Steph and Brandon’s Note: It’s been a while since the two of us have tag teamed on a post (and certainly a while since we’ve written any phenomenal Christmas songs together), but we’re circling the wagons on this one. Team Dyski is BACK! (Or maybe Kujawson? We really should nail down our mash name. It’s been years now.) Anyway, today we’re putting our brains together - virtually of course, COVID-style - to bring you all the info we can muster about succeeding with That Test. The, dare-some-may-call-it, hateful MPJE. While hateful is maybe a bit strong, we get the sentiment. We’ve both taken this exam in multiple states, and, spoiler alert, it doesn’t get any more fun each time. But until the United States realizes that the state-level legal nuances aren’t worth the headaches of mandating 50 different MPJE tests and they all decide to get on the same page about who can write what prescriptions, it’s something we have to do. So we’re going to try and make this a little less painful for all of you. Basically, the tl;dr is that we <3 you.

If you want a printer-friendly copy of this article that you can mark up to your heart’s content, you can get that here.

Pharmacy Law is a horse of a different color…

It first comes up in your third year of pharmacy school. Amongst the sea of pharmacotherapy modules and OSCEs, you see this anomaly of a course: Pharmacy Law.

When it begins, it blows your freakin’ mind. How can so many answers on a multiple-choice exam seem so right?

You’re not even sure where you want to practice or even what kind of pharmacist you want to be yet. Your pharmacy school teaches you the pharmacy laws of the state your school is in…but you don’t know if that’s where you’re going to practice.

Why are you learning law now when you NEED TO MAKE LIFE DECISIONS FIRST??

So you do enough to get through the class. And then you promptly forget about it.

Fast forward to P4 year...

You have a better idea about what kind of pharmacist you’d like to be when you grow up, but you still aren’t really sure about your endpoint. Are you going to go straight into practice? Are you going to do a residency? Where are you going to live?

Again, you have all these life decisions to make. However, sooner or later, you’re going to have to study for the MPJE. Cause, the thing is, you sorta can’t practice pharmacy without passing the law test in your state.

Let’s fast-forward a few years. You’ve been practicing. You’ve got a good thing going. And you decide to move back home closer to family. Or an awesome job opportunity comes up on the other side of the country. Guess who just showed up on your doorstep again? That’s right, your old frenemy, the MPJE.

But don’t worry, tl;dr has got you covered.

In this post, we’ll detail a high-level strategy for studying for the MPJE. Consider it our tl;dr version of an MPJE Study Guide. A collection of tips and tricks we wish we had when we took our MPJEs. This post is a 10,000 foot view of how to approach studying for the MPJE (whatever state you’re studying for).

And if you’re looking for help that’s more specific to your state, we’ve got MPJE Cheat Sheets! Check out our MPJE Resources page to save yourself a lot of time and stress.

You can also check out our guide on How to Study for the CPJE and our guide on How to Study for Multiple Choice Tests.

What is the MPJE?

The MPJE is the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam. This mouthful of words refers to the pharmacy law exam. But rather, more accurately, pharmacy law exams (plural).

As pharmacists, we are spoiled with the NAPLEX. It’s the ONE and ONLY clinical knowledge exam that we have to pass in order to practice pharmacy. Pass it once, and you're set for life…no matter what state you want to practice in. This isn’t the case with the MPJE. You have to take a separate MPJE for each state. And some states (I’m looking at you, Arkansas and California) don’t even use the MPJE. They have their own versions of the pharmacy law test.

Why make this so difficult? Because each state has different pharmacy laws and regulations. They’re similar, to be sure. But they are different enough to warrant a separate exam for every single state.

How Many Questions Are on the MPJE?

The MPJE is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Each state’s version of the test is 120 questions, and the test uses adaptive response technology to choose the next questions based on the correctness of previous responses. So if it feels like the questions get easier at some point, it’s entirely possible that they did…which may mean you missed one earlier. But don’t let that rattle you. (And if you live in Arkansas, throw all of that out the window, because they’re still administering Scantron tests. Be sure to bring a #2 Pencil. How retro).

