Licensing in multiple states?

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kitkat06

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Hi there,

I am interested in attending a pharmacy program that is not in my home state. I have heard that it is possible to practice in states away from your place of Pharm.D education, and that you can practice in multiple states. I can see the advantage of this if one lives close to neighboring states. However, how will this work if I were to obtain a Pharm.D degree in a state far from my current state of residence? Would I need to go back to this particular state a few times a year (or whatever the frequency) to fulfill my needed hours, to maintain my status in that state? I feel silly for asking this, but if I don't return to this state for whatever reason, do I lose my authority as a pharmacist? After getting licensure in your state of pharmacy education, how do you go about getting the license/hours/credentials needed for another state? Do you start as an intern in this new state, even though you have a Pharm.D already in another, in order to fulfill the needed hours? I guess I am not understanding the purpose of the multistate licensing exam (?) if extra practicing hours are required to have the licensure transfer to take place. Correct me if I am wrong, but I would imagine the situation to be slightly easier if one is still a pharmacy student. One way would be to work in some pharmacy setting and accumulate the required licensure hours during the summers?

Outside of the VA system and in academia (I think), are there states that one can't practice in unless one received a degree from a pharmacy program in that state? I know that most states don't allow licensure transfers for pharmacists with degrees earned from California. Is it the same scenario in the opposite direction?

Thanks 🙂

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Multiple state licensure happens all the time. I think all states use the NAPLEX and 43 states use the MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam). The rest have their own exam. So the NAPLEX/MPJE combination would make a pharmacist eligible for license in most states. To my knowledge there are no requirements that an applicant attend a pharmacy school in that state.

Specific information

Even the intern pharmacist license transfers. One of my classmates is working as an intern in California.
 
I think what you're referring to is reciprocity, which is now not as applicable now that all states use the NAPLEX.

You can expect to take the jurisprudence exam in each state you want to become licensed in. It is actually easier to become licensed in another state if you're already licensed in your schooling state since each state has its own intern requirements, some of which are not logical nor makes sense to other states. If you're a licensed pharmacist in one state, you can apply for licensure in another state....you just have to pass that jurisprudence examination, which in CA is difficult (if you fail 4 times - which is not uncommon for out of state students, the only way to become licensed is to take a semester worth of classes at a school of pharmacy).

You'll also have to maintain whatever continuing education requirements for each state you want to maintain licensure. So, it can become expensive to maintain licensure in multiple states.

The state you obtain your education in is not applicable. It just must be from an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy.

Many years ago, if you weren't licensed in CA, you had to pass the CA State Board exam which included the law exam. That was before the NAPLEX was rewritten. That was when the juriprudence exam became not just law but clinically relevant information.

Your best bet is to look into the state you are interested in being licensed in for details.
 
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When I registered for the NAPLEX, I could pay $75 per state to have my scores transferred. Since I'm in Florida, I chose Georgia. I don't see myself moving any further north than that. When I'm done with the Florida law exam, I'll worry about studying for Georgia specific stuff. Like SDN said, you'll need to keep up your CEs for each state, so make sure you might really want to practice in that state.
 
If one were a community, staff or clinical pharmacist, it is clear that this individual would need to take CE courses should he/she chooses to practice in different/multiple states. However, would you need to do the same if you were a research pharmacist doing bench research? I would imagine that you would have to take CE credits for anything translational. Or is it more so that in order to say you are a pharmacist, you have to continue with the CE courses, no matter the nature of your job? Would you need to do the same anyway if you were to stay in the state of pharmacy schooling (oh, I don't know, as a regulation to keep practicing pharmacists informed of the field)?

Thanks for the responses I have received so far 🙂
 
You'll also have to maintain whatever continuing education requirements for each state you want to maintain licensure. So, it can become expensive to maintain licensure in multiple states.
I realize that each state has slightly different CE requirements, but can you sometimes use the more general CEs for more than 1 state? And then focus in on those unique requirements for each state?
 
If one were a community, staff or clinical pharmacist, it is clear that this individual would need to take CE courses should he/she chooses to practice in different/multiple states. However, would you need to do the same if you were a research pharmacist doing bench research? I would imagine that you would have to take CE credits for anything translational. Or is it more so that in order to say you are a pharmacist, you have to continue with the CE courses, no matter the nature of your job? Would you need to do the same anyway if you were to stay in the state of pharmacy schooling (oh, I don't know, as a regulation to keep practicing pharmacists informed of the field)?

