MPJE Licensure and Personnel 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under most state pharmacy practice acts, which of the following is the MOST common continuing education requirement for pharmacist license renewal?
- 30 contact hours per renewal period (Correct answer)
- 10 contact hours per year
- 15 contact hours per renewal period
- 40 contact hours per renewal period
Correct answer: 30 contact hours per renewal period
Most states require 30 contact hours (3 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education per renewal period, typically every two years, consistent with ACPE standards.
Question 2: A pharmacist licensed in State A wants to become licensed in State B without re-examination. This process is commonly called:
- Reciprocity
- Endorsement (Correct answer)
- Licensure by examination waiver
- Mutual recognition
Correct answer: Endorsement
NABP uses the term 'endorsement' for the process of transferring a pharmacist license from one state to another without re-examination, though some states still use 'reciprocity.'
Question 3: A pharmacist applying for licensure by endorsement in a new state is found to have had a disciplinary action in their home state. The new state board will most likely:
- Automatically grant the license since the discipline occurred in another state
- Deny the license without any review
- Evaluate the disciplinary history as part of its licensure review process (Correct answer)
- Require the pharmacist to retake both NAPLEX and MPJE
Correct answer: Evaluate the disciplinary history as part of its licensure review process
State boards review prior disciplinary history from all states as part of their endorsement evaluation and have discretion to grant, deny, or place conditions on the license.
Question 4: A pharmacist's license renewal is denied because continuing education hours were reported late. The pharmacist's BEST immediate course of action is to:
- Continue practicing while appealing the decision
- Cease practice immediately and follow the board's reinstatement procedure (Correct answer)
- Ask another pharmacist to supervise them while they resolve the issue
- Contact the DEA to request a temporary extension
Correct answer: Cease practice immediately and follow the board's reinstatement procedure
Practicing on an expired or denied license is unlicensed practice; the pharmacist must cease practice and follow the state board's reinstatement or appeal process.
Question 5: Which organization accredits pharmacy technician training programs and certifies technicians through the ExCPT examination?
- NABP
- PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board)
- NHA (National Healthcareer Association) via ASHP/ACPE accreditation (Correct answer)
- ACPE
Correct answer: NHA (National Healthcareer Association) via ASHP/ACPE accreditation
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) administers the ExCPT exam, and ASHP/ACPE jointly accredit pharmacy technician education programs.
Question 6: A state board of pharmacy may place conditions on a pharmacist's license renewal for which of the following reasons?
- Failure to join a professional pharmacy organization
- A finding of substance use disorder by the board (Correct answer)
- Practicing in a neighboring state under a compact license
- Switching employers without notifying the board
Correct answer: A finding of substance use disorder by the board
Boards of pharmacy are authorized to impose conditions such as drug testing or monitoring programs when a pharmacist has been found to have a substance use disorder.
Question 7: A pharmacy intern's registration is typically valid for a maximum period of:
- Two years from the date of issuance
- The duration of the pharmacy school program plus one year after graduation (Correct answer)
- Five years, regardless of school enrollment status
- Until the intern passes the NAPLEX
Correct answer: The duration of the pharmacy school program plus one year after graduation
Most states limit intern registration to the duration of the professional pharmacy program plus a limited post-graduation window (commonly one year) to allow time for licensure.
MPJE Licensure and Personnel 3
Under most state pharmacy practice acts, which of the following is the MOST common continuing education requirement for pharmacist license renewal?