To the Governing Body,

As a resident of southwestern Virginia, I find it difficult to attend live seminars in our area. I do not agree with the new requirement of five hours of continuing education to be obtained via live or interactive means. It would create a hardship on me on having to travel out of my area to attend such events. I would have to travel to the far end of Roanoke from where I live, which would be over an hour of travel each way.

Additionally, requiring 5, not 4 or 3, would require more fees to be paid. Most continuing education offering are in increments of two hours. A basic search on the internet to participate in live webinars proved that many of these seminars are priced $30 or above each. For me personally, that would require the payment of three of these seminars to fill this requirement. If there are seminars offered for 'free', the offering body requires one to become a member of their association. This is an underhanded technique to pad their membership rolls and obtain registration fees.

I practice as a part-time pharmacist, or as a relief one when not employed as the former. This does put a pinch in our family budget to have to pay these additional fees.

So again I will state, I do not agree with the proposal to require five hours of live or interactive continuing education.

Sincerely,

Audrey Neel, RPh