MPJE Licensure and Personnel Roles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacy technician trainee is allowed to perform which of the following tasks without direct pharmacist supervision in most states?
- Counsel patients on prescription medications
- Access the prescription filing system to retrieve records (Correct answer)
- Make final verification of drug product accuracy
- Override a computer safety alert independently
Correct answer: Access the prescription filing system to retrieve records
Retrieving and organizing records is typically an administrative function that does not require direct pharmacist supervision.
Question 2: Under federal law, a DEA registration is required for which of the following pharmacy personnel?
- Each individual pharmacist who dispenses controlled substances
- The pharmacy as an entity, not individual pharmacists (Correct answer)
- Every pharmacy technician who handles Schedule II drugs
- Both the PIC and each individual pharmacist employed
Correct answer: The pharmacy as an entity, not individual pharmacists
Under federal law, the DEA registration is issued to the pharmacy (the registrant), not to individual pharmacists or technicians.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of a preceptor in pharmacy education?
- A faculty member who teaches only didactic coursework
- A licensed pharmacist approved to supervise and train pharmacy interns (Correct answer)
- A pharmacist hired exclusively by pharmacy schools to manage rotations
- A board of pharmacy official who evaluates intern performance
Correct answer: A licensed pharmacist approved to supervise and train pharmacy interns
A preceptor is a licensed pharmacist who has been approved by the state board to supervise pharmacy interns during experiential training.
Question 4: A state board of pharmacy receives a complaint that a pharmacist dispensed a prescription with a significant error that harmed a patient. The board's primary purpose in investigating is to:
- Determine financial damages owed to the patient
- Protect the public by assessing whether the pharmacist is competent to practice safely (Correct answer)
- Prosecute the pharmacist criminally for negligence
- Transfer the case immediately to the DEA
Correct answer: Protect the public by assessing whether the pharmacist is competent to practice safely
State boards of pharmacy are regulatory bodies whose primary mission is public protection, not punishment or civil liability.
Question 5: Which examination must be passed in addition to the NAPLEX to obtain a pharmacist license in most US states?
- The USMLE Step 2
- The MPJE or a state-specific pharmacy law exam (Correct answer)
- The NCLEX-RN for pharmacists in hospital settings
- The PTCE if supervising technicians
Correct answer: The MPJE or a state-specific pharmacy law exam
Most states require passage of the MPJE (or an equivalent state law exam) in addition to the NAPLEX for initial pharmacist licensure.
Question 6: A pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) who resigns must notify the state board within what typical timeframe?
- Immediately upon resignation
- Within the timeframe specified by state law, often 10-15 days (Correct answer)
- Only when the replacement PIC is hired
- Within one year of leaving the position
Correct answer: Within the timeframe specified by state law, often 10-15 days
State pharmacy practice acts typically require notification to the board within a specified short timeframe (commonly 10–15 days) when a PIC position changes.
Question 7: Foreign pharmacy graduates seeking licensure in the US must typically obtain evaluation of their credentials through:
- The NABP Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) (Correct answer)
- The FDA's Office of International Programs
- The Joint Commission's international division
- The American Pharmacists Association directly
Correct answer: The NABP Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC)
The NABP FPGEC program evaluates the education and credentials of foreign pharmacy graduates seeking US licensure.
MPJE Licensure and Personnel Roles 3
A pharmacy technician trainee is allowed to perform which of the following tasks without direct pharmacist supervision in most states?