Only 100 of those 120 questions actually count towards your score. The remaining 20 questions are test test questions that are being evaluated for possible use on future MPJEs. But of course, you don’t know which questions are the ones that don’t count. So if you’re struggling with a particular question, console yourself by answering the best you can and telling yourself it’s probably a test test question. Unfortunately, you can’t skip questions or go back to ones you’ve already answered - you must go in order.

In order to increase your chances of passing, you absolutely need to answer all 120 questions. If you answer fewer than 107, your exam is basically thrown out. No results will be reported. If you answer between 107 and the full 120, you incur a penalty. So make sure you answer all 120! If you’re running out of time, it’s literally better to guess than to leave a question blank. Make sure you get something entered for every question.

How Much Time Do You Have to Take the MPJE?

Speaking of time, you have 2.5 hours to complete the MPJE. And that includes any stretching or potty breaks - the clock doesn’t stop. Doing some basic math, you have 1 minute and 15 seconds to answer each question (150 minutes for the exam / 120 questions). Obviously some questions will take you longer, some will be quicker. But keep that rough number in your head.

Sure, it sounds terrible. But we promise it’s doable. There are a lot of people no smarter than you who have passed the MPJE and are killing it in their pharmacy careers. It may not be fun, but this is a passable exam.

What is a Passing Score for the MPJE?

So what does it mean to pass?

Starting in January 2021, to pass the MPJE just means…to pass. NABP is no longer releasing actual scores or setting a threshold for what passing means. It used to be that a score of 75 was a passing score, but now the MPJE is a pass/fail exam. This is kind of a bummer because it was helpful to know your score so you could evaluate your study efforts. If you work for a mail-order pharmacy, you may have to get licensed in a dozen or more states. You could directly see the results of your MPJE study strategies as you worked through the states, but not any longer.

Even if this is your first reaction to learning you have to get licensed in 12 states to work at the mail order pharmacy, it doesn’t have to actually be you. You can conquer this. (Image) — Even if this is your first reaction to learning you have to get licensed in 12 states to work at the mail order pharmacy, it doesn’t have to *actually* be you. You can conquer this. (Image)

Having an actual score was also nice if you failed the MPJE. If you ended up with a 74, you knew that you were at least in the ballpark. Although frustrating, you at least had the consolation of knowing that with a few studying tweaks you’d pass the next time.

NABP releases statistics for MPJE pass rates for each school of pharmacy. These can be found here for the last 3 years. Generally speaking, most graduates of ACPE-accredited schools have a first attempt pass rate in the 80% range.

There are 2 ways of interpreting this. On the one hand, the vast majority of people pass the MPJE. On the other hand, 1 out of 5 people fail on their first try. But don’t worry, with enough preparation you can make sure you’re on the right side of that statistic.

What if You Fail the MPJE?

Also, notice we said first attempt pass rate. That’s right! If at first you don’t succeed, you can try again! Of course, that’s not what we’re aiming for, but it’s comforting to know there’s a mulligan option. Actually, you can have up to 5 mulligans per board of pharmacy (unless specifically stated otherwise by a particular state), meaning you have a maximum of 5 attempts to pass a state’s MPJE.

How Often Can You Take the MPJE?

For most states, you have to wait at least 30 days between attempts. This may sound useful for studying and feeling prepared, but it can have ramifications for starting residency or a job. You can only delay licensure for so long before your future employer has to cut the cord…

This obviously isn’t ideal, but most employers will give you leeway if you don’t pass the first time. A 1 in 5 fail-rate means that they’ve probably come across this before. It’s very likely, however, that your employers will expect you to pass the second time since they’ve already waited at least a month.

How Much Does the MPJE Cost?

Want another reason to pass on the first attempt? MONEY.

As you learn more about licensure requirements, you start to realize that it is expensive. (You’re going to be excited about getting your first pharmacist paycheck just to pay off the credit card bill for examination and application fees.)

To apply to take the MPJE, there’s a $100 fee per state. That’s just to apply for eligibility to take the test - not the actual test cost. Once you’ve been deemed eligible and can purchase the MPJE exam, the actual test itself is $150 per state.

So, we’re talking $250 per state, and that’s before we include study materials, travel accommodations if needed to get to an approved testing center (usually a Pearson VUE), retests, or score transfer costs to other boards of pharmacy.

