NABP MPJE Cheat Sheet

Licensure and Personnel

22% of exam
DEA Registration Basics Personnel and POA Score and Retake Rules MPJE vs UMPJE

Pharmacist Practice

33% of exam
CSA Schedules Controlled Rx Elements Refills and Quantity Limits OBRA-90 and HIPAA Blueprint Weights

Dispensing Requirements

24% of exam
Partial Fills and Transfers OTC Limits and Packaging Labeling and Validity Partial Fill Days

Pharmacy Operations

21% of exam
DEA Forms Quick Map Records and Inventory Security, Compounding, Supply Which DEA Form?

Quick Facts

Exam MPJE
Body NABP
Items 120 (100 scored)
Time 2.5 hours
Format Adaptive, Pearson VUE
Result Pass/Fail only
Minimum answered 107 items
Largest area Pharmacist Practice 33%
Blueprint Through Feb 28, 2027
Retake 30 days, five max
Fees $100 application + $170 exam
Scope Federal plus jurisdiction law

MPJE vs UMPJE LI

MPJE

State-specific law exam
Used since 1998
Separate attempt per jurisdiction

UMPJE

Uniform common-principles exam
Launched 2026
13 boards adopted
State-specific vs uniform exam

Federal or State Rule? LI

Federal and state conflict → Apply the stricter rule ( Satisfy both )
Pharmacist-in-charge duties → State law ( No federal PIC )
Technician ratios → State law
PMP query requirement → State law ( Not federal )
CV refill cap → State law ( No federal cap )
Record retention beyond two → State law ( Federal floor 2 years )
Immunization authority → State law
DEA form or schedule → Federal law ( Uniform nationwide )

DEA Registration Basics LI

Registrant Pharmacy, not pharmacist
Pharmacist role Agent of the registrant
Pharmacy term Three-year cycle
Manufacturer term Annual renewal
Scope One per business location 1301.12
Storage-only warehouse Exempt from separate registration
Transfer of registration Never transferable
Address change Free modification, number kept
Expired registration No controlled handling allowed
Prefix A/B/F/G Hospital, pharmacy, practitioner, teaching
Prefix M Mid-level practitioner
Check digit Odd sum plus twice evens
X-waiver Retired; CIII authority suffices

Personnel and POA LI

Power of attorney Signs Form 222 orders
POA signer Same as registration signer
POA filing Kept onsite, never mailed
Non-pharmacist POA Permitted
POA revocation Any time, in writing
Pharmacist-in-charge State creation, not federal
Technician ratios State law only
Employee screening Felony drug inquiry, 5 years 1301.90
Diversion reporting Encouraged, not mandated

Score and Retake Rules LI

Result reporting Pass or Fail only
Scaled score None since 2021
Minimum answered 107 of 120
Under 107 answered No result reported
107 to 119 Penalty per unanswered item
Skipping items Not possible; adaptive
Retake wait 30 days
Attempt cap Five per jurisdiction
Score portability None between jurisdictions
Failing report Competency-area breakdown given

Blueprint Weights PR

33 Practice, 24 Dispensing, 22 Licensure, 21 Operations
Pharmacist Practice 33% Dispensing Requirements 24% Licensure/Personnel 22% Pharmacy Operations 21%

CII vs CIII-CV Refills PR

CII

No refills ever
Separate 90-day prescriptions
Emergency oral needs 7-day cover

CIII-CV

Five refills maximum
Six months from issue
CV has no federal cap
CII never refills; others limited

CSA Schedules PR

CI No accepted medical use
CI examples Heroin, LSD
CII Oxycodone, fentanyl, amphetamine
CIII Buprenorphine, ketamine, anabolic steroids
CIV Benzodiazepines, tramadol, zolpidem
CV Pregabalin, low-dose codeine syrup
CI test Lack of accepted use
Methadone for OUD Certified treatment program only

OBRA-90 Trio PR

ProDUR, offer to counsel, patient records
Prospective DUR Offer, not counseling Patient medication records Effective 1993

Agent vs Prescriber PR

Agent

May prepare prescription
May transmit prescription
Never signs it

Prescriber

Signs manually
Holds DEA registration
Owns prescribing responsibility
Agents transmit; prescribers sign

Controlled Rx Elements PR

Date of issue Required 1306.05
Patient name Full name required
Patient address Required on controlled prescriptions
Drug detail Name, strength, form, quantity
Directions Explicit, not as-directed
Prescriber DEA number Required
Prescriber identity Name and address
Signature Manual, on issue date
Agent limits May prepare, never sign
Legitimate purpose Usual course of practice 1306.04
EPCS authentication Two of three factors
EPCS printing Cannot print then sign

