Pharmacy License from California to West Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: West Virginia Board of Pharmacy ↗
A pharmacist license transfers from California to West Virginia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, verify your California license, and meet West Virginia's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP license transfer (Preliminary Application for Transfer / e-Profile). West Virginia requires passing the West Virginia MPJE; the state has not adopted the Uniform MPJE..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Your California license transfers into West Virginia through the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program — NABP forwards your license and NAPLEX history to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy — but West Virginia gates the license behind its own pharmacy-law exam. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP license transfer (Preliminary Application for Transfer / e-Profile). West Virginia requires passing the West Virginia MPJE; the state has not adopted the Uniform MPJE.. Coming from California neither speeds this up nor slows it down; the eLTP is origin-neutral, so the timeline below is West Virginia's standard out-of-state queue. Open the e-Profile transfer and book the law exam as early as West Virginia allows.
One wrinkle at the origin: California sits outside the eLTP, so confirm with NABP and the California State Board of Pharmacy how your license history will be transmitted before you rely on the standard transfer timeline.
What changes, California → West Virginia
| California (current) | West Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $260 (California pharmacist examination-for-licensure application fee, non-refundable. Non-California residents add a $49 fingerprint-card fee ($32 DOJ + $17 FBI); the CPJE administration fee is paid separately to PSI; and an initial license fee applies on issuance. NABP score/license-transfer fees are separate.) | $250 (West Virginia pharmacist reciprocity application fee (W. Va. Code R. 15-16-7). Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee apply; a criminal background check fee is also charged.) |
| Processing time | 6–7 weeks (Board advises allowing 45 days to process the application; excludes CPJE scheduling and fingerprint-card clearance (fingerprint cards take about six weeks).) | The Board rule does not state a processing time; add time for NABP transfer review, the MPJE, and the background check |
| Licensing authority | California State Board of Pharmacy | West Virginia Board of Pharmacy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — West Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm West Virginia's current requirements on the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Submit the NABP Preliminary Application for Transfer through your NABP e-Profile.
- Pass the West Virginia MPJE.
- Be in good standing in the state or country you are transferring from.
- Complete a national criminal history records check.
- Pay the fees ($250 (West Virginia pharmacist reciprocity application fee (W. Va. Code R. 15-16-7). Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee apply; a criminal background check fee is also charged.)) and allow The Board rule does not state a processing time; add time for NABP transfer review, the MPJE, and the background check.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does West Virginia accept a California pharmacist license?
A pharmacist license transfers from California to West Virginia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, verify your California license, and meet West Virginia's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP license transfer (Preliminary Application for Transfer / e-Profile). West Virginia requires passing the West Virginia MPJE; the state has not adopted the Uniform MPJE..
Do I retake the NAPLEX moving from California to West Virginia?
No — the NAPLEX is a one-time national exam that transfers with your record. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP license transfer (Preliminary Application for Transfer / e-Profile). West Virginia requires passing the West Virginia MPJE; the state has not adopted the Uniform MPJE..
What will the move to West Virginia cost?
$250 (West Virginia pharmacist reciprocity application fee (W. Va. Code R. 15-16-7). Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee apply; a criminal background check fee is also charged.) (West Virginia pharmacist reciprocity application fee (W. Va. Code R. 15-16-7). Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee apply; a criminal background check fee is also charged.).
How long will licensing in West Virginia take?
The Board rule does not state a processing time; add time for NABP transfer review, the MPJE, and the background check — The Board rule does not state a processing time; add time for NABP transfer review, the MPJE, and the background check.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- W. Va. Code R. 15-16-6 — Reciprocity; Licensure of Pharmacists From Other States or Countries (WV MPJE required; good standing; background check) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- W. Va. Code R. 15-16-7 — Application (reciprocity application fee $250) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (eLTP) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California State Board of Pharmacy — Pharmacist Examination for Licensure application packet (17M-29 rev 1/2026): $260 fee, CPJE, 1,500/900 hours, fingerprints, 45-day processing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California State Board of Pharmacy — Pharmacist applicants page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]