Licensure Process

General Overview

Becoming Licensed

There are 2 basic parts to becoming licensed

Successful completion of the state required licensure exams (for most states this is the NAPLEX and MPJE)

Submission of a complete application for licensure to the state board

Part 1

Licensure Exams

What Do I Do To Take the Exams? Determine state where you will be licensed Register online for NAPLEX and MPJE*

http://www.nabp.net/programs/examination/naplex http://www.nabp.net/programs/examination/mpje Cost: NAPLEX - $485; MPJE - $200

You can register for the NAPLEX and MPJE at any time but cannot schedule testing appt until approved by state board

*A few states do not use MPJE, consult regulations for your state of interest

Receiving approval to take the exams require that you submit an application for licensure and supporting documentation Note: Some states will allow you to apply before

you graduate but most require you wait until you have graduated. Check with your state.

For those seeking licensure in Tennessee, the Board begins accepting applications March 31st.

The board will review your application to determine whether you meet requirements. Once approved, the board will notify NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) that you are eligible to take the exams.

NABP will send you (via email) an ATT (authorization to test) which allows you to schedule your testing appointment.

Scheduling the Exams The NAPLEX and the MPJE are administered

daily, except for holidays and Sundays, at Pearson Vue Professional Centers across the United States.

You may take the exam at any testing location. The closest testing centers to GCOP are Johnson City, TN; Knoxville, TN; Asheville, NC; Charlotte, NC; and Greenville, SC.

Obtaining Exam Results NABP releases exam results only to the state

board. The board then releases the scores to you. (Many states make the score available via the web.) If a passing score is received, the board will issue your license. The minimum passing score is 75 for both exams. The structure and content of the exams are described in

the exam Registration Bulletin found on the NABP web. You are strongly encouraged to review this document as it

contains important information.

Part 2

Completing Application for Licensure

What Does Application Consist Of?Minimally, the application packet consists of: Application for licensure by exam and fee

Can or must be completed online in some states but most are still paper

Proof that you have earned degree Generally school completes a form for you

Proof that you have obtained required experiential hours (generally 1500 hours) School often completes a form but varies greatly

Other common components of the packet are:Proof of citizenship

(e.g., copy of birth certificate)Background check

Most often by fingerprintLetters of reference

Often forms to be completed by practicing pharmacists or faculty

Passport size photo Should be within the last 6 months

Where Can I Find Info For My State? Current information can be found on the

website for your state’s board of pharmacy A list of all board’s web sites can be found on the

NABP’s web at www.nabp.net/boards-of-pharmacy

Once on the state website, look for a link called Licensure Applications and Forms (or something similar)

What If I Want to Be Licensed in Multiple States?The best way is to use the NABP Score Transfer

process. Score Transfer

Allows you to use your NAPLEX results for licensure in more than one state. A completed Score Transfer form along with the required fee of $75 per state MUST be received by NABP no later than 90 days after taking the NAPLEX.

You must still complete and submit an Application for Examination (application sometimes referred to as Application for Licensure by Score Transfer) and take law exam for each state.

If you later decide or need to be licensed in another state, you would have to apply for licensure through examination and retake NAPLEX or apply for licensure via reciprocity (if you do not want to retake NAPLEX).

Licensure Process –Single State Example

Tennessee

Complete and submit the Application for Pharmacist Examination Available from the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy (BOP) Application fee is $225.

Include supporting materials in the packet Passport size photo Declaration of Citizenship Mandatory Practitioner Profile (fill out as much as possible) Record of Internship Hours (only for hours earned in Tennessee

that are not part of PharmD program) Hours earned outside of Tennessee must be certified by that state’s

board and sent to TN board

Register for Criminal Background Check (no more than 6 months in advance) Select Tennessee Select Online scheduling Select Dept of Health Licensure & Regulation Select Bureau of Licensure Enter 9901 as OCA number Proceed to schedule appointment

Go to http://health.state.tn.us/CBC/index.htm for instructions if needed

Certifying Degree to TN Board Leave the pharmacy school degree section blank

on page 5 of the application. (The heading for this page is College Certification.) Student Affairs automatically submits this information to the Board for each graduate. Be sure to complete your undergrad school information

and answer the other questions on the page.

Fulfilling TN Internship Hours Requirement Tennessee requires 1500 hours Only 1100 hours obtained as part of the PharmD program

are applicable towards this requirement. GCOP will automatically submit a record of all IPPE and APPE hours completed to the Board verifying these hours.

The applicant is required to obtain the remaining 400 hours independently. Report these hours using the Internship Affidavit. The affidavit has to be notarized; Student Affairs provides notary services.

That’s It for Tennessee!! The basic licensure application process is similar

for all states; however, you should visit the web site of the BOP for the state in which you are seeking licensure to determine requirements.

Final Tips About Licensure

Exam or Special Considerations All states require the NAPLEX. Some states require a law exam other than the MPJE

(e.g., Virginia and California). Some states require a state administered practical exam

(e.g., West Virginia and Georgia). Exam may only be given few times a year so pay close attention

to deadlines—you either meet them or wait until next time. Some states have special education requirements you

may have to meet when applying. For example: Florida requires that you complete a 2-hour CE course on

medication errors prior to licensure. Must submit certification of completion with application.

Kentucky requires proof of completion of a CE course in HIV/AIDS education as part of the application.

Internship Considerations

Closely read the internship requirements and the process to report the hours. Many boards require that you submit

verification from the state board in which you earned the hours before being approved to take the exams.

You may have to apply to become an intern in a state if a) your employer wants you to work prior to being licensed or b) you need to earn additional hours to meet that state’s internship hours requirement.

Certification of Degree

GCOP does not automatically certify completion of the PharmD to boards outside of TN. The required certification of degree form (or other documentation) has to be completed by GCOP Records Office for states other than TN.

Student Affairs collects this info via electronic survey in February/March.

The Records Office will supply the completed form to you at graduation (or earlier, if allowed).

Score Transfer

Remember you may request score transfer up until 90 days after taking NAPLEX. So you are okay if you find out later that you need

to be licensed in multiple states. Score transfer does not constitute an

application for licensure (it only sends NAPLEX results). You must submit a complete application to each

state.

When using Score Transfer, don’t worry about predicting the future as to which state you ultimately may want to be your primary state.

Score Transfer is the same as getting licensed by exam except you do not have to continually take the NAPLEX; thus, you do not need to always maintain licensure in state A in order to be licensed in state B. Suggest you look at the states’ fee structures when

deciding which state to make primary state in order to reduce overall costs. For example, Tennessee licensure fee by exam is $186

versus $436 by score transfer.

Background Check Mandatory for licensure in virtually all states.

Typically fingerprint based—fingerprints taken electronically at specified locations or by a local law enforcement agency. Check with your state. Some states require that the fingerprinting be done within that

state (e.g., must physically travel to Ohio). Cannot use background check performed by one state

to satisfy another state’s requirement. May only be valid for a limited amount of time, so do

not do it too soon (e.g., good for only 6 months in TN). May include more than criminal record (e.g., Kentucky

also checks National Practitioner Data Bank).

Help is Available

Student Affairs is always available to answer questions or help in any way possible. Contact Mr. Ellis or Wendy Williams

Of course, you can contact the specific state board of pharmacy directly.