• Must be a full-time employee (≥30 hours/week or majority of hours if pharmacy is open <30 hours/week).
• Must provide active, not passive, supervision of the pharmacy.
• May not assign his/her responsibilities to others.
• Can supervise only one pharmacy at a time.
• Must be a New York State registered pharmacist.
• A pharmacist who is unable or unwilling to assume the responsibilities of the title Supervising Pharmacist should not accept this appointment.

• Ownership and Supervising Pharmacist share responsibility for compliance with laws and regulations.
• Both must sign the registration and renewal applications.
• Supervising Pharmacist must:
o Ensure licensed pharmacists are present whenever pharmacy is open.
o Prevent unauthorized access and illegal activities.
o Maintain proper drug storage, labeling, and removal of outdated/misbranded drugs.
o Oversee recordkeeping for prescriptions and controlled substances.
Prevent unauthorized refills and wholesale sales without proper registration.

• Have a Policy and Procedure Manual for the pharmacy
• No specific legal regulation but if Supervising Pharmacist will be away >30 days it is highly recommended to name a new supervising pharmacist atleast for that time period.

PSSNY eSCRIPT (August 8, 2025)

Question: How long can a pharmacy be without a supervising pharmacist?

Answer: The education department requires every pharmacy to have a Supervising Pharmacist (SP) at all times and does not provide a grace period for no SP. The responsibility to report a change on SP rests with the owner of the pharmacy and this change must be reported within 7 days of the change.

• Owner must notify the State Board of Pharmacy within 7 days of a change in supervising pharmacist (Form PH205).
• Pharmacist resignation should be reported using Form PH226 (recommended for legal protection).

• Regularly instruct all employees on proper pharmacy practices.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Confirm pharmacy is properly registered and operating legally.
• Use “reasonable means” to verify drug quality and standards.

• Failure to provide adequate supervision.
• Not being employed full-time as required.