Pharmacy License from Kentucky to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions) ↗
A pharmacist license transfers from Kentucky to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions), verify your Kentucky license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. New York requires passing the New York-specific Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) before licensure by endorsement is granted; New York had not adopted the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) as of 2026-07-21..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Your Kentucky license transfers into New York through the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program — NABP forwards your license and NAPLEX history to the New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions) — but New York gates the license behind its own pharmacy-law exam. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. New York requires passing the New York-specific Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) before licensure by endorsement is granted; New York had not adopted the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) as of 2026-07-21.. Coming from Kentucky neither speeds this up nor slows it down; the eLTP is origin-neutral, so the timeline below is New York's standard out-of-state queue. Open the e-Profile transfer and book the law exam as early as New York allows.
What changes, Kentucky → New York
| Kentucky (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $275 (Kentucky Board application fee (includes a $25 National Practitioner Data Bank query), payable via the Licensure Gateway. The IdentoGO fingerprint fee is at the applicant's cost. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the MPJE exam fee) | $339 (New York fee for licensure plus first registration, paid with Form 1; not charged twice if already paid with the NABP application. NABP eLTP fees ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee are separate.) |
| Processing time | Board publishes no review-time estimate; excludes NABP eLTP review and MPJE scheduling | NYS Education Department does not publish a specific endorsement processing time; add NABP eLTP review, Board approval to sit for the MPJE, and MPJE scheduling. |
| Licensing authority | Kentucky Board of Pharmacy | New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active pharmacist license in good standing from another U.S. jurisdiction.
- Submit the Application for Licensure (Form 1) to the NYS Education Department and apply through NABP's eLTP.
- Pass the New York MPJE after the NYS Board authorizes testing through NABP.
- Have passed the NAPLEX and MPJE within the past five years (exam-recency rule).
- Be at least 21, of good moral character, and hold an ACPE-accredited PharmD/degree (PharmD graduates are exempt from the experience requirement).
- Pay the fees ($339 (New York fee for licensure plus first registration, paid with Form 1; not charged twice if already paid with the NABP application. NABP eLTP fees ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee are separate.)) and allow NYS Education Department does not publish a specific endorsement processing time; add NABP eLTP review, Board approval to sit for the MPJE, and MPJE scheduling..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does New York accept a Kentucky pharmacist license?
A pharmacist license transfers from Kentucky to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Board of Pharmacy (NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions), verify your Kentucky license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. New York requires passing the New York-specific Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) before licensure by endorsement is granted; New York had not adopted the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) as of 2026-07-21..
Do I retake the NAPLEX moving from Kentucky to New York?
No — the NAPLEX is a one-time national exam that transfers with your record. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. New York requires passing the New York-specific Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) before licensure by endorsement is granted; New York had not adopted the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) as of 2026-07-21..
What will the move to New York cost?
$339 (New York fee for licensure plus first registration, paid with Form 1; not charged twice if already paid with the NABP application. NABP eLTP fees ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee are separate.) (New York fee for licensure plus first registration, paid with Form 1; not charged twice if already paid with the NABP application. NABP eLTP fees ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE exam fee are separate.).
How long will licensing in New York take?
NYS Education Department does not publish a specific endorsement processing time; add NABP eLTP review, Board approval to sit for the MPJE, and MPJE scheduling. — NYS Education Department does not publish a specific endorsement processing time; add NABP eLTP review, Board approval to sit for the MPJE, and MPJE scheduling..
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- NYS Office of the Professions — Licensure Transfer by Endorsement (step-by-step instructions; fee $339; apply via NABP eLTP; pass the MPJE) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYS Office of the Professions — Pharmacist License Requirements (age 21, ACPE degree, NAPLEX/MPJE within 5 years, PharmD experience exemption) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — General Requirements for Licensure Transfer (New York: pass the MPJE) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kentucky Board of Pharmacy — Reciprocal Licensure Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kentucky Board of Pharmacy — Procedures for Obtaining a Kentucky Pharmacist License [License Transfer] (updated 2024-12-10) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — Uniform MPJE participating states (Kentucky not listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (eLTP) ↗ (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]