If you’re looking to hire a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician for your business, you may be wondering about the state boards for pharmacies. Each state has specific requirements for the licensing of pharmacists, and neither a pharmacist or pharmacy technician can work without a license.
Before you hire someone to work as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, you must find out if the applicant has a license. If an applicant doesn't have a license from the state board of pharmacies, you may have to help him pass any certification exams in order to get a license. It's also helpfule to know about state pharmacy regulations so you can assess your employees. Here are the things you're most concerned about regarding the state boards of pharmacy.
1. Finding out whether a potential employee has gone through a pharmacy licensing board
2. Knowing how to help a pharmacist applicant get a license
3. Providing help for a pharmacy technician seeking a license
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Look up a pharmacy license and state pharmacy regulations
If you employ a pharmacist, you'll need to know more about your state's pharmacy regulations and laws so you can assess your employee. And if you're ready to hire a pharmacist, you need to find out if he has a license to work in your state.
I recommend: The
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) allows you to download a free demo of NABPLAW, which lists each state’s pharmacy laws and regulations. Just click on NABP LAW from the left-hand menu. You can also find a list of websites for pharmacy boards by state. To look up whether your pharmacist has a license for the state you work in, go to
Health Guide USA.
Help a potential employee get licensed by your state's pharmacy licensing board
Each state has specific requirements for the licensing of pharmacists. Some states require a certain number of hours as an intern, while others require the passing of various tests such as the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) or the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
I recommend: Help potential employees pass the NAPLEX test with
Test Prep Review, where you can get sample NAPLEX questions. You can also purchase a Guide to Federal Pharmacy Law, 5th Edition at
Apothecary Press. This book can assist candidates preparing for pharmacy law examinations in all states.
Assist your pharmacy technician in getting licensed by a pharmacy licensing board
Just like pharmacists, pharmacy technicians must also have a license from the state board of pharmacy for the state they work in. And just like for pharmacists, requirements vary, but many states require the passing of a test such as Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT). If your state doesn't require the passing of the tests, you may want your employees certified for liability reasons.
I recommend: For a practice test for the PTCE, go to
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. If you're looking for a practice test for the ExCPT, try the
Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT).
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- If a potential employee has just moved from another state, he will have to get re-licensed for the current state and go through the state pharmaceutical boards.
The official source of State Boards of Pharmacy is
the State Boards of Pharmacy page at Business.com
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