Educational and experience training
ACPE Graduate – Original License: Applicants for a pharmacist license must be at least 18 years of age; and hold a baccalaureate or doctorate degree in pharmacy from a school or college or pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Official transcripts sent directly from the school or college or pharmacy must show documentation of the degree earned.
- Applicants who have graduated after January 1, 1999 will provide documentation of 1,500 experiential hours, a combination of inter-professional education (IPE - 300 hours) and advanced pharmacy practice experience curriculum (APPE).
- The state board or accredited school or college of pharmacy certifies all experiential hours with exception to IPE hours completed by Washington state pharmacy students.
- Washington students will use the following forms to report at a minimum 300 Introductory pharmacy professional experiential (IPPE) hours to the department. To fulfill any internship requirements, hours of experience must be earned under the supervision of a certified preceptor and reported using forms provided by the department.
- Internship Site and Preceptor Notification
- Intern Site Evaluation Report
- Preceptor Evaluation and Certification of Experience
Foreign-Trained: Applicants whose academic training and education in pharmacy is from an institution in a foreign county must provide a copy of their certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) and their Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) score, and documentation of a passing score for the test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL iBT). Note, the FPGEC certificate program includes a review of the applicant’s foreign education and license or registration, the FPGEE, and TOEFL iBT.
- An applicant must earn 1,500 intern hours under the supervision of a pharmacist preceptor. Based on the applicant’s FPGEE score, the licensing authority has waived a portion of the 1,500 internship hours.
| Score |
Number of Intern Hours Required |
| 75-90 |
1,500 hours – 1,200 |
| 91-105 |
1,000 hours – 800 hours must be earn before taking required examinations |
| 106-120 |
500 hours – hours must be earn before taking required examinations |
| Over 120 |
300 hours – hours must be earn before taking required examinations |
Reciprocity/ License Transfer: Applicants seeking a pharmacist license by reciprocity or license transfer must hold an active pharmacist license in his or her original state of licensure by examination (NAPLEX). Note, the licensed used to transfer to Washington isn't required to be maintained after the Washington pharmacist license is issued.
Note, all non-English documents must be translated before sending copies to the department.
Examinations
Applicants must take and pass the following examinations administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP):
- North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)
- Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE)
Applicants applying through score transfer program (NAPLEX) must provide an official NABP application. The NABP application is valid for one year from the date the application is received by the department.
Applicants apply for license reciprocity or license transfer must take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) following the eLT – electronic license transfer program with NABP. Applicants must complete the licensing process within two years of their official NABP application.
- Applicants for license by reciprocity or license transfer who
- Applicants for license by reciprocity or license transfer who have been out of the active practice of pharmacy for over five years must take and pass the full board examination and serve an internship of 300 hours.
State license verification
Applicants must list all states where they do or did hold credentials. This list must also include when the applicant has applied for a credential, even if a credential was not granted. The jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed must complete and submit the verification form (PDF). The jurisdiction must send the completed form directly to the department.
Personal data questions
Applicants must answer personal data questions. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If a case is pending, applicant must indicate status.
Additional information/documents required
HIV/AIDS training – Applicants must complete seven hours of HIV/AIDS education and training for licensee. A signed attestation must be completed on the application
- Note, a graduate of an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy is deemed to have met the minimum seven hours of education and training on the prevention, transmission, and treatment of AIDS as part of the doctorate of pharmacy program.
Process for approving/denying applications
We finish final review for approval after a credentialing specialist verifies that the application is fully complete, and complies with requirements in chapter 18.64 RCW, chapter 246-863 WAC and chapter 246-861 WAC.We complete background checks and make sure applicants have submitted required fees. Credentialing supervisors and lead workers have the authority to approve routine applications. The disciplining authority may conduct further review if the credentialing supervisor can’t verify the applicant meets all requirements. We’ll formally notify applicants of a denial. Those applicants may request a hearing to appeal the decision.
Renewal requirements
Pharmacists must renew their license every year. Credentials will expire on the credential holder’s birthday and may be renewed within 90 days of the expiration date. Pharmacists must attest to completing the required 15 hours of continuing education during the current renewal cycle.
Effective January 2017 all licensed pharmacists must complete a one-time suicide prevention and awareness training from the Department of Health’s model list. The training must be at least three hours and include assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means. Many courses are designated specific for pharmacists; however the six-hour courses are also acceptable. For more information see RCW 43.70.442, and WAC 246-861-105.
A courtesy renewal notice will be mailed to licensee’s address of record. You must keep your address current. Renewals mailed to the department must be postmarked on or before the expiration date to avoid having the license expire and accrue a late penalty.
Continuing education requirements
Pharmacists must complete 15 hours or 1.5 CEUs of continuing education during each renewal cycle. Approved CE includes continuing education accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or approved by licensing authority by request.
Continuing education hours are waived for applicants whose first license renewal was issued less than 12 months after graduating from a commission-approved accredited school or college of pharmacy.
Beginning January 2017, a licensed pharmacist or active retired pharmacist must complete a one-time continuing education course on suicide awareness and prevention training during the first full renewal cycle after January 1, 2017.
Expired license reactivation requirements
Less than one renewal cycle
- Pay late penalty and current renewal fee.
Expired three year or less
- File an application for reactivation.
- Verification of active practice.
- Pay a late penalty; current renewal fee; and reactivation fee.
- Provide documentation meeting the requirements of continuing education for the prior two years.
Expired three years or more with verification of active pharmacy practice in another U.S. jurisdiction
- Take and pass the jurisprudence examination (MPJE).
- File an application for reactivation.
- Verification of active practice.
- Pay a late penalty; current renewal fee; and reactivation fee.
- Provide documentation meeting the requirements of continuing education for the prior two years.
Expired between three and five years and the applicant has not been in active pharmacy practice in another U.S. jurisdiction.
- Either serve an internship of 300 hours or take and pass such further written practical examinations as specified by the board in each individual case.
- Take and pass the jurisprudence examination (MPJE).
- File an application for reactivation.
- Pay a late penalty; current renewal fee; and reactivation fee.
- Provide documentation meeting the requirements of continuing education for the prior two years.
Expired five years or more and the applicant has not been in active pharmacy practice in another U.S. jurisdiction.
- Serve an internship of 300 hours.
- Take and pass the full boards (NAPLEX).
- Take and pass the jurisprudence examination (MPJE).
- File an application for reactivation.
- Pay a late penalty; current renewal fee; and reactivation fee.
- Provide documentation meeting the requirements of continuing education for the prior two years.