MPJE requirements in Illinois
Illinois licenses pharmacists through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You need to pass the NAPLEX and show you know Illinois pharmacy law. That has meant the Illinois MPJE, but IDFPR now also offers the Illinois Pharmacist Readiness and Orientation Program (ILPRO) as an alternative to it.
From IDFPR’s pharmacy licensing page and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1330.330. Checked October 12, 2026. The ILPRO route is new, so confirm current details with IDFPR before you choose.
The two routes for Illinois law
| Route | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois MPJE | NABP’s state-specific law exam | Register with NABP alongside the NAPLEX |
| ILPRO | An Illinois readiness and orientation program created under Public Act 104-0461, accepted instead of the MPJE | IDFPR asks applicants choosing ILPRO to tell its testing contractor, Continental Testing Services, that they want to waive the Illinois MPJE |
The path
Use IDFPR's online pharmacist application. IDFPR raised its new application fees in January 2026, so check the current fee.
Register with NABP for the NAPLEX.
Either pass the Illinois MPJE or complete ILPRO, following IDFPR's instructions for the waiver.
If you fail
Under Illinois rules, if you fail the NAPLEX or the MPJE three times in any jurisdiction, you must show proof of remedial education in an approved program before trying again, and again after each further three failures.
Common questions
Do I still have to take the Illinois MPJE?
Not necessarily. IDFPR now accepts ILPRO instead of the Illinois MPJE. Check IDFPR’s current notice for how to use that route.
Does Illinois use the Uniform MPJE?
No. Illinois uses its own state version of the MPJE, not the Uniform MPJE, as of NABP’s list.