Refills and Quantity Limits PR

CII refills Never permitted 1306.12
CII 90-day supply Multiple separate prescriptions
Do-not-fill-before Earliest fill date noted
CIII-CIV refills Five refills, six months 1306.22
Six-month clock Starts at date written
CV refills As authorized, no federal cap
Emergency oral CII Emergency-period quantity only 1306.11
Emergency cover script Signed writing within 7 days
Cover script missing Notify DEA field office
Pharmacist CII changes Consult prescriber, document agreement
Never changeable Patient name, drug, signature

OBRA-90 and HIPAA PR

OBRA-90 effective January 1, 1993
OBRA-90 lever Medicaid funding condition
Three duties ProDUR, offer, patient records
Federal duty Offer to counsel
Counseling elements Eight content items
Not an element Price
Refusal handling Document patient response
HIPAA TPO Treatment, payment, operations
Minimum necessary Not for treatment disclosures
Breach notice 60 days from discovery
Breach of 500 HHS and media notice
Small breaches Annual log to HHS

Partial Fill Days DI

72 hours, 30 days, 60 days
72 hours: stock shortage 30 days: requested partial 60 days: LTCF or terminal

Transfer vs Initial-Fill Forward DI

Transfer

Refill information moves
Schedules III-V
One time only

Forward

Unfilled prescription moves
Electronic CII-CV
Patient request, before dispensing
Refills transfer; unfilled forwards

Can This CII Be Partial-Filled? DI

Stock short today → Fill available quantity ( Remainder 72 hours )
Not supplied in 72 hours → Notify prescriber ( New prescription needed )
Patient requests partial → Partial allowed ( 30 days total )
Prescriber requests partial → Partial allowed ( 30 days total )
Long-term-care resident → Partial allowed ( 60 days )
Documented terminal illness → Partial allowed ( 60 days )
Schedule III-V prescription → Partial allowed ( Six-month limit )
Total exceeds quantity prescribed → Not allowed ( Hard cap )

Partial Fills and Transfers DI

CII stock shortage Remainder within 72 hours 1306.13
After 72 hours Notify prescriber; balance void
CARA partial fill 30 days from issue
Who may request Patient or prescriber
LTCF resident 60 days from issue
Terminal illness 60 days, documented
CIII-CV partial Recorded like a refill 1306.23
Partial total Never exceeds quantity prescribed
CIII-CV transfer One time only 1306.25
Shared live database Remaining refills transferable
Transfer parties Pharmacist to pharmacist
CII transfer Electronic, initial fill only
Transfer records Both pharmacies, 2 years

CV OTC Limits DI

Opium 240 mL, other 120 mL, 48 hours
Opium 240 mL Opium 48 dosage units Other CV 120 mL Other CV 24 units Purchaser 18+

Misbranding vs Adulteration DI

Misbranded

Labeling defect
Missing Rx-only legend
Dispensed without valid prescription

Adulterated

Product defect
Contamination or wrong strength
Insanitary conditions
Label vs product

How Do I Handle This Transfer? DI

CIII-CV refills remain → One transfer only ( Pharmacist to pharmacist )
Shared real-time database → Transfer remaining refills ( Exception )
CII electronic, never dispensed → One forward allowed ( Initial fill )
CII paper or oral → No transfer ( Electronic only )
CII already partly dispensed → No transfer ( Window closed )
Printing the electronic script → Not allowed ( Must stay electronic )
Recording the transfer → Both pharmacies retain ( 2 years )
Non-controlled prescription → State law governs ( Varies widely )

OTC Limits and Packaging DI

CMEA daily limit 3.6 g base
CMEA 30-day limit 9 g base
CMEA mail order 7.5 g per 30 days
CMEA storage Behind counter or locked
CMEA logbook Retained 2 years
CMEA ID Photo identification required
CV opium OTC 240 mL, 48 units 1306.26
CV other OTC 120 mL, 24 units
CV OTC window Same purchaser, 48 hours
CV OTC age 18 or older
CV OTC seller Pharmacist must dispense
PPPA agency Consumer Product Safety Commission
PPPA exemptions Sublingual nitroglycerin, oral contraceptives
More PPPA exemptions Pancrelipase, low-dose prednisone

Prescriber vs Patient Waiver DI

Prescriber

One prescription only
Per-order authorization
Cannot be blanket

Patient

Blanket waiver allowed
Covers all prescriptions
Signed request
Prescriber single; patient blanket

Labeling and Validity DI

Transfer warning Required on CII-CIV 290.5
CV warning Exempt
DEA label items Fill date, pharmacy, serial
More label items Patient, prescriber, directions
Corresponding responsibility Pharmacist shares prescribing duty
Red flags Cash, distance, cocktails, early
Red flag action Resolve and document first
Misbranding Labeling or information defect
Adulteration Defect in the product
ProDUR screens Duplication, interaction, dose, allergy
PMP query State duty, not federal

DEA Form Ladder OP

224 apply, 222 order, 106 lose, 41 destroy
224 apply 224a renew 222 order CII 106 theft or loss 41 destroy 223 certificate 363 treatment program