Hence, choose wisely when determining which and how many MPJEs to take.

MPJE Registration: What You Need to Know

As we just mentioned, you have to apply to be eligible to purchase the MPJE. It’s not an automatic process. Each board of pharmacy has different requirements for determining eligibility to sit for their exam. Your job is to figure out what is required (and in what order). Most states require an official (sealed) transcript from your school of pharmacy. But before you go dropping money on multiple copies, check with your school’s administrator — many schools send these automatically upon graduation to NABP on your behalf.

In addition to school transcripts to verify your graduation and intern hours, many states have other requirements to determine eligibility. These can include a copy of an official photo ID with signature, a copy of your social security card, a copy of your birth certificate, and possibly a submission to a background check or official fingerprint session. Yes, there is a (usually non-refundable) fee for background checks and fingerprints too. It’s a wonder they don’t want your underwear size!

This witch and Dr. No Pain probably aren’t going to pass those background checks to get licensed. (Image) — This witch and Dr. No Pain *probably* aren’t going to pass those background checks to get licensed. (Image)

But it’s all for a good reason. You are applying to practice pharmacy and impact the lives of the people in their jurisdiction, and they need to make sure you are legitimate and (sorry, but it’s the truth) traceable. This isn’t the Wild West. You can’t be “Dr. No Pain” and set up shop dispensing your home mixed wares while flying under the radar of the law. Because people died back then, and those “pharmacists” responsible ran off to another town without repercussions. The boards of pharmacy just don’t play like that anymore, and it’s understandable.

You also have to schedule your test at an approved testing center. Oftentimes these are places like Pearson VUE testing centers, where they take these tests VERY seriously. If you’ve never been to a site like this, you should visit their website to get a feel for their dos and don’ts. You should also know what to expect on the day of your exam, even down to what type of clothing you may or may not be permitted to wear during your test.

Don’t let this be you for the duration of your MPJE. Research the study center first! (Image)

We can’t emphasize enough to do your research on this before the morning of your exam. You would certainly hate to show up for your MPJE and be wearing the wrong kind of sweatshirt for entry. You wouldn’t want to forfeit your test purchase, but then leaving the sweatshirt in the locker provided could mean freezing your tail off for the 2.5 hours you’re taking the exam. Not good for concentration. And if you bring the wrong type of ID, they won’t let you in at all.

Testing centers may have additional restrictions in place due to COVID, so that makes it extra imperative to check the sites’ requirements ahead of time.

So even if you’re not ready to start studying for the MPJE just yet (LIFE DECISIONS), perusing the board of pharmacy website for your state(s) of interest will give you a head start on collecting everything you need. Digging out a copy of your birth certificate isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. And getting a copy mailed from your parents could take longer than expected with COVID mail these days. Even having access to a copy machine if you’re working remotely could pose extra hurdles!

It’s kind of like doing your taxes. You don’t want to wait until April 14th to start trying to find your W-2, do you?

How to Study for the MPJE

Now we come to the meat and potatoes of this post. But first, a disclaimer. We’re going to give you the best MPJE advice and study tips that we’re aware of. Between the entire tl;dr team, we’ve taken a LOT of states, and we’re quite familiar with what the exam will throw at you. But, this is still a really hard test. There is a lot of rote memorization required. Our MPJE Cheat Sheets can save you days of preparation and stress…but you’ve still got a lot of legwork to do. Keeping that in mind, let’s dive in.

Let’s start with a few ground rules…

MPJE Rule #1 - Don’t freak out

Sure, you may have heard from friends that the MPJE is hard. That one upper-classman you know failed it X number of times…and she’s, like, super smart. If you fail this thing, they’re going to fire you from residency, and you’re going to default on your student loans and you’re going to gain 10 pounds and your teeth will fall out and you’ll go through life never finding love.

Not a productive train of thought, is it? Whether in your preparation or on the actual test, remind yourself that YOU can pass it. The odds are in your favor, and you’re going to do everything in your power to succeed.

