To become a licensed pharmacist in Tennessee, you need a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited school, 1,700 hours of supervised internship, passing scores on two national exams, and a clean fingerprint-based background check. The Tennessee pharmacist license requirements are set by the Board of Pharmacy, and the state portion of the fees comes to about $185. The exam fees you pay to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy are separate and add several hundred dollars more.
Education and Internship
The Board will not review an application without proof of a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
You also need at least 1,700 hours of pharmacy internship under a pharmacist in good standing. All 1,700 hours must be earned after you enroll in a recognized pharmacy program, and the hours must come from structured pharmacy programs or demonstration projects organized by the school.1Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-01-.04 – Pharmacy Internship The hours cover the practical side of the job: filling prescriptions, counseling patients, and learning how a pharmacy runs day to day.
The NAPLEX and the Tennessee MPJE
Two exams stand between you and a license.2National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. MPJE/UMPJE
NAPLEX
The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and tests clinical knowledge across areas including pharmacotherapy, medication management, and professional practice. You need a scaled score of at least 75 to pass.3National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. What Does the Scaled Score and Domain Level Information Mean
MPJE
The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination covers Tennessee-specific pharmacy law along with relevant federal rules on controlled substances, prescription requirements, and pharmacist responsibilities. The passing score is also 75.
Fail either exam three times in a row and the Board can require you to complete review courses before you sit again.4Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-01-.05 – Licensing Examinations NABP has begun transitioning some states from the MPJE to a newer Uniform MPJE (UMPJE), with more jurisdictions expected to come online starting in June 2026.5National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Understanding the Uniform MPJE for Pharmacy Licensure Check the NABP site for Tennessee’s status before you register.
Criminal Background Check
Every applicant submits fingerprints for a background check run through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.6Justia. Tennessee Code 63-1-116 – Criminal Background Checks for Health Care Providers That applies whether you’re a first-time applicant, coming in on reciprocity, or seeking reinstatement.
A conviction does not automatically disqualify you. Tennessee law bars the Board from denying a license based on a conviction that has no direct relationship to pharmacy practice. When a conviction is relevant, the Board weighs the seriousness of the offense, how long ago it happened, the connection to pharmacy duties, and any evidence of rehabilitation.7Justia. Tennessee Code 63-1-130 – Denial of License for Prior Criminal Prosecution Prohibited Offenses involving controlled substances, fraud, or patient harm draw the closest scrutiny.
What You’ll Pay
The state fees for initial licensure by examination are:
- Examination application fee: $50
- Initial registration fee: $125
- Peer assistance program fee: $10
That totals $185 paid to Tennessee.8Justia. Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee 1140-01-.10 – Fees NABP charges its own fees for the NAPLEX and MPJE, paid through your NABP e-Profile when you schedule. Plan on roughly $700 to $900 combined for the two exams, though NABP adjusts those amounts periodically.
Reciprocity applicants pay a $485 non-refundable application fee instead of the $50 examination application fee, plus the MPJE registration fee to NABP.9Tennessee Department of Health. Instructions for Obtaining a Reciprocal License
Applying From Another State
If you already hold an active pharmacist license elsewhere, you can apply by reciprocity rather than retake the NAPLEX. The process begins with a preliminary application through NABP, which compiles your license history across every state where you’ve practiced.9Tennessee Department of Health. Instructions for Obtaining a Reciprocal License
Reciprocity is only open to pharmacists who have held the out-of-state license for at least 12 months. Under a year, you apply through NABP’s score transfer process instead, and Tennessee accepts score transfers only from states that extend the same courtesy to Tennessee-licensed pharmacists.
Every reciprocity applicant must pass the Tennessee MPJE, clear the fingerprint background check, and submit a declaration of citizenship. Prior discipline or suspensions in other states may trigger additional Board review. Applications expire 12 months from the date the Board receives them.4Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-01-.05 – Licensing Examinations
Applying as a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate
If your pharmacy school is outside the United States and not ACPE-accredited, you first need certification through the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC). That means passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) with a minimum score of 75 and passing the TOEFL internet-based test. Submit a copy of the FPGEC certificate with your Tennessee application.10Tennessee Department of Health. Instructions to Obtain a Foreign Graduate License
Foreign graduates must also complete 500 hours of pharmacy internship in Tennessee within six consecutive months before licensure. Tennessee will accept up to 1,200 hours earned in any U.S. state, but the 500-hour Tennessee-based internship is mandatory unless you’ve already completed all 1,700 hours in Tennessee.10Tennessee Department of Health. Instructions to Obtain a Foreign Graduate License Once those hours are in place, you still take both the NAPLEX and the Tennessee MPJE like any domestic applicant.
Keeping the License Active
Tennessee pharmacist licenses run for two years. The renewal cycle starts in the month your license was originally granted, and you must renew on or before the last day of that cycle.11Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-01-.09 – Renewal of Licenses The biennial renewal fee is $125.8Justia. Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee 1140-01-.10 – Fees
You must complete 30 hours of continuing pharmaceutical education during each two-year cycle. At least 15 of those hours must come from live contact programs designated as “live” by an ACPE-approved provider or approved by the Board; the remaining 15 can come from other ACPE-accredited formats.12Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-05-.01 – Requirements for Pharmacist License Renewal Tennessee doesn’t run a centralized CE tracking system, so keep your own certificates. The Board conducts audits and can request documentation.13Tennessee Department of Health. Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Policy on Continuing Education Violations
Miss the deadline and a $10 penalty accrues for every month or partial month late. Go six months past expiration and the Board can refuse the renewal outright, sending you into reinstatement. If your license has been out of active status for more than a year, expect to retake the jurisprudence exam and complete additional supervised internship hours before you can practice again; past five years, the NAPLEX comes back into play as well.14Cornell Law Institute. Tennessee Code 1140-01-.07 – Inactive Licenses and License Reinstatement