What program approvals are necessary for continuing education courses in Virginia?

In Virginia, for continuing education courses to be considered valid and recognized, they must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy (BOP). This requirement ensures that the courses meet established educational standards, are relevant to pharmacy practice, and provide valuable knowledge and skills for pharmacists. The oversight provided by the BOP helps maintain the quality of continuing education programs and ensures that they align with the needs of the profession.

While the other options present various criteria that could be seen as beneficial for qualifying courses, they do not reflect the actual regulatory requirement set forth by Virginia law. For instance, the notion that the courses must be free to qualify or that they can only be offered at a national level does not align with the actual stipulations from the BOP regarding continuing education. Additionally, relying solely on participant feedback for approval can lead to subjective evaluations, which does not provide the structured oversight necessary for education in the pharmacy field. Hence, the requirement of BOP approval is central to ensuring the integrity and value of continuing education for pharmacists in Virginia.