MPJE Rule #2 - Accept that you are going to get some random ass questions

No matter how much you study. No matter how prepared you are. You’re going to get questions on your MPJE that will make you scratch your head. You’re going to come across things you didn’t see anywhere in the regulations. Or you’re going to see questions where every answer choice looks identical. Remember, there are test test questions that may be on your MPJE. Maybe it’s one of those, maybe it isn’t. But no matter what, don’t dwell on it and let it ruin the rest of the test (see Rule #1).

Once you’ve internalized those rules, it’s time to assemble your study materials. This process looks different for everyone, so let’s get a detailed breakdown from Steph on her process. She’s taken 3 MPJEs, and she’s used 3 slightly different processes.

For my first and home state, studying for the MJPE meant enrolling and paying for a law review course offered by my school of pharmacy. It was a targeted crunch course in May that reviewed the regulations I had learned the year before in my P3 pharmacy law course. I took boatloads of notes during the class, made flashcards, and spent hours (in clips at a time) flipping cards with friends. No one ever said you couldn’t have fun prepping for the MJPE, and sometimes what or how your friends say something is just what it takes for that law to stick in your brain.
For my second state, it was different. I didn’t have anyone friends taking this MPJE with me, so I was on my own. I checked the state’s board of pharmacy website, found a PDF review packet, and ordered that. I’m pretty sure I read that packet (and when I say “read,” I mean “studied.” I underlined, talked out loud to myself, and took extensive notes) no fewer than 5 times. And it was a couple hundred pages. I also reviewed the FAQ section of the board of pharmacy website, and boy, I was sure glad I did because I recognized several questions sourced from the FAQ that weren’t in my study packet!
For my third state, again, it was a little different. Like the second round, I was on my own studying for this MPJE. But when I searched forums online, I kept seeing a specific review book mentioned. It was essentially a third-party cliff notes for this state’s particular MPJE. Yes, I was a little skeptical about using a third-party resource, and being somewhat type-A (pharmacists, you know), I wasn’t sure it would be sufficient. But I decided to trust the masses, and I read that little book repeatedly. Turns out the masses were spot on. That cliff notes review book, combined with the FAQ section of the board of pharmacy’s website, did the trick. For the first time, I walked out of an MPJE session feeling decent (not good because you will never leave an MPJE test feeling good).
What’s the takeaway from these experiences? Use your resources to find out the most useful study materials. Ask others (or Google) what the best sources are for studying for your state’s exam. You’ll likely find a consensus resource that’s been vetted by a ton of people.

If I (Brandon) have anything to add, it’s to know thyself and what works best for you when studying. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of cheat sheets. I like to organize information in lists/charts and try to find relevant connections between them. But at the same time, I can’t stress enough the importance of actually reading through the law code (at least for some target sections that we’ll mention below). You can pick up a lot of nuances by reading things in context.

I’m also a huge fan of practice questions. They’re the best way to determine if you actually know something or not. And if you come across some good ones, you’ll get a good feel for the style of MPJE questions. If you can find some from your state, I highly encourage it.

What Topics Should You Study for the MPJE?

Sooner or later, you’re going to have to focus your MPJE studying efforts on the areas that give you the most bang for your buck. When it’s the 11th hour and your test is in the next few days, you’ve got to focus on what matters most. Based on our experiences, here’s where you should start.

First and foremost, controlled substance laws are critical knowledge.

A common mistake many MPJE-takers make is to focus too much on memorizing federal controlled substance laws. You’re often taught the Controlled Substances Act in school, so this “feels” totally reasonable. Unfortunately, it’s as likely to help you as it is to hurt you. Many states default to federal controlled substance laws, but many do not. Some states pick and choose which federal laws they adopt, so state law may differ from federal. Memorize the wrong thing, and you’re toast on the MPJE.

So, please, don’t memorize the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) verbatim. But, there is an underlying theme to the questions your MPJE will ask you about controlled substances. There’s a pattern to the type of MPJE questions you’ll get around the CSA.

For example, the amount of time a “thing” is valid. Once written/signed, a CII prescription is valid for 30 days in the state of Texas. But in Kansas, it’s good for 6 months. In another state, it might be 60 days. The specific number may differ, but you can pretty much guarantee that a question about the validity of a CII prescription will show up on your MPJE.

