CPJE Eligibility, Registration, and Cost

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 pharmacy school and obtained Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC®) certification.
• Have completed at least 150 semester hours of college credit, 90 of which must be from a pharmacy school.
• 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?

You can apply for the CPJE exam before you graduate, but you cannot take it until you have graduated and received your transcript. The board requires you to send 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.

1. Complete the pharmacist examination for licensure application

   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. You must also include the Pharmacy Intern Hours Affidavit form (17A-29) or Verification of License in Another State form (17A-16), if applicable.

2. Send a passport photo and pay the application fee

   Include a recent passport photo (taken within 60 days of filing) and a non-refundable check or money order for $260 for exams in 2025 and beyond.

3. 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.

4. Complete the examination security acknowledgment form (17A-76 rev 2/2019)

   The security acknowledgment form must be filled out, signed, dated and sent by the applicant within 60 days of submitting the application.

5. Include a self-query report

   You must include a self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) dated within 60 days of filing the application. To request a self-query report, please visit the NPDB’s official website and pay the fee directly to the NPDB.

6. Submit your fingerprints

   California residents must use the live scan service to get their fingerprints taken and 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.

7. Exam accommodations

   You can request exam accommodations if needed. The board must receive accommodation requests 30 days before the scheduled examination.

Other miscellaneous items to consider, if applicable:

• If you served in the U.S. military, please attach a copy of your DD214 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 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.

Read More About the CPJE Exam