Pharmacy License from North Carolina to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health) ↗
A pharmacist license transfers from North Carolina to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health), verify your North Carolina license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP / e-Profile). Washington requires passing the state pharmacy-law exam: as of July 2, 2026 it accepts the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) in addition to the MPJE, and the MPJE retires December 29, 2026..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Your North Carolina license transfers into Washington through the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program — NABP forwards your license and NAPLEX history to the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health) — but Washington gates the license behind its own pharmacy-law exam. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP / e-Profile). Washington requires passing the state pharmacy-law exam: as of July 2, 2026 it accepts the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) in addition to the MPJE, and the MPJE retires December 29, 2026.. Coming from North Carolina neither speeds this up nor slows it down; the eLTP is origin-neutral, so the timeline below is Washington's standard out-of-state queue. Open the e-Profile transfer and book the law exam as early as Washington allows.
What changes, North Carolina → Washington
| North Carolina (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $600 (North Carolina reciprocity application fee, non-refundable/non-transferable. NABP eLTP fees ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) and the UMPJE exam fee are separate.) | $465 (Washington pharmacist license-by-transfer/reciprocity application fee (DOH), non-refundable. Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE/UMPJE exam fee apply; the fingerprint background check is at the applicant's own expense.) |
| Processing time | ~2 weeks (Board allows ~10 business days to review the application; add 10 business days for each clarification request. Application expires one year from submission; excludes NABP eLTP review and exam scheduling.) | Official DOH materials do not state an overall issuance timeframe; the NABP application is valid for one year from the date the department receives it |
| Licensing authority | North Carolina Board of Pharmacy | Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Complete the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP) application.
- Pass the Washington pharmacy-law exam (MPJE or, from July 2, 2026, the Uniform MPJE).
- Be a graduate of an accredited U.S. pharmacy school or college.
- Have each state where you hold or held a license submit a verification form to the Commission.
- Fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check (at applicant's own expense).
- Pay the fees ($465 (Washington pharmacist license-by-transfer/reciprocity application fee (DOH), non-refundable. Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE/UMPJE exam fee apply; the fingerprint background check is at the applicant's own expense.)) and allow Official DOH materials do not state an overall issuance timeframe; the NABP application is valid for one year from the date the department receives it.
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Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington accept a North Carolina pharmacist license?
A pharmacist license transfers from North Carolina to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (Department of Health), verify your North Carolina license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. NAPLEX is not retaken; the score and license history transfer via the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP / e-Profile). Washington requires passing the state pharmacy-law exam: as of July 2, 2026 it accepts the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) in addition to the MPJE, and the MPJE retires December 29, 2026..
Do I retake the NAPLEX moving from North Carolina to Washington?
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 Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (e-LTP / e-Profile). Washington requires passing the state pharmacy-law exam: as of July 2, 2026 it accepts the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) in addition to the MPJE, and the MPJE retires December 29, 2026..
What will the move to Washington cost?
$465 (Washington pharmacist license-by-transfer/reciprocity application fee (DOH), non-refundable. Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE/UMPJE exam fee apply; the fingerprint background check is at the applicant's own expense.) (Washington pharmacist license-by-transfer/reciprocity application fee (DOH), non-refundable. Separate NABP eLTP fees ($300 + $100 per jurisdiction) and the MPJE/UMPJE exam fee apply; the fingerprint background check is at the applicant's own expense.).
How long will licensing in Washington take?
Official DOH materials do not state an overall issuance timeframe; the NABP application is valid for one year from the date the department receives it — Official DOH materials do not state an overall issuance timeframe; the NABP application is valid for one year from the date the department receives it.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Washington DOH — Pharmacy Professions Licensing Information (reciprocity/transfer via e-LTP; MPJE; $465 transfer fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Washington DOH — Pharmacist License by Transfer/Reciprocity Application Packet (DOH 690-113, June 2026; UMPJE accepted from 2026-07-02, MPJE retires 2026-12-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (eLTP) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- North Carolina Board of Pharmacy — Licensure by Reciprocity (fee $600; UMPJE effective 2026-04-01; intern-hour and background-check rules) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NABP — General Requirements for Licensure Transfer (North Carolina: pass the UMPJE prior to submitting the transfer application) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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