The Auditor
State of Hawai‘i

A Comparative Study of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licenses

Report No. 05-14
December 2005

 

Foreword

Introduction

License Summaries

Accountant, Certified Public

Acupuncture

Chiropractor

Contractor

Electrician, Journeyman

Electrician, Supervising

Optometrist

Osteopathic Physician

Pharmacist

Pharmacy

Physician

Physician Assistant

Plumber, Journeyman

Plumber, Master

Podiatrist

Veterinarian

 

PHARMACIST
Summary Overall Rank Continuing Education License Fees Table

Summary

Hawai‘i
is slightly below (fewer requirements) the national median in requirements for a pharmacist license. Hawai‘i follows the majority of the states in examination and experience requirements, however it is the only state that does not currently require continuing education.

Requirement

Hawai‘i

Category Rank

National Median

OVERALL RANK (quintile)

 4

 

 

 

Education

Graduation from pharmacy school

Not ranked

Graduation from pharmacy school

Examination

2 parts, no practical, no state exam

3

2 parts, no practical, no state exam. 19 states require a practical examination, a state exam, or more than 2 exams.

Experience

1500 hours of clinical experience

3

1500 hours. 37 states require 1500 hours of clinical experience.

Fees

$240

2

$221

Continuing Education

None. Hawai‘i is the only state that does not currently require continuing education. Continuing education will be required beginning in 2006.

5

15 hours per year

Reciprocity or Endorsement

Yes

3

Yes. All 50 states have some form of reciprocity or endorsement.

Note on Pharmacist ranking:

1 = most difficult, most requirements, highest fees.
5 = least difficult, fewest requirements, lowest fees.

Education:  As all states require graduation from an accredited college of pharmacy, no rank was assigned for this category.

Examination: All states require passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and forty-three, including Hawai‘i, also require passing the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). Additional exams required by a minority of states include practical, oral patient consultation, pharmaceutical calculation, and errors and omissions. The states requiring a practical or state examination, or required more than two examinations were assigned a rank of 1. All other states were assigned a rank of 3.

Experience:  Thirty-seven states require 1500 hours of clinical experience or internship were assigned a rank of 3, while other states were assigned a rank of 5.

Fees: Rank is based on the cost of an initial license and an annualized renewal fee. This reflects the cost of obtaining and renewing a license.

Continuing education: Only seven states vary from this number. Hawai‘i is the only state that does not currently require any continuing education, however Hawai‘i will require 30 hours each biennium beginning in 2006.

Reciprocity:  All states have some form of reciprocity or endorsement.

Sources: In addition state websites, we referred to the 2005 Survey of Pharmacy Law, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.