Graduating Pharmacist

[blueclassring]

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When can I sign up for the NAPLEX/CPJE? I graduate in June.

 

[iPLEDGE]

That is kinda late. If you have to send in the application yourself, then it takes a month to 2 months before they will approve it. After that, you need to find a date that is available. I am guessing you will probably take it in August. Last year if you take it in August, the board held up your score for 2 months so they can do their quality assurance.

 

[Apteka]

That is kinda late. If you have to send in the application yourself, then it takes a month to 2 months before they will approve it. After that, you need to find a date that is available. I am guessing you will probably take it in August. Last year if you take it in August, the board held up your score for 2 months so they can do their quality assurance.

For people who graduated in May, the earliest I have seen license post is the end of June... which was if you jumped to take the exam asap.
You could, ideally, take it the beginning of July and be licensed by end of July.... BUT, keep in mind the delay that the CA Board is experiencing right now (what with the budget and all,) so I would imagine it would be August or so for you. Hopefully sooner, but realistically speaking, my money would be on Mid-August.

Also, to take the exam ASAP takes a bit of due diligence on your part.. making sure your name matches your soc sec card, choosing the right exam dates/location through PSI and Pearsonvue, etc.

keep us posted on how it goes!

As for QA.. ugh... if the Board tries to do this with 2 less work days a month, it would be a very ugly situation.

 

[stevephhs016]

So if I am graduating in May, I should jump on getting the whole process started then? Signing up for Naplex etc..?

 

[pharmacychick01]

So if I am graduating in May, I should jump on getting the whole process started then? Signing up for Naplex etc..?

You can sign up for the NAPLEX once your state board of pharmacy has determined that you are eligible to sit for the test and has notified NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy). You are then issued an 'authorization to test,' at which point you can schedule the test.

So what you can do right now is figure out if your school is holding an information session regarding steps to take for licensure. Also, I know my school has given us the licensure application already to fill out for our state board of pharmacy (what we submit so that the board can determine our eligibility). In addition, make sure your ducks are all in a row in terms of intern hours, grades (no incompletes, etc), and anything else that might pertain to your situation.

 

[stybbs]

I heard that CA state board will only accept maximum of 600 hrs from school rotations... does anyone know if this is true? (i'm from out of state)

 

[237630]

Hi,

I went to school in PA and this is how it worked for me:
CA Board needs 1500 hours
PA Board accepted 750 hours from my school rotations
I had to transfer PA hours (750 from rotations) to CA Board
So what I did was work during summers in CA and had 800 hours totaled working in CA in summer...
PA hours 750
CA hours 800
TOTAL 1550 hours

If you worked during school, outside CA..transfer those hours as well.
Hope that helped! Gluck!!
P.S.
Make sure you keep a copy of ALL the forms you send to CA Board, especially the ones that have your total hours on them. The CA Board lossed my hours and gave me someone else's hours and my file was all messed up and delayed everything! 🙁

 

[Allure]

This is a bit early for me to be asking this question now. But I plan to do a residency and I don't plan to take the Naplex for the state which I go to school. I will graduate the second week of May and if I match, then I will probably start my residency the first week of July. I will be done with all my rotations the third week of April. I plan to be in Asia for a month between after graduation and before I start my residency. How soon can I take the Naplex? Does it depend on the school as to when they send in my hours or does it depend on the state board. Does it take longer to get the hours approved if I tried to take the Naplex in a different state? Can I call the state board and ask them politely to process my application faster? I know that every school is different and every state is different. But I'm just trying to get the general idea as to how soon I can take the exam because I do have to buy the ticket a few months in advance.

 

[kdt110]

I heard that CA state board will only accept maximum of 600 hrs from school rotations... does anyone know if this is true? (i'm from out of state)

That is true. You must earn the rest of your hours either working in retail or hospital. The CA board does not accept hours worked in industry.

 

[stybbs]

Thank you for your answers.
I have a follow up question. So i worked in CA during summers and the form to record "intern hours" says it requires a separate form for each site worked at. I floated all over southern CA (>9 stores!) so do they really expect me to drive back to each of the stores and get the preceptors' signatures?? or since they were all chain stores, could I just get one form signed by the intern coordinator?

 

[kdt110]

get the preceptors' signatures?? or since they were all chain stores, could I just get one form signed by the intern coordinator?

Just get it from the intern coordinator, as long as she's a registered pharmacist in CA. If you have any paperwork to show her the hours you have worked then it would be easier for her to sign you off.