Effective Strategies and Resources to Pass the MPJE

Along with the NAPLEX, the MPJE is one of the licensing exams that pharmacists must pass. It is a 2.5-hour law exam and has a total of 120 computer-based questions. I decided to take the MPJE first. However, you can also take the NAPLEX first. Many different factors can affect this choice including personal preference and testing center availability. Although the MPJE exam can be challenging, you will likely spend less time studying for it than the NAPLEX. I recommend scheduling both exams as far in advance as possible. Check out my other blog post on the NAPLEX here. I strongly recommend reviewing the NABP competency statements for both the NAPLEX and MPJE.

Although the MPJE is shorter in length, it has a lower pass rate. In 2020, the national pass rate for all pharmacy graduates was around 80%. But, it might be lower for some universities. If you would like to look up the specific pass rate for your university, click here. There are likely many reasons for the lower pass rate. For example, the law is not as emphasized as the clinical aspects of pharmacy. Personally, it was not one of my favorite classes. If you struggled in your law course, you might need to devote more time to studying. Regardless, it’s still a good idea to have a solid grasp of the law. I recommend studying for at least 2-3 weeks, depending on your prior knowledge.

The MPJE places emphasis on state law, but can also test federal law. It is important to review both. You should study not only to pass the MPJE, but also because you will need to know the information as a pharmacist. Of course, laws can always change. However, understanding the law will increase your confidence and ability to apply it. As you study, try to think about how the concepts may apply to real-life scenarios. Take special notice of any laws relating to your expected work setting or role. For example, if you hope to become a pharmacy supervisor and/or owner, make sure you understand the required responsibilities. Also, it can be helpful to make note of specific continuing education requirements and topics for your state. Not all states require the completion of continuing education credits prior to the first license renewal. Keep in mind that these and other requirements may be updated after the exam. After you become licensed, it’s a good idea to check your state’s Board of Pharmacy website to ensure accuracy.

MPJE Study Strategies for State Law

You can access pharmacy regulations from your state’s Board of Pharmacy website for free. This is the most comprehensive reference to use for studying. However, the laws are long and can be intimidating to read in full. I used other resources as well (see below). It is generally best to give yourself plenty of time to review and interpret them. If you do so, I recommend making flashcards and/or a study guide for later reference.

I found it helpful to rephrase the laws in the form of a question, and then answer it. For example, how long does the pharmacy need to keep documents for scheduled drugs? This way, it’s much simpler to review without needing to re-read the original laws. It can also be convenient to study using flashcards on your phone. If you prefer this approach, check out my IGTV to see my five favorite phone applications.

Another strategy is to check if your university or another one in the state offers a law review or Continuing Education (CE) course for the MPJE exam. A law professor or another qualified individual is often the instructor. MPJE reviews may also be available through other pharmacy organizations in your state. Of course, you can also review any law notes that you may have. Keep in mind that your notes from school may not be completely up-to-date.

RxPrep

Luckily, my university provided RxPrep to all students. I found their federal law summary book to be helpful for studying. Like their NAPLEX book, it is informative and organized into separate chapters. These include pharmacy laws and regulations, pharmacy operations, pharmacy practice, compounding, controlled substance laws, and over-the-counter products. If you prefer, you can watch the MPJE review videos as well. You can buy state-specific flashcards from RxPrep as well. I found the cards to be concise, simple to understand, and accurate.

Additional MPJE Resources

  • tl;dr pharmacy offers state-specific pre-filled MPJE Cheat Sheets. These can be a useful summary and study resource, especially if you would like to see all the information presented by sub-topics. You can purchase them here.
  • Although this is optional, I like to study by quizzing myself. This is a good strategy for active learning and identifying gaps in your knowledge. This testing format is similar to the actual MPJE. Although it is not NABP approved, Pharmacy Exam is an online website that provides state-specific MPJE quizzes. It is updated monthly to ensure that all the information stays up-to-date. The quizzes are available for purchase here.
  • The resources I mentioned are the ones I have found to be helpful. If you would like to see more, Pharmacy Times has complied a list of federal and state-specific resources. Click here to check it out.

Controlled Substances and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Sale Restrictions

Although RxPrep does include detailed information on federal law, I recommend looking over additional resources as well. Although they are not controlled substances, you should be familiar with OTC sale restrictions for dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine-containing products. Some states prohibit OTC sales of dextromethorphan to minors under the age of 18. Most, but not all, states require the submission of pseudoephedrine sale information to the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx). There are also federal recordkeeping and maximum quantity limits for pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. However, laws regarding the OTC sale of Schedule V controlled substances such as cough syrups with codeine may vary depending on the state.

You should review and understand both federal and state laws. Note any specific differences between them. For example, benzodiazepines are treated as Schedule II controlled substances in New York.

The following topics relating to controlled substances and opioid dependence may differ by state:

  • Mandatory electronic prescribing
  • Drug schedules
  • Inventory/recordkeeping requirements for controlled substances
  • Transfering of controlled substance prescriptions (not allowed in NY)
  • Partial filling and refilling
  • Validity of prescription containing controlled substance and another non-controlled medication (only one medication is allowed per prescription in NY)
  • Emergency filling of Schedule II controlled substances
  • Emergency refilling of Schedule III-V controlled substances
  • Allowable changes on prescriptions (both upon consulation with prescriber and without)
  • Expiration dates of prescriptions
  • Sequential filling of multiple Schedule II prescriptions
  • Reporting requirements to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
  • Standing orders related to dispensing naloxone without a prescription
  • Prescribing and dispensing controlled substances for detoxification and/or maintenance treatment
  • Medical cannabis and hemp-derived CBD (dispensing and other requirements)
  • Prescribing authority for various mid-level practitioners (view state-specific summary tables here)

I have listed a few resources below that may be helpful for studying:

Miscellenous and Other Important Topics

Although the above resources are comprehensive, there are certain topics that you may need to look into further. There have been many recent updates related to areas of pharmacy practice. Although the list is not exhaustive, you may find it useful to review. Some of these topics may not be addressed or may differ by state.

  • Laws relating to pharmacy technicians and interns (scope of practice, certification, and registration requirements)
  • Standing orders for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines
  • Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)
  • Immunization (review reporting requirements to your state’s Immunization Registry and the Vaccine Adverse Events Electronic Reporting System)
  • “Dispense as Written” laws (prescriber must indicate by handwriting, signing line, checking, and/or initialing box on prescription)
  • Laws related to emergency dispensing of insulin, glucagon, and diabetic devices
  • Laws related to administration of long-acting injectables such as antipsychotics
  • Laws allowing pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives
  • Laws related to drug substitution including for specific conditions such as epilepsy
  • Translation services for limited-English proficient patients
  • Conscience clauses
  • Prescribing privileges for nurse midwives and other advanced practice registered nurses
  • Scope of practice and prescribing privileges for optometrists (including for topicals, oral medications, oral steroids, and controlled substances)
  • Laws relating to various settings and/or pharmacy classes (such as community, long-term care facilities, hospitals)
  • Meaning of refill PRN (only once in NY)

Good luck! 🙂 Let me know if you used any other resources or have additional suggestions in the comments!