NABP.net <> National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

The VAWD accreditation process begins when the applicant submits a VAWD application form with application fees to NABP. (See Application form and Instructions.) Upon receipt of the application form and supplemental documentation, NABP staff will:

Verify all state wholesale distributor licenses are in good standing
Verify any Designated Representative licenses are in good standing
Evaluate the submitted supplemental documents for compliance with the VAWD Criteria
Ensure applicable criminal and financial background checks are performed
Notify the applicant if discrepancies arise or clarification is needed.
After the documentation is evaluated and preliminarily determined to be satisfactory, staff schedules an on-site survey of the wholesale distributor facility to evaluate the applicant's operations and policies, and to interview staff to determine compliance with the VAWD criteria.

Upon receipt of the executed Letter of Agreement NABP will post information about the wholesale distributor on the NABP Web site. VAWD accreditation is renewable annually following an update of the facility and licensure information and NABP staff’s re-verification of licensure status. Resurveys of VAWD-accredited wholesale distributors are required once every three years.

Following review of the application materials, verification of submitted information and licensure, and survey, a written report will be sent to the wholesale distributor. If the evaluation and survey are satisfactory, the report will be accompanied by:

A VAWD Letter of Agreement to be signed by an authorized representative or agent of the entity who has authority to bind the entity

The entire process from initial application to award of VAWD accreditation should take three to ten months depending on scheduling, timeliness and quality of the applicant's documentation and response.

The Model Rules for Licensure of Wholesale Distributors are just now being adopted by the states and NABP will take this into consideration as it evaluates applicants' documents and operations for purposes of VAWD accreditation. Bearing this in mind, provisional VAWD accreditation may be awarded to qualifying wholesale distributors.

Benefits of VAWD Accreditation

Provides assurance that the facility meets legal standards of practice for wholesalers.
Initial survey and regular resurveys serve as impartial, third party audits of facility policies, procedures, and practices.
Accreditation relieves wholesale distributors of the burden of seller-to-buyer due diligence as may be required under state laws.
NABP has extensive experience with accreditation as evidenced by its Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites^® (VIPPS^®) program.