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LicenseReciprocity

Transfer Your Pharmacy License to Rhode Island: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy ↗

Yes — Rhode Island accepts an eLTP transfer of your license, then gates it behind the state's own pharmacy-law exam. NABP handles the verification through your e-Profile and the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy makes the licensing decision. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island requires passing the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) — Rhode Island is an NABP early-adopter board — before submitting the Licensure Transfer application.. The NAPLEX is never repeated. Fee: $250 (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee).

Moving to Rhode Island from a specific state?

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

The move into Rhode Island runs on two steps in sequence. First the NABP eLTP carries your license and NAPLEX record to the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy; then Rhode Island's own law exam gates the license. Neither re-tests your pharmacy education — the eLTP is verification, and the law exam covers Rhode Island's pharmacy law. Open the e-Profile transfer early, because NABP's verification and scheduling the law exam are the two steps that set your timeline, not the application itself.

No interstate compact for pharmacy; transfer runs through the NABP eLTP and the RI Board of Pharmacy (within the RI Department of Health, Center for Professional Licensing) makes the licensure decision. Rhode Island is an NABP Uniform MPJE early-adopter board (UMPJE effective April 1, 2026, replacing the state MPJE). Fee taken from the RI DOH fee structure regulation; the reciprocity application PDF and health.ri.gov pages returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch, so fee and UMPJE effective date were confirmed via the RI DOH fee-structure rule and the NABP member/early-adopter pages.

Rhode Island requirements at a glance

Out-of-state pharmacist license transfer requirements for Rhode Island, verified 2026-07-21
ExamNAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island requires passing the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) — Rhode Island is an NABP early-adopter board — before submitting the Licensure Transfer application.
Additional requirements
  • Submit the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (eLTP) / Licensure Transfer application through your NABP e-Profile
  • Pass the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) before submitting the Licensure Transfer application (effective April 1, 2026)
  • Hold a current, active pharmacist license in good standing in another U.S. state or DC
  • A 90-day temporary pharmacist license may be granted while awaiting UMPJE passage and the NABP license transfer
Fees$250 (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee)
Processing timeBoard does not publish a fixed processing time; a 90-day temporary license bridges the wait for UMPJE results and NABP license-transfer verification

Step by step

  1. Confirm Rhode Island's current requirements on the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Submit the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (eLTP) / Licensure Transfer application through your NABP e-Profile.
  5. Pass the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) before submitting the Licensure Transfer application (effective April 1, 2026).
  6. Hold a current, active pharmacist license in good standing in another U.S. state or DC.
  7. A 90-day temporary pharmacist license may be granted while awaiting UMPJE passage and the NABP license transfer.
  8. Pay the fees ($250 (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee)) and allow Board does not publish a fixed processing time; a 90-day temporary license bridges the wait for UMPJE results and NABP license-transfer verification.

Official links

Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy ↗Rhode Island application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Rhode Island:

California → Rhode IslandFlorida → Rhode IslandGeorgia → Rhode IslandIllinois → Rhode IslandMichigan → Rhode IslandNew York → Rhode IslandNorth Carolina → Rhode IslandOhio → Rhode IslandPennsylvania → Rhode IslandTexas → Rhode Island

Frequently asked questions

Does my pharmacist license transfer to Rhode Island?

Yes — Rhode Island accepts an eLTP transfer of your license, then gates it behind the state's own pharmacy-law exam. NABP handles the verification through your e-Profile and the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy makes the licensing decision. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island requires passing the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) — Rhode Island is an NABP early-adopter board — before submitting the Licensure Transfer application.. The NAPLEX is never repeated. Fee: $250 (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee).

Do I have to retake the NAPLEX to get licensed in Rhode Island?

No — the NAPLEX is a one-time national exam and no board makes you sit it again. NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island requires passing the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) — Rhode Island is an NABP early-adopter board — before submitting the Licensure Transfer application..

What does licensing in Rhode Island cost an out-of-state pharmacist?

$250 (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee) (Rhode Island pharmacist license fee per the DOH fee structure (216-RICR-10-05-2); the 90-day temporary license is also $250; optional $30 framed certificate. Separate NABP eLTP fees apply ($300 application + $100 per jurisdiction) plus the UMPJE exam fee).

How long does Rhode Island take?

Board does not publish a fixed processing time; a 90-day temporary license bridges the wait for UMPJE results and NABP license-transfer verification — Board does not publish a fixed processing time; a 90-day temporary license bridges the wait for UMPJE results and NABP license-transfer verification.

Which law exam does Rhode Island require after an eLTP transfer?

NAPLEX is not retaken; license history transfers via the NABP eLTP. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island requires passing the Uniform MPJE (UMPJE) — Rhode Island is an NABP early-adopter board — before submitting the Licensure Transfer application.. The law exam is separate from the NAPLEX and covers Rhode Island's own pharmacy law; confirm whether the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy currently gives the MPJE or the Uniform MPJE (verified 2026-07-21).

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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]