2.1 Pharmacist Licensure, the NAPLEX & Utah MPJE, and Licensure by Endorsement
Key Takeaways
A Utah pharmacist applicant must graduate from an ACPE-accredited program (or obtain FPGEC certification), complete the required internship, pass a criminal background check, and pass the NAPLEX and Utah MPJE (Utah Code § 58-17b-303).
The NAPLEX and Utah MPJE must be passed within five years of graduation, at the passing standard set by NABP (R156-17b-303c).
After three failures of a required exam, a Utah applicant must meet with the board to request up to two more attempts; after five failures, the applicant must complete another education program.
Licensure by endorsement requires a current license in good standing elsewhere, at least 2,000 hours of licensed practice in the four years before applying, and a passing Utah MPJE.
The MPJE has 120 questions (100 scored) in 2.5 hours, is reported only as pass or fail, and may be retaken no sooner than 30 days after a failure.
2.1 Pharmacist Licensure, the NAPLEX & Utah MPJE, and Licensure by Endorsement
The MPJE blueprint (Area 1) tests qualifications, examinations, internships, and license transfer. In Utah these requirements are in Utah Code § 58-17b-303 and R156-17b-303a through 303d.
Requirements for licensure by examination (§ 58-17b-303(1))
An applicant must:
- apply on a DOPL form and pay the fee;
- consent to and complete a criminal background check under § 58-1-301.5 and disclose any criminal history DOPL requests;
- have no physical or mental condition that prevents safe practice;
- have graduated with a professional entry degree from a school or college of pharmacy accredited by ACPE;
- complete an internship that meets DOPL rules; and
- pass the examinations required by rule.
When DOPL considers denying a license based only on a criminal conviction, it must give individualized consideration: whether the conviction substantially relates to safe practice, the applicant's age at the time, time elapsed, completion of the sentence, treatment, and evidence of rehabilitation (§ 58-1-401(7)). An applicant may be asked to meet with the board to evaluate qualifications (R156-17b-303d).
Foreign pharmacy graduates
A foreign-educated graduate must obtain FPGEC certification from NABP's Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (R156-17b-303a(1)) and pass the FPGEC examination (R156-17b-303c(7)), in addition to the other requirements.
Internship hours (R156-17b-303b)
| Applicant | Internship requirement |
|---|---|
| U.S. pharmacy graduate | At least 1,740 hours obtained according to ACPE's Standards 2016 (satisfied through the PharmD experiential curriculum) |
| Foreign pharmacy graduate | At least 1,440 hours of supervised practice in the United States; DOPL, with the board, may credit up to 500 hours for other experience substantially related to pharmacy |
The examinations (R156-17b-303c)
- Pass the NAPLEX and the Utah MPJE, each at the passing score set by NABP.
- Pass them within five years of graduation from the pharmacy program.
- Three failures of a required exam: the applicant must meet with the board to request authorization for up to two additional attempts and complete any additional training the board requires.
- Five failures: the applicant must complete another education program that meets § 58-17b-303(1)(e) before being authorized to test again.
These Utah limits sit on top of NABP policy. NABP allows at most five MPJE attempts per jurisdiction unless a board determines otherwise.
What the MPJE looks like (NABP Candidate Application Bulletin)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 selected-response questions (100 scored, 20 unscored pretest), 2.5 hours; the appointment is 3 hours |
| Format | Computer-adaptive; questions cannot be skipped or revisited; no scheduled breaks |
| Result | Reported as Pass or Fail only, not a scaled score. At least 107 questions must be answered for a result to be reported, and unanswered questions reduce the result. |
| Retakes | Wait 30 days after a failed attempt; reapply and pay the fees again |
| Blueprint | Area 1 Licensure/Personnel 22%; Area 2 Pharmacist Practice 33%; Area 3 Dispensing Requirements 24%; Area 4 Pharmacy Operations 21% (the Competency Statements apply until a new content outline takes effect March 1, 2027) |
| Utah fees | NABP eligibility application $100, Utah eligibility processing fee $85 (NABP confirms eligibility for Utah), MPJE purchase $170 |
NABP stresses that the exam makes no distinction between federal and state questions. You answer each question under the law that governs pharmacy practice in Utah. Utah also takes part in NABP's early MPJE program: an eligible final-year student at a participating Utah college may take the MPJE once before graduation if the degree-conferral date is more than six months away.
Temporary pharmacist license (R156-17b-304)
DOPL may issue a temporary license to someone who meets every requirement except passing the exams, if the person:
- graduated from an ACPE-accredited school within the two months before applying, is enrolled in a residency or fellowship, or is licensed in good standing in another state or territory;
- has applied for full licensure except for the exams;
- has a job in Utah, conditional on the temporary license, under the direct, on-site supervision of a pharmacist with an active, non-temporary Utah license that includes a controlled substance license; and
- has registered for the exams.
The temporary license ends at the earliest of six months, notice that the person has failed either exam three times, or issuance of the full license. It cannot be renewed but may be extended up to six months.
Licensure by endorsement (§ 58-17b-303(3))
A pharmacist licensed elsewhere may be licensed by endorsement after:
- applying, paying the fee, and completing the background check;
- showing no disqualifying physical or mental condition;
- having lawfully practiced as a licensed pharmacist at least 2,000 hours in the four years immediately before applying;
- showing completion of the required professional education;
- holding a current license in good standing in another U.S. state, territory, or possession;
- showing that the exam requirements where the license was issued were equal to Utah's at the time; and
- passing the Utah MPJE (R156-17b-303c(2)). The NAPLEX is not repeated.
The same three-failure and five-failure rules apply to endorsement applicants.
Exam traps
- "A score of 75 is required." The MPJE is reported as pass/fail, at NABP's passing standard.
- "2,000 hours in the past two years." The endorsement requirement is 2,000 hours in the past four years.
- "Remediation after three failures." Utah requires meeting with the board, which may authorize up to two more attempts. After five failures, the applicant must complete a new education program.
A pharmacist who has practiced in Idaho for the last four years (about 7,000 hours) applies for a Utah license by endorsement. Which combination of requirements applies?
Completing 1,740 internship hours under a Utah preceptor and passing the Utah MPJE
Retaking both the NAPLEX and the Utah MPJE and completing 500 Utah internship hours
Only a letter of good standing from Idaho and payment of the licensing fee
A current license in good standing, at least 2,000 hours of licensed practice in the four years before applying, a criminal background check, and a passing Utah MPJE
A Utah applicant has failed the Utah MPJE three times. Under R156-17b-303c, what must happen before another attempt?
The applicant must wait one full year and then may test without limit
The applicant must meet with the board to request authorization for up to two additional attempts and complete any additional training the board requires
The applicant must retake and pass the NAPLEX before retesting on the MPJE
The applicant must complete another pharmacy degree program before any further attempt
How does NABP report a candidate's result on the Utah MPJE?
As pass or fail only, with no scaled score
As a percentage correct on the 100 scored questions
As a percentile rank compared with other Utah candidates
As a scaled score, with 75 needed to pass
A foreign-educated pharmacist with FPGEC certification is completing U.S. internship hours for Utah licensure. What internship requirement applies?
At least 2,000 hours of U.S. practice within the preceding four years
The same 1,740 hours required of U.S. graduates, all obtained in Utah
At least 1,440 hours of supervised pharmacy practice in the United States, with up to 500 hours creditable for other substantially related experience
No internship, because FPGEC certification replaces it
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.