How Is the CPJE Scored?
The California State Board of Pharmacy reports California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination (CPJE) results as a scaled score from 0 to 99. You need a score of 75 to pass, but that doesn’t mean you answered 75% of the questions correctly or that 75% of candidates pass the exam.
Of the 90 multiple-choice questions on the exam, only 75 count toward the score. The other 15 are unscored “pretest” questions the board uses to evaluate future exam content. We recommend that you don’t skip questions because you think they won’t count. Since there’s no penalty for guessing and no way to know which 15 questions are unscored, answer every question.
A passing score of 75 is easy to remember, but understanding what that number represents can help you better interpret your results. Here’s how the scoring process works.
How Are the CPJE Scaled Scores Determined?
Before the exam is administered, the board establishes a minimum competence standard that reflects the clinical and legal knowledge required to practice safely in California. A committee of practicing pharmacists determines where that standard should be. This approach, known as criterion-referenced scoring, measures your performance against that fixed standard rather than against other candidates.
A psychometric consulting firm then translates that standard into a passing score for each version of the CPJE. Since different versions vary slightly in difficulty, the required raw passing score also varies. That raw score is then converted to the scaled 0-99 score you receive, with the passing standard always reported as 75.
Each unique exam form has a raw passing score, which is translated into a scaled passing score. A harder version of the exam gets a lower raw cutoff, while an easier version gets a higher one. But, once converted, a score of 75 means the same thing across the board.
What Are the CPJE Pass Rates?
For the most recent reporting period of April to September 2025, 841 out of 1,492 candidates (56.37%) passed the CPJE.
For comparison, the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX®) pass rate over that same period was 83.44%. There is an evident gap which catches candidates off guard. Many prepare for it like a law exam, and they’re unprepared for the depth of clinical content covered on the exam.
| CPJE Pass Rates: April 2021-September 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | Pass Rate (No.) | Fail Rate (No.) |
| April 2021-September 2021 | 55.9% (1,100) | 44.1% (867) |
| October 2021-April 2022 | 44.7% (737) | 55.3% (912) |
| May 2022-September 2022 | 63.1% (1,065) | 36.9% (624) |
| October 2022-March 2023 | 58.7% (652) | 41.2% (457) |
| April 2023-September 2023 | 62% (1,066) | 38% (652) |
| October 2023-March 2024 | 52.9% (483) | 47.1% (430) |
| April 2024-September 2024 | 66.4% (1,108) | 33.6% (560) |
| October 2024-March 2025 | 51.9% (399) | 48.1% (369) |
| April 2025-September 2025 | 56.4% (841) | 43.6% (651) |
| CPJE Pass Rates by Location: April 2021-September 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | California | Other U.S. States | Foreign | |||
| Pass | Fail | Pass | Fail | Pass | Fail | |
| April 2021-September 2021 | 61.5% | 38.5% | 46.8% | 53.2% | 44.4% | 55.6% |
| October 2021-April 2022 | 44.6% | 55.4% | 44.2% | 55.8% | 47.2% | 52.8% |
| May 2022-September 2022 | 66.8% | 33.2% | 55.5% | 44.5% | 55.1% | 44.9% |
| October 2022-March 2023 | 58.7% | 41.3% | 58.0% | 42.0% | 63.1% | 36.9% |
| April 2023-September 2023 | 63.7% | 36.3% | 59.35% | 40.65% | 58.93% | 41.07% |
| October 2023-March 2024 | 54.1% | 45.9% | 50.3% | 49.7% | 52.3% | 47.7% |
| April 2024-September 2024 | 69.1% | 30.9% | 59.9% | 40.1% | 67.0% | 33.0% |
| October 2024-March 2025 | 51.8% | 48.3% | 51.2% | 48.8% | 57.5% | 42.6% |
| April 2025-September 2025 | 57.7% | 42.3% | 53.3% | 46.7% | 56.6% | 43.4% |
CPJE Pass Rates by California Pharmacy School
If you’re currently enrolled in a California pharmacy program or already graduated from one, here’s how your specific school’s candidates performed on the CPJE in the April 2025 to September 2025 period. These pass rates reflect the candidates who tested during that period, not the quality of a preparation program.