Thanks for the responses I have received so far 🙂

As long as you want to stay licensed as a pharmacist in whatever state you're in - it doesn't matter what area you want to function in - whether you actually use your license or not - you must take the CE to stay active.

For example....I know of a pharmacist who is 85 years old who keeps an active license. He does not want to go inactive in CA because to reactivate an inactive license in my state, you must retake the jurisprudence examination & get 30 new CE credits. But - the guy hasn't worked in 23 years.

So - why does he maintain the active license???? He says he's proud of it & it took him a long time to get & once a pharmacist, always a pharmacist.

I don't know if I'd still feel that way....but there you go.

However, specifically....if you're doing bench research, unless you're functioning as a PIC & needing to order drugs, etc... you wouldn't need an active license.


Just be sure you know what it takes to reactivate it.
 
I realize that each state has slightly different CE requirements, but can you sometimes use the more general CEs for more than 1 state? And then focus in on those unique requirements for each state?

I'm pretty sure every state recognizes an ACPE provider of CE.

However, some states may require some specifics - a certain number of hours in law, malpractice, cpr, etc...they'll still be ACPE providers which will work in every state which recognizes them.
 
Multiple state licensure happens all the time. I think all states use the NAPLEX and 43 states use the MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam). The rest have their own exam. So the NAPLEX/MPJE combination would make a pharmacist eligible for license in most states. To my knowledge there are no requirements that an applicant attend a pharmacy school in that state.

Specific information

Even the intern pharmacist license transfers. One of my classmates is working as an intern in California.

Does this mean that if you want to get licensed in 3 states and they all use the MPJE you only have to take the exam ONE time?

Does Texas, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina all use the MPJE? If so does that mean I only have to take ONE exam for them all?

I most likely will just pick ONE STATE to get licensed in like a normal person, but I am just wondering about this. This post makes it sound like if your states all use the MPJE that you only have to take one exam to get licensed in multiple states. Is this true?

Thanks. 🙂
 
Does this mean that if you want to get licensed in 3 states and they all use the MPJE you only have to take the exam ONE time?

Does Texas, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina all use the MPJE? If so does that mean I only have to take ONE exam for them all?

I most likely will just pick ONE STATE to get licensed in like a normal person, but I am just wondering about this. This post makes it sound like if your states all use the MPJE that you only have to take one exam to get licensed in multiple states. Is this true?

Thanks. 🙂

They all use MPJE, but each MPJE is individualized for that particular state, so you have to take all the different states' MPJEs.

The only exception I've seen is Ohio. Their board's website says that you don't need to take MPJE when transferring a license.
 
They all use MPJE, but each MPJE is individualized for that particular state, so you have to take all the different states' MPJEs.

The only exception I've seen is Ohio. Their board's website says that you don't need to take MPJE when transferring a license.

Thanks a lot for the response. I already pre-order RxPrep 2013. I am going to order Reiss & Hall, Guide to Federal Pharmacy Law for the law exam.

Is this enough to cover GA, TX, Fl, and SC or do I need to buy a different book for each state? If so can you give me the links to all the books of each state? lol...

I don't like reading the law off the website I prefer buying the books for everything.

Lastly, I know the Naplex is taken in June.

If I decided to take the law exam for each of these states when will I do that? July? August?

This sounds like a HUGE pain in the ass. 🙄 Maybe I should just get licensed in ONE state and save myself from all this crap!
 
Thanks a lot for the response. I already pre-order RxPrep 2013. I am going to order Reiss & Hall, Guide to Federal Pharmacy Law for the law exam.

Is this enough to cover GA, TX, Fl, and SC or do I need to buy a different book for each state? If so can you give me the links to all the books of each state? lol...

I don't like reading the law off the website I prefer buying the books for everything.

Lastly, I know the Naplex is taken in June.

If I decided to take the law exam for each of these states when will I do that? July? August?

This sounds like a HUGE pain in the ass. 🙄 Maybe I should just get licensed in ONE state and save myself from all this crap!

Yeah just get a job offer first and get license in the state where you get your job. If you don't get an offer before April or so, just apply for a license in your home state or whatever state you're most likely to find a job in. You can also do a score transfer after your NAPLEX. That means that your score will go to whatever states you pay money ($75/state) to send it to, and you'll be able to apply for those licenses at a later date.