This is the danger of spending too much time learning the federal CSA. It might be “mostly” the same as your state’s MPJE. But it might not be. Also be sure to make special note of “daywalker” drugs like Soma, Gabapentin, and Fioricet, as they have different control schedules in different states.

One last note on this topic, when state law and federal law conflict, go with whichever is more strict.

Learn who can write what kinds of prescriptions.

What types of scripts can you accept from non-medical doctors, like ophthalmologists, veterinarians, etc? And do they have additional restrictions on electronic versus paper prescriptions? Or on the number of refills/day supply they can prescribe? In some states, PAs can’t prescribe controlled substances at all. In others, they have practically the same prescribing rights as an MD. In some states (especially border states), it’s totally fine to accept prescriptions from Canada or Mexico. But can you accept controlled substances? If so, which ones? Make sure you know who can prescribe what in your state.

Be familiar with ALL prescription and labeling requirements for controlled substances and legend drugs.

This sounds easy, but it’s harder than you think. Seriously, right now, list out everything that’s required to go on the label that you put on the 10-dram amber vial you dispense from your pharmacy. We’ll wait here while you list them out…

We take this for granted because our employer’s software does it for us. But Intercom Plus won’t be there for you on the MPJE. You’re going to have to pull it out of your own brain that the phone number of the prescriber (as well as the address of the dispensing pharmacy) must be on the label in a minimum of 10 pt font in your state.

Know your forms and your record-keeping requirements.

It’s safe to say THIS won’t fly with the board for keeping pharmacy files. (Image)

Do CII prescriptions have to be filed and stored separately from CIII-Vs? How long do you have to inform the board of pharmacy of a change in PIC? How long do prescription records need to be kept on-site as opposed to “readily retrievable” within 72 hours of a board of pharmacy request?

Is this fun information to learn? Of course not. But it’s probably going to be on your MPJE in one form or another.

Learn what’s required for counseling patients.

What information must be reviewed by the pharmacist (that’s you) prior to dispensing the drug? What topics must you cover when discussing with a patient? Who are you allowed to counsel if the patient isn’t the one picking up the prescription?

Some states mandate that you cover the cost submitted to the payer (and the copay the patient is responsible for). Other states don’t mention anything at all about counseling requirements.

Know what you DON’T need a prescription for (aka behind the counter drugs).

How much pseudoephedrine can be bought in certain time periods? What if that teenager comes back in 3 days to purchase dextromethorphan again? Can you dispense “insulin” syringes for the patient’s “dog” without a prescription? Can you dispense a certain amount of codeine cough syrup? What about tincture of opium? If so, what are the logging requirements?

Know how pharmacists and technicians obtain and maintain their licensure.

What are the continuing education requirements and renewal processes? How many CEs are required? Do some CEs have to be live? Are there specific topics (law, human trafficking, HIV) that your jurisdiction requires you to complete CE for? Are there different requirements to obtain licensure as a foreign graduate?

And…this may be our most important tip of all…

Get familiar with the FAQ section of the Board of Pharmacy website.

The FAQ section on the BOP website is basically a list of “Frequently Asked MPJE Questions.” It usually includes stuff that board inspectors see violations of or things that are confusing in the written laws. It’s literally the most frequently asked questions posed to the board of pharmacy. And much of the content you’ll find on the FAQ section isn’t strictly covered in the pharmacy rules and regulations for that state. It is very likely that you’ll get several questions on your MPJE that are directly from the FAQ page. Ignore it at your own peril.

This (obviously) is not an all-encompassing list, but it should give you an idea of how to focus your efforts. If you still want more help figuring out what to study, our MPJE Cheat Sheets are the best way to go.

Don’t Rely on Your Practice Experience for MPJE Questions

Wait, what? DON’T use the experience you’ve gained as an intern or as a pharmacist to help solidify your knowledge of the laws? Doesn’t your work experience make pharmacy laws (and therefore, MPJE questions) less foreign and more applicable?

It can, to be sure. But there is a HUGE caveat. Remember that your job/rotation sites may not be 100% in compliance with state law. In fact, they’re probably not. If you’ve been through a few board of pharmacy inspections, you’ll notice they have a way of finding something they’d like you to do differently.

