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Key takeaways
Pharmacists seeking to practice in multiple states can transfer their licenses through the NAPLEX score transfer program for new graduates or license reciprocity for already licensed pharmacists.
The NAPLEX score transfer program, facilitated by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), allows pharmacists to transfer their exam scores to other states for a fee of $75 per state. Scores are typically valid for one to two years.
License reciprocity involves a state recognizing a pharmacist’s license from another state, requiring the pharmacist to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and fulfill any additional state-specific requirements.
Transferring a pharmacist license includes checking the target state’s board of pharmacy requirements, passing the state’s MPJE, completing any necessary documents or fees, and meeting with the state’s board of pharmacy. The NABP charges a licensure transfer application fee of $375.
Your opportunities as a pharmacist are unlimited. Pharmacists have boundless opportunities to practice in a variety of workplaces, including hospitals and community pharmacies. Pharmacists also have the flexibility to choose where they want to work, even if it means relocating to a different state. Whether you’re a newly graduated pharmacist or a seasoned pharmacist, you’ll want to be aware about how to transfer your pharmacist license to another state if you’re considering employment in multiple states.
How do I transfer my pharmacist license to another state?
There are two ways to get a pharmacist license in multiple states:
New graduates from pharmacy school should go through the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) score transfer program. Pharmacists who are already licensed should apply for license reciprocity in their desired state(s).
Score transfer
You can transfer your NAPLEX score to additional states where you want to practice in through the NAPLEX score transfer program. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) facilitates this process and currently charges an administrative fee of $75 per state you wish to transfer to. It may cost you more to transfer your pharmacist license later on through reciprocity, so it makes sense to take advantage of this process now if you think you might work across multiple states. NAPLEX scores are usually valid for one to two years, so you’ll have ample time to figure out if you really want to practice in the other states.
All states participate in NABP’s NAPLEX score transfer program. Before transferring your scores to a particular state, you should check the requirements of that state’s board of pharmacy. Every state’s board of pharmacy may differ in their requirements, board fees, and other information.
You can opt to transfer your NAPLEX scores in two ways.
1. After purchasing and before taking the NAPLEX.
Once you are permitted to purchase the NAPLEX, you can purchase a score transfer to any states that you wish to practice in. You can purchase score transfers any time before taking the exam by logging in to your e-Profile. You can receive a refund for the score transfers if you cancel your exam application.
2. Any time within 89 days after taking the NAPLEX.
You can log in to your e-Profile and purchase score transfers after you take the NAPLEX. You’ll have 89 days to purchase score transfers. The NABP recommends that you don’t wait until the last minute to buy a score transfer; otherwise, the option to buy a score transfer might disappear. You won’t receive a refund for purchasing a score transfer any time after you take the NAPLEX.
License reciprocity
You can transfer your pharmacist license if you already have an existing license in one state. Through license reciprocity, a state must recognize your pharmacist license from the state in which you obtained initial licensure. You’ll just have to pass that state’s Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and fulfill any requirements they have.
The NABP currently facilitates licensure transfer for most states through the Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP). The NABP will verify that you satisfy the requirements for the states where you want to transfer your pharmacist license. You can view each state’s restrictions and requirements for licensure transfer here. The process is typically carried out as follows.
- Go to the board’s website of the state where you want to transfer your license to. Check the requirements for that particular state and see if you need to pay any fees or complete any documents.
- Check with the board’s transfer process and see if they require that you apply for licensure transfer or pass the state’s MPJE first.
- Apply for licensure transfer and then pass the MPJE or pass the MPJE and then apply for licensure transfer.
- Fulfill any additional requirements from the state’s board of pharmacy to complete the licensure transfer process. Additional requirements may include meeting with the state’s board and completing a criminal background check.
The licensure transfer application fee requested by the NABP is $375 as of this article’s publish date. You’ll have to pay $75 for each additional state you want to transfer your pharmacist license to.
Unfortunately, you won’t receive a refund for canceling your licensure transfer application with the NABP. You also won’t receive a refund if the state board of pharmacy rejects your licensure transfer application due to failing to meet their requirements.
The bottom line
There’s a host of reasons that you might want to transfer your pharmacist license. If you’re living on the border of two states and work at a pharmacy chain, for example, it might be beneficial to have a pharmacist license in both states in order to work at multiple locations of that pharmacy chain. You might want to transfer your license for personal reasons, such as moving to be closer to friends or family—or a better job opportunity. Whatever the reason, many pharmacists choose to work in different states.