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Model Pharmacy Acts/Rules

The Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the Model Pharmacist Practice Act, and the Model Prescription Monitoring Program Act provide the boards of pharmacy with model language that may be used when developing state laws or board rules. These models are based on the principle that safeguarding the public interest is the foremost compelling reason for regulating the practice of pharmacy and the distribution of drugs and related devices. Overall, the documents provide model language to describe: 

  • the authority and responsibilities of the boards of pharmacy,
  • the activities that NABP recommends be included within the definition of the practice of pharmacy and the scope of pharmacy practice,
  • the licensure requirements for pharmacy personnel and facilities, and
  • disciplinary actions that boards may take in response to violations that threaten the public.

  1. The Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules

    This foundational document includes statutory language that forms the basis for board of pharmacy regulatory authority and includes model rules addressing: 

    • the practice of pharmacy; 
    • pharmacy interns and pharmacy practice experience programs; 
    • public health emergencies;
    • institutional pharmacy; 
    • nuclear pharmacy/radiopharmacy; 
    • compounded or repackaged drugs; 
    • outsourcing facilities, 
    • the licensure of manufacturers, repackagers, third-party logistics providers, and wholesale distributors; and
    • the licensure of medical gas and related equipment wholesale distributors. 

  2. The Model Pharmacist Practice Act

    This newly adopted model provides guidance to states that are interested in adopting a standard of care approach to regulating pharmacists’ clinical and non-dispensing practices, allowing a flexible framework for practice expansion over time. 

  3. The Model Prescription Monitoring Program Act

    This long-standing document provides guiding statutory language for prescription monitoring programs. 

Download the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules
Download the Model Pharmacist Practice Act
Download the Model Prescription Monitoring Program Act

These documents are updated each July/August following an annual cycle of policy discussion, recommendations, reviews, and approvals. This process often begins with single-issue task forces that convene each year, usually in the fall, to discuss pharmacy policy issues and make recommendations to NABP, often including changes to the model language found in these documents. Early the following year, the NABP Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation (LE/L) reviews all of the task forces’ proposed modifications to the model language and makes final recommendations to the NABP Executive Committee. The Executive Committee then considers the LE/L Committee’s recommended modifications and approves those it deems appropriate. These changes are then implemented, and the updated Model Acts/Rules are published. 

In addition to this annual cycle shown below, the Model Act Review Committee convenes every 5 years to provide a comprehensive review of the Model Acts/Rules.

TimeframeMilestone
August – NovemberSingle-Issue Task Force Recommendations
MarchCommittee on Law Enforcement/Legislation Recommendations
MayNABP Executive Committee Approval
July/AugustPublication of Updated Model Acts/Rules
Work Meeting