Current Trends in Pharmacy Law Education

To describe pharmacy law topics and teaching methods within United States colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Pharmacy law educators across the United States were surveyed to describe pharmacy law topics and methods for teaching and assessment used to optimize student learning, subject retention, and practice readiness.

Seventy-two out of 127 programs (those American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy member institutions that identified their respective pharmacy law instructor) completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 56.7%. Topics covered within pharmacy law courses varied, but a majority of respondents addressed subjects tested by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam. An increasing number of respondent schools included pharmacy advocacy content for both patient care and the pharmacist scope of practice. Many respondent schools are incorporating novel active learning strategies to foster student learning and retention.

Delivery of a pharmacy law curriculum within pharmacy schools is dynamic. There is no clear consensus for optimal course delivery; however, the subjects taught and assessment of student learning are evolving.