As far as law books, I have no clue what states have what law books. Each state has its own material though. I'm licensed in PA, and only know where to get PA law stuff. I'll get another license depending on where they'll hire me after residency. As far as timing of the exams, it's whenever you want after you get your authorization to test.
 
Yeah just get a job offer first and get license in the state where you get your job. If you don't get an offer before April or so, just apply for a license in your home state or whatever state you're most likely to find a job in. You can also do a score transfer after your NAPLEX. That means that your score will go to whatever states you pay money ($75/state) to send it to, and you'll be able to apply for those licenses at a later date.

As far as law books, I have no clue what states have what law books. Each state has its own material though. I'm licensed in PA, and only know where to get PA law stuff. I'll get another license depending on where they'll hire me after residency. As far as timing of the exams, it's whenever you want after you get your authorization to test.

I got a job offer in Texas from Walgreens. The location isn't ideal but the money is good.

I got another job offer in Georgia from Publix. They want me to work as their intern ASAP if they think I am good they want to hire me as a floater. They want me to float anywhere in North Georgia to South Carolina! They want me to get licensed in BOTH states GA and SC!!!! 🙄 I don't know if this job is good or not b/c I prefer having a homestore right away. They told me my homestore could end up in SC or GA. No promises.

I am thinking about getting licensed in Florida b/c I always wanted to do mail order and there are no mail orders in GA or SC. Plus I like the HOT weather and going to the beach everyday is like my favorite hobby. I always wanted to work for ExpressScripts in Florida.

So I have NO idea what I want to do. I accepted both offers as of right now but not sure what I want to do.

When should you apply for a license? I already applied for Texas but not the others yet.

Do you sign up for the Naplex and Law exam at the same time?

I really want to only apply for ONE state but not sure what job I want to do. LOL...
 
When should you apply for a license? I already applied for Texas but not the others yet.

Do you sign up for the Naplex and Law exam at the same time?

I really want to only apply for ONE state but not sure what job I want to do. LOL...

Most states don't let you apply until shortly before graduation, though I hear that some states do. I would apply as soon as you're allowed, since some states take forever to process paperwork. You will receive what's called an "authorization to test" shortly after graduation (or not so shortly if your state is slow). When you receive that, you will be able to select NAPLEX and MPJE dates depending on what's available. I submitted my application for PA licensure in early April, got my ATT in mid-June, took my NAPLEX in late June and my MPJE in late July, and was licensed by early August.
 
I got a job offer in Texas from Walgreens. The location isn't ideal but the money is good.

I got another job offer in Georgia from Publix. They want me to work as their intern ASAP if they think I am good they want to hire me as a floater. They want me to float anywhere in North Georgia to South Carolina! They want me to get licensed in BOTH states GA and SC!!!! 🙄 I don't know if this job is good or not b/c I prefer having a homestore right away. They told me my homestore could end up in SC or GA. No promises.

I am thinking about getting licensed in Florida b/c I always wanted to do mail order and there are no mail orders in GA or SC. Plus I like the HOT weather and going to the beach everyday is like my favorite hobby. I always wanted to work for ExpressScripts in Florida.

So I have NO idea what I want to do. I accepted both offers as of right now but not sure what I want to do.

When should you apply for a license? I already applied for Texas but not the others yet.

Do you sign up for the Naplex and Law exam at the same time?

I really want to only apply for ONE state but not sure what job I want to do. LOL...

Have you started working for Publix as an intern yet?
 
^^ move to california!

I heard the law exam is impossible to pass there and I know for a fact it's saturated too just ask any UCSF students looking for a job in SF LOL.....so yeah....

Most states don't let you apply until shortly before graduation, though I hear that some states do. I would apply as soon as you're allowed, since some states take forever to process paperwork. You will receive what's called an "authorization to test" shortly after graduation (or not so shortly if your state is slow). When you receive that, you will be able to select NAPLEX and MPJE dates depending on what's available. I submitted my application for PA licensure in early April, got my ATT in mid-June, took my NAPLEX in late June and my MPJE in late July, and was licensed by early August.

Thanks!!! I am still not sure what states I want to be licensed in.

Have you started working for Publix as an intern yet?

I have not. They told me I can start anytime I want. I told them the earliest I can is in March since I will not be done with rotations until then.
 
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Anyone here actually think I should be licensed in ALL these states? or just pick one?
 
Anyone here actually think I should be licensed in ALL these states? or just pick one?

Pick your top 2.

Get licensed in GA & TX. FL sounds good too. Those are places I see SHC living at for the long run. good luck
 
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