practice acts and professional education, separate training requirements may diminish over time.