Comprehensive Contraceptive Education and Certification for the Hawaii Pharmacist

Heads up! This course may be archived and/or unavailable.

SB 513 SD1 HD1 authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive supplies to patients regardless of a previous prescription, subject to specified education and procedural requirements. Authorizes insurance reimbursement to pharmacists. The first such statewide protocol is self-administered contraception. The University of Hawaii at Hilo, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is honored to partner with Oregon State University to offer this training program that allows Hawaii pharmacists to meet the requirements necessary to provide contraceptive care to women in our state.  We are now the fourth state in the nation to allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives. The Hawaii statute provides this per protocol.

Additional materials, including self-screening questionnaires, treatment algorithm, and current contraceptive guidelines are available on the Hawaii State Board of Pharmacy website.  

Women in the United States have had access to highly effective hormonal contraception in the form of an oral pill for decades. However, they have always needed to see their doctor or women’s health provider in order to get a prescription for it, causing what many believe to be an unnecessary hurdle. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have issued a formal statement that self-administered hormonal contraception should be made more accessible by removing this barrier. This is because the benefit of preventing unintended pregnancies by improving access to hormonal contraception outweighs the small risks associated with serious adverse events. 

While pharmacists are knowledgeable in being able to counsel women on the side effects and what to expect, before now they have never been in the role of starting or continuing a woman on any form of hormonal contraception. It is good to have a foundational knowledge on hormonal contraception, but prescribing it requires a deeper understanding of how to practice seeing patients and in making clinical decisions.

This training program has received significant support and guidance from several OBGYN members of ACOG, and is specifically designed to give pharmacists the tools needed to be confident and successful in prescribing and monitoring self-administered hormonal contraception.

Registration will require your NABP e-Profile ID number and your NPI number.

Your NABP number must be provided to complete the certification process, if you need help with obtaining your NABP number please contact Tabetha Gould.

Your NPI number, for State of Hawaii billing processes, will be provided to payers upon completion of this program.

If you have questions about this training please contact Karen Pellegrin.

Note: The curriculum is state-based, and pharmacists should complete Comprehensive Contraceptive Education and Certification for the state in which they practice. In addition to Hawaii, this online training program is also available for pharmacists practicing in Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington.