FAQ – APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Course

Q: What is the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate program?

APhA’s Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate training program (14th Edition) is based on national educational standards for immunization training from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  This practice-based curriculum represents a fusion of science and clinical pharmacy. The program, which emphasizes a health care team approach, seeks to foster the implementation of interventions that will promote disease prevention and public health.

The purpose of this certificate training program is to prepare pharmacists with comprehensive knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to provide immunization services to patients across the life span.

Visit the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery program site for more information.


Q: What are the program requirements?

There are three required components to completing the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate training program (14th Edition).

See program timeline for more information.


Q: How difficult is this program?

The program is challenging but doable.  You must complete the following to be eligible to receive a certificate of achievement.


Q: Do I need to do CPR training?

  • All participants are strongly encouraged to obtain CPR or BCLS certification.  However, certification is not a prerequisite of the program. A Certificate of Achievement is awarded to participants who successfully complete all program requirements. The Certificate of Achievement is invalid, however, without written proof of current CPR or BCLS certification.
  • The cost of the CPR or BCLS certification is not included in the admission price of this APhA program.

Q: I previously completed this program. Do I need to recertify?


Q: Will I earn a certificate for successfully completing this program?

This ACPE activity does not provide a certification in this topic but rather advanced professional training which upon successful completion the learner will be able to download a certificate of achievement. Please see the APhA Certificate Training Program Certificates of Achievement Guidance Document.


Q: Will I earn continuing pharmacy education credit for successfully completing this program?

You will be eligible to receive up to  20.0 contact hours of CPE credit (2.0 CEUs) for  APhA’s Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate training program, the learner must complete all components listed above, and CLAIM credit for each component. Participants will need to have a valid APhA (pharmacist.com) username and password, as well as a CPE Monitor account to claim credit. After credit has been claimed, please visit CPE monitor for your transcript. The Certificate of Achievement will be available online upon successful completion of the necessary activity requirements on the participant’s My Training page.

  • Successful completion of the self-study component involves passing the self-study assessment with a grade of 70% or higher and will result in 12 contact hours of CPE credit (1.2 CEUs). ACPE UAN: 0202-0000-20-179-H06-P / 0202-9999-20-179-H06-P
  • Successful completion of the live seminar component involves attending the full live seminar, successfully completing the injection technique assessment, and completing the online assessment and evaluation. Successful completion of this component will result in 8 contact hours of CPE credit (0.8 CEU). ACPE UAN: 0202-0000-20-180-L06-P / 0202-9999-20-180-L06-P

Q: Who should I contact at the University of Florida for additional questions?

You can email ahc-cesupport@ufl.edu.


Q: Do I have to be licensed or live in Florida to take your APhA Immunization Delivery Course?

No, you do not have to licensed or live in Florida to take our course. The course is completely online and able to be done from wherever you are in the United States. You will need to verify that this course meets the requirements of your state board of pharmacy prior to enrolling.


Completing the 12-Hour Self-Study: What You Need to Know

Q: What do I have to do to complete the 12-hour self-study portion of the program?

The self-study learning activity is designed to ensure that all participants have an understanding of vaccine-preventable diseases and the role of pharmacists as vaccine advocates and administrators. There are five learning modules that present in-depth information on immunology, practice implementation, and legal and regulatory issues as noted below, with appropriate references to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resource publication, Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Disease. 

The self-study program includes a self-assessment test and real-life case studies that are designed to help reinforce and evaluate participants’ understanding of key information and concepts. Visit the APhA website to learn more about five learning modules. 

Learners can complete this program at their own pace prior to the first live session. Remember this portion of the program MUST be completed prior to attending the live sessions. 

This portion of the program includes the following:

  • Pre-Assessment: self-study pre-test
    • Immunization self-study component: view immunization administration technique video
    • Self-Study Assessment Claim Self-Study Credit
      • Immunization Self-Study Assessment
      • Self-Study Evaluation
      • Claim credit

You will complete this portion of the program on the APhA Dashboard.  Access instructions will be provided to you after registration.


Attending the Live Seminar: What You Need to Know

Q: What is included in the 8-hour live, online sessions of this program?

The second component of the certificate training program is an active learning seminar focusing on pharmacy practice implementation.  The live training seminar is based on the experience of practitioners involved in immunization advocacy and administration. The training seminar reinforces and expands on the self-study program and addresses areas such as immunization needs, legal and regulatory issues, and injection-technique training. This 8-hour live session is primarily hosted on a Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. 


Q: Does the 12-hour home study need to be completed prior to attending the live seminar?

Yes.  Learners can complete the 12-hour home study program at their own pace prior to the first live session. Remember this portion of the program MUST be completed with a 7-% or higher prior to attending the live sessions.  You will not be able to attend the live seminar if this portion is not completed.


Q: What are the requirements of the live sessions?

  • The APhA is requiring that all participants leave their web camera on to be able to demonstrate active participation in the program.
    • We “must see your eyes” – no “phone number, initials, or picture.”
  • Active participation is required and the learner must respond to all polling questions. These questions will be administrated randomly during the program.
  • Participants who do not leave their web camera on for the entirety of the program and/or who do not participate in the polling questions risk not meeting the program requirements.
  • If you need to step away please signal to the moderator privately (hand raise or a statement)
    • If you are a nursing mother or someone that needs privacy while at their computer, please notify the moderator (privately) and just turn off  video and listen, with the understanding that once you are done, you must turn the video back on

Q: What does it mean to see your eyes?

If this were a live program we would be in a room where the participants and instructors would be interacting and the likelihood of someone being disrespectful enough to overtly not pay attention would be low.  In a zoom meeting it is more tempting to take liberties.

This is why the APhA  and the UF COP requires that you camera be on at all times and we can see your face.  This is so that we can be assured you are paying attention to the content that we will be certifying you have received.  

Signs of not paying attention will be grounds for removal from the program for cause.  We are sorry if this seems heavy handed but here is a list of things that have happened and been caught on camera during our programs that have cause the person to be removed from the zoom meeting:

  • Sleeping
  • Shopping (not online shopping. Driving to the store and walking around in it on camera)
  • Driving (this is not safe since you must be able to see the slides)
  • Actively engaged in phone conversations for a significant portion of the program
  • Engaged with their phone more than the content.
  • Not keeping your camera on and on your face.

Q: What are the consequences if we cannot see your eyes or if I am caught engaging in one of the above activities?

Most people would not assume that any of these actions would be tolerated at a live in-class session. Thus the same is true on this zoom session. We monitor the zoom session for actions that would indicate an overt act of inattention in the participants.  If we become aware of one, we will ask you to adjust the behavior. If no adjustment is made, we will remove you from the program.  We cannot sign off that CE credit was given to someone who has not participated in the program.


Q: What happens if I am removed from the program?

You will receive warnings prior to being removed from the program. If you do not comply you will be removed and will not be eligible to re-enter. You will not be awarded a refund and it will be your responsibility to communicate which program date you would like to reschedule.


Q: What are the required Internet and Computer requirements to complete the program?

Computer and Internet access are required to complete this activity. Please visit the APhA website to view the Technology System Requirements in order to have a positive learning experience.


Q: What platform will the live sessions be held?

The live sessions will be offered via Zoom.  You will receive the login information the week of the first live session. 

Please be sure to download and test Zoom prior to the live seminar. 


Q: How do I change my name in Zoom?

To change your name after entering a Zoom meeting, click on the “Participants” button at the top of the Zoom window. Next, hover your mouse over your name in the “Participants” list on the right side of the Zoom window. Click on “Rename”. Enter the name you’d like to appear in the Zoom meeting and click on “OK”.


Q: Will the live sections be recorded and made available at a later date?

No. You are required to attend the program in real-time.


Completing the Injection Assessment: What You Need to Know

Q: How do I complete the skills assessment portion of the program?

