CPJE Eligibility, Registration, and Cost
To be licensed as a pharmacist in the state of California, you must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) and the California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination (CPJE). The CPJE is a 2-hour exam consisting of 90-multiple choice, computer-based questions. Only 75 of the 90 questions count toward your score; the remaining 15 are experimental questions that are evaluated for future exams. However, every question should be answered as there is no way to determine which questions are pretest. To take the CPJE, you need to make sure that you meet all of the requirements set by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Read further to learn more about CPJE registration, exam costs, and the application process.
CPJE Eligibility
California pharmacist license candidates must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have graduated from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited college of pharmacy or a pharmacy school recognized by the Board, or graduated from a foreign school of pharmacy and obtained Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC®) certification.
- Have completed at least 150 semester hours of collegiate credit, 90 of which must be from a school of pharmacy.
- Have completed at least 1,500 hours of pharmacy practice experience as an intern or have worked as a licensed pharmacist in another state for one year for a minimum of 900 hours.
You will have one year to sit for the exam from the date you receive your eligibility letter.
CPJE Registration
After you meet the CPJE eligibility criteria, the next step is to register for the exam.
When can I apply for the CPJE?
Even though you can apply for the CPJE exam before you graduate, you cannot take the exam until you have graduated and received your transcript. The Board requires that you send in an official transcript from your school that shows the graduation date and degree conferral date.
How to register for the CPJE
Once you are deemed eligible to take the exam, the California State Board of Pharmacy will notify you and the exam administrator, PSI Exams Online. Then you will need to schedule an appointment to take the exam. To sign up for your exam, please visit the California State Board of Pharmacy website.
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Complete the pharmacist examination for licensure application (17A-1 rev 1/2021)
Send the Board a filled-out and signed CPJE application form. The Board will then process and validate the information you submitted. If you are missing any necessary information, the Board will send you a deficiency notice. You must submit the missing information within a year; failure to do so will invalidate your application.
Include Pharmacy Intern Hours Affidavit form (17A-29) or Verification of License in Another State form (17A-16), if applicable.
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Send a passport photo and pay the application fee
Include a new (taken within 60 days of filing) passport photo and a non-refundable check or money order for $285 to the California State Board of Pharmacy in your application.
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Request your official college of pharmacy or school of pharmacy transcript
If you are a graduate of an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, request that an official transcript be sent to the Board. Foreign graduates must submit a copy of their FPGEC certificate to the Board.
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Complete the examination security acknowledgment form (17A-76 rev 2/2019)
This form must be filled out, signed, and dated by the applicant within 60 days of submitting the application and sent in with the application.
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Include a self-query report
You must include a self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) which must be dated within 60 days of filing the application. To request a self-query report, please visit NPDB’s official website and pay the fee directly to NPDB.
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Submit your fingerprints
California residents must use the live scan service to get their fingerprints taken and then submit them with their application. Non-residents of California should use rolled fingerprint cards supplied by the California Board of Pharmacy. You can request fingerprint cards through the Board’s online service.
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Exam accommodations
If needed, you can request exam accommodations. Accommodation requests must be received by the Board 30 days before the scheduled examination.
Other miscellaneous items to consider, if applicable:
- If you have ever served in the US military, please attach a copy of your DD214 along with the application.
- The board will expedite applications from refugees who were given asylum with a special immigrant visa or under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
- If you are a pharmacist and hold a license in another state, you will need to request a licensure transfer application with NABP.
Once your CPJE exam application is submitted and you have met all the requirements, the Board will mail you your eligibility letter to take the exam. When you receive your eligibility letter, you can register for the exam on the PSI website. Please follow the preferred steps below to schedule with PSI.
- Log onto PSI’s official website and select the link associated with CPJE
- Complete the registration form and submit all of your information
- Pay the required fee
- Select your desired exam date and location
Upon completion of your registration, you can schedule your exam date and location.
How long will it take to process my application?
The Board can take up to 30 days to process your application. You will be notified if your application is incomplete. Please contact the Board about your application status if you have not received any status on your application in 45 days.
Can I cancel my CPJE registration?
Yes, you can cancel your application, but the application fee you paid will not be refunded. To reapply, you will have to complete the entire application again.
How to reschedule your exam appointment
You can cancel and reschedule your exam appointment with PSI if you wish, at least two days before the exam is scheduled to happen. However, if you miss your exam date, you will not be allowed to take the examination as scheduled and will have to register again.
How Much Does the CPJE Cost?
| CPJE Exam Cost | |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $285.00 |
| Exam Fee | $33.55 |
| Processing Fee | $49.00 |
| Total Fees | $367.55 |
When you add up all of the costs related to the CPJE application and examination, the total can be pricey, so your goal should be to pass it on the first try. Take advantage of our UWorld RxPrep CPJE Study Guide to help organize your study schedule and pass the exam the first time.