Or, beyond that, your site may do something MORE strict than what state law mandates. This is especially true if you work for a company with pharmacies in multiple states, or if your company maintains certifications from independent crediting bodies (like hospitals getting accredited by The Joint Commission).

An example of this is with hardcopy prescription storage. Some states spell out that CIIs should be filed/stored separately from CIII-CV prescriptions. And THOSE should be separate from non-controlled prescriptions. On the other hand, some states don’t have any requirements at all for how a pharmacy should file hardcopies, as long as they are “readily retrievable.” But, maybe your employer has determined that the easiest way to make a CII hardcopy readily retrievable is to file it separately from everything else. And, as long as this is more strict than state law, the board of pharmacy will think it’s the bee’s knees.

You can repeat this scenario with drug storage (some states want CIIs stored separately and locked up…others don’t care if they are stored alphabetically with every other legend drug in the pharmacy). You can repeat it with a dozen other scenarios too. So, use caution when relying on your work experience for the MPJE. It can help make certain laws click, for sure. But it can also lead to you missing questions if think that an easier workflow process for your employer was state law.

What Kind of Questions Are on the MPJE?

MPJE questions can seem tricky because every answer choice looks correct (or incorrect). It often feels like you’re choosing between 4 equally bad answers. This can be really discouraging.

You’ve studied hard, you’ve memorized the key facts and timeframes, and everything seems 100% straightforward. What could possibly so hard about the MPJE questions that get thrown at you? The problem is that most MPJE questions are scenario-based and “second-order” in nature. You have to know a thing, and then you have to apply that thing to answer the question (kind of like how on the NAPLEX you may have to do several calculations to answer a single calculation question).

On your MPJE, it’s safe to assume you WILL NOT get a straightforward question such as:

“How many CE hours are required for each renewal period?”

Ninety percent of the questions will be written in a scenario format. And it’s up to you to CAREFULLY read the question and interpret what law they are actually testing you on.

For example, let’s say one of the MPJE test questions describes the following scenario:

A patient comes to your pharmacy with a prescription from an optometrist for PredForte eye drops, # 5mL with 11 refills. How many times you can refill this medication?

Well duh, you can fill it for a total of 12 times (1 original with 11 refills), right?

But, be careful. Sure, it seems like they’re asking about length of time a script is valid (and maybe they are). But you also should notice the optometrist clue. Isn’t there something about who can prescribe what types of meds for how many fills? (For most states, there is!). When you look at it through that lens, you may realize that even though the script is written for 11 refills, this particular script is only good for 6 fills total because of who wrote it and what kind of med it is.

And that’s how you can crack the true nature of an MPJE test question.

Now, we’re not telling you to expect a hidden meaning on every single question. Remember, you only have 1 minute and 15 seconds per question, so don’t spend 5 minutes searching for clues.

Don’t make assumptions about MPJE questions or try to infer things that aren’t there.

Our brain has a natural tendency to fill in information that isn’t there. This serves us well when making snap decisions (like if we should run away from the growling sounds coming out of that bush over there). But it’s a terrible nuisance on the MPJE. If information is missing in an MPJE question, it’s missing for a reason. Don’t assume anything, and don’t take the liberty of filling in any gaps.

The MPJE isn’t trying to trick you.

As much as you may be cursing the test writers as you work your way through the questions, they aren’t trying to trick you. They are presenting you with the necessary information to make a real-world decision. As much as possible, they are trying to give you questions that reflect what you’ll be up against in the real world. This is also true if you’re in California and are studying for the CPJE.

But, just as in real life, you need to read the fine print carefully and spot the “problem” with the question, rather than blindly plowing ahead because it seems easy. You’ve used this part of your brain before, guaranteed. You wouldn’t just sign your apartment lease without reading the contract, right? You read it for key information about deposits, penalties, and fees that could come back to bite you at some point down the road. Use your same cynical and observant brain with the MPJE. You have to recognize the types of information that may serve as triggers and memorize those.

Slow the eff down and carefully read each question.

