More pharmacists hit the road last year, according to NABP

COMMUNITY PRACTICE

ON THE MOVE

More pharmacists hit the road last year, according to latest licensure-transfer data from NABP

After a couple of years of being stay-at-homes, more pharmacists packed up their licenses last year and hit the road to practice their profession in other climes, according to the latest licensure-transfer data from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

A total of 5,802 applications for pharmacist licensure transfer were tallied last year by NABP's Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (ELTP). The number of transfer applications was second only to the high-water mark of 5,936 applications set in 1997. The 2000 total exceeded the 10-year annual average by 649 requests. California and Florida are not included in the data because they do not reciprocate R.Ph. licensure.

One factor in the urge to roam may be the continuing shortage of pharmacists, according to NABP. The prospect of higher salaries being offered by desperate employers may be tempting more pharmacists to put on their traveling shoes. "During the last decade, there have been small variations in the number of requests for licensure transfer," said NABP president Jerry Moore. "This 3.9% increase in 2000 may mark an upward trend in the number of pharmacists participating in ELTP."

The most popular destinations for licensure transfers into a region were the Southeastern states and the West. For example, Colorado ended up with a net gain of 121 licensure transfers into the state, and North Carolina scored 118 in the plus column. The most licensure transfers out were recorded by states in the Great Plains and the Midwestern Rust Belt skirting the Great Lakes. Oklahoma had 47 transfers come in, but 101 left the Sooner State, for a deficit of 54. Meanwhile, Indiana posted a net loss of 82, and Ohio was down 90 licenses.

Arkansas had the best positive pharmacist licensure flow. There were 47 applications to transfer out compared with 182 requests to come into the state, for a net gain of 135 licenses. In addition to Colorado and North Carolina, other hot transfer spots included Virginia, which gained 106 licenses; Minnesota, with a net gain of 90; and Georgia, where 72 more licenses were transferred in than exited.

The biggest loser was Pennsylvania, where 222 licensure applications to come into the state were overwhelmed by the 459 requests to leave. The Keystone State posted a net loss of 237 licenses. New York also lost licenses, as 336 licenses left the state and only 196 came in, for a net loss of 140. Texas also posted a deficit of 96. These three states traditionally have more licenses leave than enter due to the high number of pharmacy schools within their borders, according to NABP. Pennsylvania has five pharmacy schools, and New York and Texas each have four schools.

The number of individual pharmacists who applied for licensure transfer also increased last year, to 4,769, an increase of 121 applicants. The overall figure of 5,802 transfer requests compared with the number of pharmacists indicates there were 1,034 requests to transfer to more than one state.

Carol Ukens

Carol Ukens. More pharmacists hit the road last year, according to NABP.

Drug Topics

2001;6:16.