⚡ Quick Status Check
As of June 2026, 9 states now require the UMPJE (Arizona, Iowa, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, and West Virginia). Ohio and Virginia transition in October 2026. Kansas offers both exams through April 2027. If you are unsure which exam your state requires, check our full UMPJE guide or contact your State Board of Pharmacy directly.
What Is Happening in 2026
The NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) officially launched the UMPJE on April 1, 2026 as a replacement for the state-specific MPJE in participating jurisdictions. Unlike the traditional MPJE, which tests one state's pharmacy laws per exam sitting, the UMPJE tests pharmacy law principles that are broadly applicable across all U.S. states and territories.
The transition is not happening overnight. States are adopting the UMPJE on a rolling basis throughout 2026, with three major rollout waves: April, June, and October. Some states have announced adoption dates for 2027 and beyond. Many states have not yet announced a transition timeline and continue to administer the traditional state-specific MPJE.
This page provides the definitive list of UMPJE states in 2026, organized by rollout date, so you know exactly which exam applies to your licensure plans.
Complete UMPJE Rollout Timeline: 2026
The following table shows every state that has adopted or announced adoption of the UMPJE, organized by the date the UMPJE becomes the required exam. Once a state transitions, the traditional state-specific MPJE is no longer available for that jurisdiction.
Wave 1 — April 1, 2026 (Already Active)
| State | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | ✅ UMPJE Required | State MPJE discontinued. All new applicants must take UMPJE. |
| Iowa | ✅ UMPJE Required | Iowa Board confirmed transition effective April 1, 2026. |
| North Carolina | ✅ UMPJE Required | NC Board adopted UMPJE as part of the first wave. |
| Rhode Island | ✅ UMPJE Required | RI transitioned alongside the national launch date. |
These four states were the earliest adopters. If you are seeking new licensure in Arizona, Iowa, North Carolina, or Rhode Island, the state-specific MPJE is no longer an option. You must register for and pass the UMPJE through NABP.
Wave 2 — June 1, 2026 (Now Active)
| State | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | ✅ UMPJE Required | FL Board adopted UMPJE effective June 1. One of the largest states to transition. |
| Maryland | ✅ UMPJE Required | MD Board confirmed UMPJE replaces state MPJE. |
| Montana | ✅ UMPJE Required | MT adopted UMPJE for all new jurisprudence exam candidates. |
| Nebraska | ✅ UMPJE Required | NE transitioned as part of the June wave. |
| West Virginia | ✅ UMPJE Required | WV Board announced June 1 adoption alongside other Wave 2 states. |
The June wave brought five more states into the UMPJE system, including Florida, one of the most populated pharmacy markets in the country. If you were planning to take the Florida MPJE and had not yet registered, you now need to register for the UMPJE instead.
Wave 3 — October 1, 2026 (Upcoming)
| State | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 📅 UMPJE Starts October 1 | OH Board has confirmed adoption. State MPJE available until September 30. |
| Virginia | 📅 UMPJE Starts October 1 | VA Board announced October transition. Plan your exam timing accordingly. |
If you are planning to get licensed in Ohio or Virginia, pay close attention to the October 1 cutoff. If you take the state-specific MPJE before October 1 and pass, your result is valid. After October 1, only the UMPJE is accepted for new jurisprudence exam requirements.
Kansas — Dual Option Through April 2027
| State | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 🔄 Both MPJE & UMPJE Accepted | Kansas accepts either exam through April 2027. After that, UMPJE only. |
Kansas is unique among the 2026 transition states because the Kansas Board of Pharmacy is allowing a dual-option period. Through April 2027, candidates can choose to take either the Kansas-specific MPJE or the UMPJE. After April 2027, only the UMPJE will be accepted. If you are getting licensed in Kansas soon, you have the flexibility to prepare for whichever exam better fits your study plan.
States Still Using the MPJE in 2026
The majority of U.S. states and territories continue to use the traditional state-specific MPJE as of June 2026. If your state is not listed in the tables above, you should plan to take the state-specific MPJE. This includes large states such as Texas, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and New Jersey, among many others.
A few important exceptions to note:
- California uses its own exam, the CPJE (California Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam). California does not participate in either the MPJE or UMPJE systems.
- Arkansas and Nevada administer their own state-developed pharmacy law exams, separate from both the MPJE and UMPJE.
- U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) have varying arrangements — check directly with the territorial board.
For state-specific MPJE study resources, visit our complete state MPJE guide directory, which includes all 50 states plus DC.
📌 Will More States Adopt the UMPJE?
