Informal Comment Period for Certain Regulations
The informal comment period is open from
August 21 - September 11, 2025 for the following COMAR sections
Title 10 MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Subtitle 34 BOARD OF PHARMACY
Chapter 02 Examination for Licensure and Professional Experience Programs
Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§12-205 and 12-302, Annotated Code of Maryland
.01 Scope.
This chapter applies to:
A. Applicants for licensure as a pharmacist; and
B. Internship programs for student pharmacists for which credit may be allowed toward licensure.
.02 Definitions.
A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) "Board" means the State Board of Pharmacy.
(2) “Foreign school or college of pharmacy" means a school or college of pharmacy that is not located in any state of the United States.
(3) [(2)] "Licensure examinations" means the Board-administered or Board-approved examinations required of applicants for licensure which include the following:
(a) Exam I: North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX);
(b) Exam II: Pharmacy Law Test
(i) (A) the Uniform Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (UMPJE); and
(B) the Maryland Pharmacy Law webinar and post-webinar test; or
(ii) the Maryland Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
(c) Exam III [Exam II]:
(i) Prescreening Test of Oral English Competency; or
(ii) Test of Oral English Competency.
.03 Licensure Examinations.
A. .Eligibility.
(1) An applicant may be approved by the Board to take Exam I upon satisfactory proof that the applicant has graduated, or is expected to graduate at the completion of the immediate semester, from a school or college of pharmacy that has been:
(a) Approved by the Board; or
(b) Accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
(2) Beginning May 2027, an applicant may be approved by the Board to take Exam II upon satisfactory proof that the applicant has graduated from, or has successfully completed the didactic portion of the core curriculum of, a school or college of pharmacy that has been:
(a) Approved by the Board; or
(b) Accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
B. An applicant may not receive a license until the applicant has:
(1) Obtained passing scores on Exam I, Exam II and Exam III, as applicable; and
(2) Provided satisfactory proof to the Board of the applicant's graduation from a college or school of pharmacy approved by the Board or accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
C. Passing Scores – Exam I and Exam II.
(1) The passing score for Exam I is 75.
(2) The passing score for Exam II is:
(a) For the MPJE is 75;
(b) For the UMPJE is 75; and
(c) For the Maryland Law webinar and post-webinar exam is 85 which includes:
(i) Unlimited attempts to pass the exam in one sitting provided that the applicant reviews the webinar after each failed attempt on the exam; and
(ii) No fee associated with the webinar and post-webinar exam.
(3) If a candidate receives a passing score on Exam I or Exam II, the candidate is not required to retake that Exam unless the passing score was received more than 2 years before the date the candidate successfully completed all of the other examination requirements set forth in this chapter.
D. Passing Score – Exam III.
(1) – (3) (text unchanged)
E. Graduates of a Foreign School or College of Pharmacy.
(1) In addition to the other examination requirements set forth in this regulation, an applicant who has graduated from a foreign school or college of pharmacy shall:
(a) Be approved to take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE); and
(b) Obtain the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Education Committee (FPGEC) Certificate.
(2) The passing score for the FPGEE is 75.
(3) Upon successful completion of the FPGEE and submission of the FPGE Certificate, an applicant may be approved to take Exam I and Exam II.
.04 Internship Program or Training Required.
(text unchanged)
.05 Partial or Non-Pharmacy School-Supervised Program of Internship.
(text unchanged)
Please email your comments to:
Deena Speights-Napata, MA.
Executive Director
Maryland Board of Pharmacy
[email protected]
The comments will be reviewed by the board and considered for incorporation in the regulation if appropriate.
The format comment period will begin when the regulations are sent to the Department of Regulations Office of Policy Coordination and accepted for posting in the Maryland Register.
Comments can be submitted during the informal and formal process.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Deena Speights-Napata, M.A.
Executive Director
Maryland Board of Pharmacy
[email protected]
