4729:1-2-01. Criteria for licensure by examination

(A) Pursuant to sections 4729.07 and 4729.13 of the Revised Code, pharmacist licensure by examination shall consist of the "North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination" (NAPLEX) and the "Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination" (MPJE).

(1) The minimum passing score on each examination is seventy-five.

(a) Any candidate who fails to receive a score of seventy-five on the NAPLEX examination shall make application and remit the fee established by the state board of pharmacy for re-examination.

(b) Any candidate who fails to receive a score of seventy-five on the MPJE jurisprudence examination shall make application and remit the fee established by the state board of pharmacy for re-examination.

(B) A candidate may use the NABP process to transfer the candidate's NAPLEX score to Ohio only after the candidate has met all of the requirements set by the board for examination and licensure in Ohio.

(C) Pursuant to section 4729.08 of the Revised Code, graduates of unapproved schools or colleges of pharmacy located outside the United States who are using an approved examination to establish equivalency of their education shall:

(1) Obtain a score no lower than seventy-five on the "Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE)"; and

(2) Show oral proficiency in English by successful completion of the "Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based test" (TOEFL iBT) pursuant to rule 4729:1-2-04 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Any examination candidate who fails to take both of the required examinations pursuant to paragraph (A) of this rule within twelve months from the date the board receives the application materials shall submit a new application for the required examination or examinations and remit the fee established by the board, as the original application shall be deemed abandoned.

(E) The record of the passing score for an examination candidate who takes both of the required examinations pursuant to paragraph (A) of this rule, but successfully only completes one examination will:

(1) Be maintained up to three years if no more than twelve months has elapsed between attempts to successfully complete the remaining examination.

(2) Not be maintained if more than twelve months has elapsed between attempts to successfully complete the remaining examination. It will then be necessary for the examination candidate to repeat both examinations for Ohio licensure.

(F) Any candidate who has requested to transfer their NAPLEX score to Ohio must take the MPJE within twelve months from the date the candidate completed the NAPLEX examination or the score transfer will be denied.

(G) Pursuant to section 4729.071 of the Revised Code, a candidate must submit electronic or ink fingerprint impressions for a criminal records check prior to receiving an initial license to practice as a pharmacist. An examination candidate must submit fingerprint impressions no later than twelve months after the date the board receives the application materials or the scores obtained on the NAPLEX and/or MPJE will be denied. After twelve months, a candidate must submit a new application, the required fee, fingerprint impressions, and new examination scores.

(H) Candidates shall be limited to a total of five attempts to pass the NAPLEX and the MPJE. The board may grant one additional attempt to pass the NAPLEX and the MPJE in the event of extraordinary circumstances. A candidate that exceeds the limits set forth in this paragraph is no longer eligible to obtain licensure as a pharmacist pursuant to this rule.

Replaces: 4729-5-31

Effective: 9/15/2017
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 09/15/2022
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4729.26, 4776.03
Rule Amplifies: 4729.07, 4729.071, 4729.08, 4729.13, 4776.01, 4776.02, 4776.04
Prior Effective Dates: 2/15/82, 9/1/85, 3/21/88, 7/1/90, 1/26/93, 3/1/94, 9/1/96, 7/1/97, 3/1/99, 2/1/03, 1/1/04, 4/27/07, 1/1/09, 1/1/11