Yes. Several additional states including Colorado, Connecticut, and Delaware have announced intentions to adopt the UMPJE in 2027. The NABP's goal is nationwide UMPJE adoption, but each state board makes its own decision on timing. We will update this page as new adoption dates are confirmed. Bookmark it and check back regularly.
What Is Different About the UMPJE vs. MPJE
If your state is transitioning from the MPJE to the UMPJE, understanding the content differences is essential for adjusting your study plan. For a deep-dive comparison, see our full UMPJE vs MPJE breakdown. Here is a summary of the key differences:
- No state-specific questions. The UMPJE does not ask about your state's specific statutes, CE hour requirements, PDMP system names, or board-specific procedures. It tests universal pharmacy law principles.
- Same federal law foundation. The CSA, HIPAA, FDCA, OBRA '90, DQSA, PPPA, and CMEA content is essentially identical between the MPJE and UMPJE. If you have studied federal pharmacy law for the MPJE, that preparation transfers directly.
- Universal state law concepts. Instead of testing one state's laws, the UMPJE tests concepts that most states share: generic substitution principles, pharmacist prescriptive authority, naloxone access frameworks, collaborative practice agreement structures, and PDMP consultation obligations as general principles.
- Same format. Both exams are computer-adaptive, use the same scaled passing score of 75, and are delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers through NABP.
- Pharmacy ethics. The UMPJE places slightly more explicit emphasis on pharmacy ethics compared to the traditional MPJE.
How to Prepare If Your State Is Switching
If your state has already transitioned or is about to transition to the UMPJE, here is a practical study approach:
Step 1: Confirm your exam. Verify directly with your State Board of Pharmacy that the UMPJE applies to your licensure timeline. Transition dates can shift, and you want to study for the correct exam.
Step 2: Master federal pharmacy law. This is the backbone of both exams and should consume roughly 50% of your study time. Cover the Controlled Substances Act, DEA registration and record-keeping, HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, the FDCA and drug approval pathways, OBRA '90 counseling requirements, the DQSA and drug supply chain integrity, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. Our MPJE Study Guide covers all of these topics in detail, and every word applies to the UMPJE.
Step 3: Study universal state law principles. Instead of memorizing one state's specific rules, focus on understanding the general frameworks that most states follow. Key areas include:
- Generic substitution laws — when substitution is permitted, when the prescriber must authorize it, narrow therapeutic index drug handling
- Pharmacist immunization authority — which vaccines pharmacists can administer, protocol requirements, age restrictions as general concepts
- Naloxone and opioid antagonist dispensing — standing order frameworks, who can receive naloxone without a prescription
- Collaborative practice agreements — how pharmacists work under protocol with physicians, scope and limitations
- PDMP requirements — when to check, mandatory vs. voluntary consultation, interstate data sharing
- Pharmacy technician supervision ratios and responsibilities — general principles, not specific state numbers
Step 4: Practice with UMPJE-aligned questions. Standard MPJE question banks that focus on one state's laws will not fully prepare you for the UMPJE's universal approach. Look for resources specifically updated for UMPJE content domains. PharmacyExam.com has updated their question bank to cover UMPJE content areas alongside all 51 MPJE jurisdictions.
Step 5: Do not forget pharmacy ethics. The UMPJE has a stronger ethics component than most traditional MPJE exams. Review topics such as patient autonomy, informed consent, duty to warn, professional boundaries, and conflicts of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of June 2026, 14 states have adopted or are scheduled to adopt the UMPJE during the year. The April 2026 wave includes Arizona, Iowa, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. The June 2026 wave adds Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, and West Virginia. Ohio and Virginia join in October 2026. Kansas offers both the MPJE and UMPJE through April 2027. Additional states have announced adoption dates for 2027 and beyond.
No. If you already hold an active license in a state that transitions to the UMPJE, your existing passing MPJE result is honored. The UMPJE requirement applies only to new licensure applicants after the state's transition date. If you passed the state-specific MPJE before the switch, you do not need to retake anything.
The UMPJE is not inherently harder or easier. It uses the same computer-adaptive format and the same scaled passing score of 75. The key difference is content scope: the UMPJE removes state-specific memorization and replaces it with universal pharmacy law principles. Some candidates find this easier because there are fewer arbitrary state-specific details to memorize. Others find it more challenging because the universal principles require deeper conceptual understanding. Overall, if you are well-prepared on federal pharmacy law, the UMPJE should feel manageable.
Yes. A passing UMPJE score can satisfy the jurisprudence exam requirement in any participating UMPJE state. This is the core advantage of the UMPJE — you take one exam and can apply that result to multiple state licenses. However, each state still has its own application process, fees, background check requirements, and potentially a state-specific orientation module. The UMPJE replaces the exam, not the entire licensure application.