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Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Pharmacist The typical path takes eight years to complete — four to earn an undergraduate degree and four to earn a doctorate. However, direct-entry programs, which take six years to complete, are also common.

To be licensed in California as a pharmacist, you must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination for Pharmacists (CPJE).

Examination sites are physically accessible to individuals with disabilities. [Note: There is a $285 fee (made payable to the Board of Pharmacy) for retaking the CPJE. There is no Board of Pharmacy fee to retake the NAPLEX.] Please read the application instructions before you complete the application.

Once admitted to pharmacy school, students generally complete four years of academic and clinical coursework to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Some schools of pharmacy offer compressed calendars, which allow students to finish in three years by attending school year-round.

Fee Schedule Renewal FeeEffective 7/1/2021Effective 7/1/2023Drug Room$941.00*$939.00*Drug Room - Government Owned$930.00$930.00Emergency Medical Services Automated Drug Delivery System (EMSADDS)$100.00$100.00Hospital Pharmacy$941.00*$939.00*36 more rows

Renewal Fees: $527 ($505 renewal fee plus $22 CURES fee for an active license) if submitting before the expiration date, or Renewal plus Delinquency Fees: $677 ($505 renewal fee, $22 CURES fee for an active license, plus $150 delinquency fee) if the license has expired.

California law requires foreign graduates to be FPGEC certified. As the NABP/FPGEC administers the FPGEC certification program, any questions should be directed to them. If they direct you back to the board, there is no other information that can be provided. California law does not provide for waivers or exemptions.

On April 30, 2021, the California Board of Pharmacy unanimously approved a recommendation to switch California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination for Pharmacists (CPJE) to Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE).