APPLYING FOR LICENSURE IN A DIFFERENT STATE

In pharmacy school, one of my professors advised us to make sure we did score transfer when we initially took the NAPLEX if we knew we'd be practicing in another state in the near future. Score transfer up front saves a lot of time, paperwork, and money in the long run.

Boy was he right! Unfortunately, we don't always know what states we will be moving for for jobs, or a spouses relocation, etc...

The NABP license transfer application alone is $395! I know that I did this a few years ago, but I am still in shock this week as I fill out another transfer application. When I moved to North Carolina, the reciprocity fee alone was $600. When you add in the MPJE cost and the fees that some Boards of Pharmacy require to verify your licenses (for each new license, you have to have license verification from all of the other states you have held a license), then you are easily looking at over $1000.

Of course, I will happily pay this to get another license (this makes four states!!). Also, you need a PharmD to navigate the application process 😄.

For all of you new graduates, if you went to school and got a job in (example) Michigan, but your family lives in (example) California and there is any chance that you will be moving back to family, do the score transfer up front to save some time and money in the long run.