MPJE requirements in North Carolina
North Carolina requires the NAPLEX, a pharmacy law exam and 1,500 hours of practical experience. It has strict attempt rules: fail either exam five times and you’re ineligible for licensure, and once you pass one exam you have two calendar years to pass the other. North Carolina is on NABP’s list of jurisdictions using the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE).
From the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy’s licensure pages and May 2026 Board minutes, plus NABP’s UMPJE list. Checked October 12, 2026. Some Board pages still refer to the “North Carolina MPJE”; confirm which exam to register for with NABP and the Board.
The path for a new graduate
Create an account on the Board's Licensure Gateway and submit the Pharmacist Exam Application. Applications expire one year after submission.
Practical experience earned in North Carolina only counts if you're registered with the Board as a pharmacy intern. Hours certified by your school are accepted.
Register with NABP. NABP confirms your eligibility for North Carolina, which carries an extra NABP fee. Pass both exams, and pass the second within two calendar years of the first.
Already licensed in another state
You must have been originally licensed by examination in the state you’re reciprocating from. If you haven’t practiced for more than two years, the Board adds requirements: from two to five years out, 500 supervised internship hours, continuing education and the state law exam; more than five years out, 1,500 hours, the NAPLEX and the law exam.
Common questions
How many times can I take the exams?
Five attempts at each exam. After that you’re ineligible for licensure in North Carolina.
Is it the UMPJE or the North Carolina MPJE?
North Carolina is on NABP’s Uniform MPJE list, but some Board pages still use the older name. Check with NABP when you register.