I know we just said you only have a minute-fifteen for each question. But before you submit each of your answers, make sure to scan the question for any terms of polarity. There are a lot of “Which of the following do NOT apply” and “All of the following EXCEPT” questions on the MPJE. The “not” and the “except” are critical words that change the meaning of the question. We’ve taken the liberty of capitalizing them here for you, but the MPJE is not as nice as we are. We know the MPJE is stressful and you’re hurried…but make sure you don’t miss the critical word that changes what the question is asking.

Be prepared for K-Type questions on the MPJE.

When faced with “K-type” questions, in which every combination of answers known to man is an option, it’s best to take a rule out approach rather than a rule in. Meaning, you may not know the right answer to the question, but you know that some of the answers are wrong. Eliminate those options, then see what you’re left with. This is the best way for tackling K-types. By eliminating option 3 as a wrong answer, you might eliminate two other options for “1 & 3” or “2 & 3.” Now you only have 2 remaining options rather than 5, which drastically helps your odds.

Also, be prepared for Select All That Apply questions on the MPJE.

Some of the hardest questions are the “Select all that apply” ones. These are nearly equivalent to open-ended, short-answer questions (but mercifully, you likely won’t have to deal with those on the MPJE). But there are still strategies for dealing with “Select all that apply” questions. Similar to K-type, start by ruling things out. Eliminate the answer choices that you know DON’T apply. Then read the remaining choices carefully. Sometimes there is a single word variation that separates one answer choice from another. Frequently, those variations are the key to whether or not the statement is correct.

Take practice tests if you can afford them.

If you’re still not feeling confident, consider forking out the $75 to take the NABP’s MPJE Practice Exam. It’s a shorter version of the exam that uses older questions from past years. Unfortunately, the specifics of the practice test won’t apply to the state MPJE you’re studying for. But, you can at least get some exposure for what to expect format and question-wise. Just being familiar with the system can reduce some of the stress you feel on test day.

How Long Should You Study for the MPJE?

We’ve already harped on the fact that there is a LOT of memorization involved when studying for the MPJE. So it only makes sense that there’s no single right answer here. It’s different for everyone. Again, the best answer is to know yourself and to know what usually works best for you. Consider how much time you put in as a first year student to learn brand/generic, drug classes, or medical terminology. Got a number in mind? And that stuff was at least kind of interesting, right? Unfortunately, pharmacy law isn’t very interesting…so you’ll probably need longer to study for the MPJE than you needed for the “fun” stuff in pharmacy school.

In our opinion, most people who fail the MPJE (at least the first time) don’t give it the time and respect it deserves.

We’re so amped up for the NAPLEX that we treat the MPJE as an afterthought. It’s not fun to study for, and it “feels” like it will be a straightforward exam. But it’s not (I hope we’ve demonstrated that to you by now). Don’t try to cram for the MPJE. Set aside ample study time every day, and don’t assume you can knock this out in 2 or 3 days. Law code is dense, and it isn’t exactly a beach read.

You want us to give you an actual number? Give yourself at least 2 weeks to study for the MPJE, and that’s if you’re cramming. If you’re not the cramming type, we’d suggest 3 or 4 weeks (if you go much longer than that, you run the risk of forgetting the stuff you studied early on).

MPJE Preparation - Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this post gives you some tips and tricks for getting ready to tackle the MPJE. If we can emphasize anything, it’s to not underestimate the time needed to study pharmacy law, even as you’re simultaneously getting ready for the NAPLEX.

It’s ok to feel nervous about the MPJE. It requires a different part of your brain than the NAPLEX, and you may not have much practice parsing through legalese. Also remember, even though the majority of people pass the MPJE, there is no shame in failing a time or two. A lot of really great pharmacists have failed the MPJE, and it’s a non-issue for their careers. They still go on to do great things and a failed MPJE isn’t even a blip in their rockstar pharmacist careers.

At the same time, YOU have what it takes to pass this beast of an exam the first time through. You’ve read this article, you’ve used our cheat sheets, you’ve taken practice exams, and you’re ready to roar. Study so hard that you leave nothing to chance. Be ready for anything they can throw at you, and you’ll walk out of your test center triumphant.

That was a ton of info, we know. If you’d like a downloadable and printer-friendly copy of this article, you can get one here. Print it, take notes on it, spill coffee on it, you do you :)

How to Study for the MPJE (and Pass on Your First Try)