Participants will be required to complete the Skills Training and Assessment training on their own. This assessment is the proper demonstration of administering a sterile injection into a person and must be completed to pass the program and to receive the certificate of achievement. This must be completed after the live, 12-hour program. This portion of the training will be completed remotely and under the supervision of a certified immunizer. It is the responsibility of the learner to identify someone who is able to review this skills assessment.

This portion of the training will be completed remotely and under the supervision of a certified immunizer.  The certified immunizer can be someone from within your organization, a colleague or a friend who is licensed and certified to administer injections. This person DOES NOT have to be a pharmacist.  Any trained medical professional certified to provide immunization services can oversee this technique demonstration (e.g., nurse or physician who is certified).

The injection assessment must be completed on a live person and this person will need to sign-off that he/she received the sterile injection.  This person must be at least 18 years and consent to receiving the sterile injection. The person receiving the injection does not need to be a pharmacist – only a willing participant. The certified immunizer and injectee CANNOT be the same person and must both be located in room at the same time.  The review of the injection cannot occur via a video streaming or recorded platform.  It must be live and in-person. 

See the APhA Injection Technique Assessment Form  and view the How to: Completing the Injection Assessment Form tutorial video.


Q: Does the injection assessment occur on the same day or can we complete that later? 

The injection assessment will not take place during the live seminar. It will be completed based on the availability of yourself, your assessor, and injectee recipient following the program.


Q: Can I complete the injection assessment prior to the live seminar?

No.  This must be completed after you attend the 8-hour live seminar in full.  Instructions to appropriately administer intramuscular and subcutaneous injections will be provided at the conclusion of the live seminar.


Q: Will I be administering live vaccines?

No.  You will be using normal saline to administer the two intramuscular and one subcutaneous injection.  See supply kit list for more information.


Q: Who can access the injection assessment?

Any healthcare professional who administers injections as part of their normal scope of practice. Eligible HCPs include: physician, physician assistant, nurses, and EMTs.  Pharmacists certified to provide immunizations are also eligible to access. 


Q: Will the accessor be provided instructions?

Yes. See the Assessor Instructions.


Q: Do I have to administer an injection to be eligible to receive a certificate of completion?

Yes. Participants will be expected to practice giving two intramuscular and one subcutaneous injections. A total of three injections must be administered.


Q: Does the assessor need to be in the same room or can this be reviewed via Zoom?

The assessor must be in the same room with you and the injectee recipient and cannot view the demonstration via Zoom.


Q: Can the injectee and the assessor be the same person?

No.  The assessor cannot accurately review your technique if he/she is also receiving the saline injection.


Q: Can a relative be the person to receive the injection or be the assessor to sign the injection assessment form?

Yes, a relative can be the injectee or the assessor; however they cannot be the injectee and the assessor. You must have two different people to perform these tasks.


Q: Do I need to record the injection assessments and send it to UF COP CPE?

No.  The assessor will review your technique and sign off if your technique is acceptable and you are ready to immunize patients.


Q: How do I complete the injection technique certification section?

You are responsible for finding a subject to inject with saline and finding a person to sign off on your technique. You can inject the same subject with all 3 saline injections.  The person signing the form cannot be the subject and must be a person who is approved/certified to give vaccinations. This does not need to be a pharmacist, it can be any healthcare provider who is authorized to give vaccinations.  Options include nurses, physicians and physician assistants.

Be sure to review the accessor instructions prior to your demonstration.


Q: What supplies do I need to complete the injection assessment?

A key component to successfully passing the course is the administration of a sterile injection under the review of a licensed immunizer.  To be able to complete this step you will need the proper supplies, see list below.

  • Non-latex, non-powder gloves: 2 pairs
    • You will select a size during registration. Options are small, medium, and large.
  • 1 ml OR 3ml x 25G x 1” safety syringe: QTY 3
  • 1ml OR 3ml x 25G x 5/8” safety syringe: QTY 2

Bandages: QTY 3

  • Alcohol swabs: QTY 3
  • Cotton Balls: QTY 3
  • Sodium Chloride 0.9% (Single dosage vial 10 ml or smaller): QTY 1

Q: What do I do after completing the injection technique?