| CA School | Pass | Fail | Total Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University of Health Sciences | 33.3% | 66.7% | 3 |
| Cal Northstate University | 46.9% | 53.1% | 64 |
| California Health Sciences University | 33.3% | 66.7% | 9 |
| Chapman University | 60.7% | 39.3% | 61 |
| Keck Graduate Institute | 39.6% | 60.4% | 53 |
| Loma Linda University | 68.6% | 31.4% | 35 |
| Marshall B. Ketchum University | 45.2% | 54.8% | 31 |
| Touro University | 59.2% | 40.8% | 49 |
| University of California, Irvine | 84.6% | 15.4% | 26 |
| University of California, San Diego | 85.4% | 14.6% | 48 |
| University of California, San Francisco | 51.7% | 48.3% | 120 |
| University of Phoenix | 51.8% | 48.2% | 197 |
| University of Southern California | 73.2% | 26.8% | 142 |
| West Coast University | 42.3% | 57.7% | 52 |
| Western University | 60.0% | 40.0% | 85 |
CPJE Pass Rates: First-Time vs. Repeat Test-Takers
Among California pharmacy school candidates in the most recent reporting period, 64.49% of first-time test-takers passed. 35.51% of candidates retaking the exam passed. The gap between the 2 groups is substantial and consistent across every published reporting period.
| Test-Taker Type (California Schools) | Pass Rate (April-September 2025) |
|---|---|
| First-time | 64.5% |
| Repeat | 35.0% |
Whether this is your first attempt or your third, the number that matters most isn’t the pass rate. It’s how you prepare between now and test day. That’s why students trust the UWorld RxPrep CPJE course. The course manual teaches you the fundamentals, the targeted videos solidify what you learned, the practice questions help you train for the real thing and the practice test assesses if you’re exam ready. All the resources work together to ensure you’re exam-ready.
How to Check Your CPJE Score
The CPJE doesn’t give you a result the moment you finish. Here’s what actually happens after you leave the testing center:
- When you finish, you’ll receive a Candidate Notice of Examination Completion. The receipt confirms you completed the exam. It will include your name, date, location, and a photo.
- The board mails your official score, typically within about 30 days. Your result goes to your address of record with the board. If you’ve moved recently, make sure your address is updated with the board before you test, or your results could be delayed or misdirected.
- Results can take longer than 30 days. The board only releases CPJE results after confirming they’re psychometrically sound, which occasionally adds time to the process. This is a routine quality check, not a sign that anything went wrong with your individual result.
If you haven’t received anything after 90 days, don’t keep waiting. Email the board at intern-examstatus@dca.ca.gov with the file number on your eligibility letter, your full legal name, and the date you took the CPJE.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to get your CPJE score?
How do you check your CPJE score results?
What is the CPJE regrade procedure?
If you failed the CPJE and believe that your results are inaccurate, you can request a regrade from the Board of Pharmacy for $115. You must submit a written request to the board with your name, address, exam date, score, the first 6 digits of your Social Security number (voluntary), birth date, signature, and a check or cashier’s check made out to the “Board of Pharmacy.”
You should receive your regrade within 60 days. If the first result that you did not pass is determined to be accurate, you will need to retake the CPJE.
Can you retake the CPJE if you fail?
Can CPJE scores be transferred?
How long are CPJE results valid for?
What topics are covered on the CPJE, and how are they distributed?
What is the current CPJE pass rate?
Which California pharmacy school has the highest CPJE pass rate?
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Start mastering CPJE content today with this detailed study guide, carefully curated by our team of experts. Creating a solid study plan is the key to success.