503A vs 503B Compounding OP

503A

Patient-specific prescription
State board oversight
USP standards, cGMP exempt

503B

No prescription needed
FDA registered and inspected
cGMP required
Prescription vs cGMP

Which DEA Form? OP

Registering a new pharmacy → Form 224
Renewing the registration → Form 224a
Manufacturer or distributor → Form 225
Narcotic treatment program → Form 363
Ordering CII stock → Form 222 or CSOS
Ordering CIII-CV stock → Invoice ( Keep 2 years )
Theft or significant loss → Form 106 ( Written notice first )
Destroying controlled stock → Form 41 ( Two witnesses )
Giving up the registration → Form 104
Proving registration onsite → Form 223 ( Certificate )
Illegitimate DSCSA product → FDA Form 3911 ( 24 hours )

DEA Forms Quick Map OP

Form 222 Order CI-CII on paper
CSOS Electronic CI-CII ordering
CIII-CV ordering Invoice only, no 222
Form 224 New pharmacy registration
Form 224a Renewal only
Form 225 Manufacturer, distributor, researcher
Form 363 Narcotic treatment program
Form 223 Certificate of registration
Form 106 Theft or significant loss
Form 41 Destruction record
Form 104 Voluntary surrender
FDA Form 3911 Illegitimate product notification

Retention Windows OP

DEA 2, DSCSA 6, CMEA 2
DEA records 2 years DSCSA statements 6 years CMEA logbook 2 years State may require longer

Form 106 vs Form 41 OP

Form 106

Theft or significant loss
Written notice, one business-day
DEA Field Division

Form 41

Destruction record
Non-retrievable standard
Two employee witnesses
Loss vs destruction

Records and Inventory OP

DEA retention 2 years minimum
Record location Registered site, readily retrievable
CII records Filed separately
CIII-CV records Separate or readily retrievable
Initial inventory First day handling controls
Biennial inventory Every 2 years
Inventory timing Opening or close stated
CII count Exact count required
CIII-CV count Estimate; exact over 1,000 opened
Form 222 execution One item per line
Form 222 errors Mark void, keep it
Theft notice Written, one business day
In-transit loss Supplier reports until signed
DSCSA retention 6 years

Security, Compounding, Supply OP

Storage option one Locked substantial cabinet 1301.75
Storage option two Dispersed through stock
503A Patient-specific prescription required
503A cGMP Exempt; follows USP
503B FDA-registered outsourcing facility
503B cGMP Required
DSCSA partners Authorized trading partners only
Suspect product Quarantine and investigate
Illegitimate product Notify FDA within 24 hours
Return to stock Generally prohibited
PDMA samples Never sold, purchased, traded
Destruction standard Non-retrievable, two witnesses

Common Traps

Scaled 75 is legacy

Reported Pass or Fail ≠ No scaled score since 2021

107 items, not 120

107 answered gets result ≠ Under 107 gets nothing

72 hours vs 30 days

72 hours: stock shortage ≠ 30 days: requested partial

Six-month clock start

Runs from date written ≠ Not from first fill

DEA 2 years vs DSCSA 6

Controlled records 2 years ≠ DSCSA statements 6 years

Form 106 vs Form 41

106 reports theft/loss ≠ 41 records destruction

CV label warning exempt

Warning on CII-CIV ≠ Schedule V exempt

CV OTC age is 18

Purchaser must be 18 ≠ Not 21

PPPA is CPSC, not FDA

CPSC administers PPPA ≠ FDA does not

MPJE is not UMPJE

MPJE is state-specific ≠ UMPJE is uniform, separate

Pharmacists hold no DEA number

Pharmacy is the registrant ≠ Pharmacist acts as agent

503B is not cGMP-exempt

503B must meet cGMP ≠ Only new-drug approval exempt

Last Minute

1. Weights: licensure 22, practice 33
2. Weights: dispensing 24, operations 21
3. Result is Pass or Fail
4. Answer at least 107 questions
5. Retake after 30 days; five max
6. CII prescriptions never refill
7. CIII-CIV: 5 refills, 6 months
8. Six-month clock starts when written
9. Partial CII shortage: 72 hours
10. Requested CII partial: 30 days
11. LTCF or terminal partial: 60 days
12. Emergency oral CII: written 7 days
13. Form 222 covers CI-CII orders
14. Form 106 theft; Form 41 destruction
15. DEA records 2 years; DSCSA 6
16. Pseudoephedrine 3.6 g daily, 9 monthly
17. Schedule V opium OTC: 240 mL
18. Other Schedule V OTC: 120 mL
19. Schedule V OTC purchaser: 18 minimum
20. PPPA: prescriber single, patient blanket
21. OBRA-90 requires an offer to counsel
22. Stricter rule wins, federal or state

NABP MPJE Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination

Practice Questions 199 questions Study Guide 47 topics Cheat Sheet 151 facts Flashcards 50 cards Videos 1 video Blogs 1 blog Free CE Podcast