<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 10.34.02.03" title_num="10" subtitle_num="34" chapter_num="02" heading="Licensure Examinations.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Examination Eligibility.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant may be approved by the Board to take Exam I upon satisfactory proof that the applicant has graduated, or is expected to graduate at the completion of the immediate semester, from a school or college of pharmacy that has been:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Approved by the Board; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Beginning May 1, 2027, an applicant may be approved by the Board to take Exam II upon satisfactory proof that the applicant has graduated from, or has successfully completed the didactic portion of the core curriculum of a school or college of pharmacy that has been:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Approved by the Board; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An applicant may not receive a license until the applicant has:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Obtained passing scores on Exam I, Exam II, and Exam III, as applicable; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provided satisfactory proof to the Board of the applicant’s graduation from a college or school of pharmacy approved by the Board or accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Passing Scores—Exam I and Exam II.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The passing score for Exam I is 75.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>II Passing Scores.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For the Maryland Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) the passing score is 75.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For the Uniform Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (UMPJE) the passing score is 75.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Maryland Pharmacy Law Webinar and Post-Webinar Exam.</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The passing score is 85.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Maryland Pharmacy Law webinar and post-webinar exam shall provide unlimited attempts to pass the exam in one sitting provided that the applicant reviews the webinar after each failed attempt at the exam.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>There may not be a fee associated with the Maryland Pharmacy Law webinar and post-webinar exam.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a candidate receives a passing score on Exam I or Exam II, the candidate is not required to retake that exam unless the passing score was received more than 2 years before the date the candidate successfully completed all of the other examination requirements set forth in this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Passing Score—Exam III.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Prescreening Test of Oral English Competency.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>On completion of a prescreening test application form provided by the Board, an applicant may elect to take a standardized prescreening test of oral English competency given by the Board's agents at times to be determined by the Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An agent of the Board possessing post-secondary credentials in an academic discipline acceptable to the Board shall score the prescreening test of oral English competency through the use of a standardized rating system.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An agent of the Board shall design the rating system of the prescreening test so that a passing score demonstrates that an applicant speaks fluent English as proficiently as typical United States native speakers whose English is easily understood by the average pharmacy patient or customer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>By choosing to take the prescreening test of oral English competency, an applicant is certifying to the Board that the applicant speaks English as proficiently as typical United States native speakers whose English is easily understood by the average pharmacy patient or customer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>By choosing to take the prescreening test to verify this certification, the applicant consents to pay the costs of test administration and shall pay the fee indicated on the Board's prescreening application form directly to the Board's agent.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>An applicant who passes the prescreening test passes Exam II, the Test of Oral English Competency required under Regulation .02B(2)(b) of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>An applicant who fails the prescreening test for oral English competency may take the Test of Oral English Competency required under Regulation .02B(2)(b) of this chapter without prejudice to the applicant's licensure application if the applicant pays all related fees.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>An applicant who has graduated from a recognized English-speaking professional school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education is deemed to be proficient in the oral communication of the English language in satisfaction of requirements of the prescreening test.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Test of Oral English Competency.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In order to obtain a license to practice pharmacy, an applicant shall pass a standardized test of oral English competency approved by the Board or the board of pharmacy of another state with a score acceptable to the Board, based upon the Board's standards and the examination taken.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Board shall provide the applicant with a list of Board-approved testing services and the passing score for each approved test of oral English competency.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Waiver. The Board shall waive the requirement as set forth under §D(2)(a) of this regulation if the applicant graduated from a recognized English-speaking professional school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Claims of Speech Impairment.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An applicant who claims to have a speech impairment shall submit documentation of the impairment on forms supplied by the Board and completed by a Board-approved:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Licensed physician; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Speech-language pathologist licensed to practice speech pathology in the United States.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The applicant shall submit the documentation with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The applicant's initial application; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Before the applicant's second attempt at passing the test of oral English competency.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>After the second examination, the applicant may not submit documentation of impairment unless:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>An intervening medical or surgical event caused the impairment;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The applicant claims the impairment before a third examination; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The applicant provides documentation that is approved by the Board.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The Board may accept documentation of a speech impairment as a passing score on Exam II if the applicant also:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Provides documentation from a Board-approved licensed pharmacist or a Board-approved instructor in a school of pharmacy that the applicant can communicate in a professionally competent manner with patients and health care providers; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Describes, in a hearing before the Board, the manner in which the applicant would communicate with a licensed prescriber regarding a prescription and would counsel a typical patient on proper drug usage.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The certifying or verifying authority shall send all certificates and verifications directly to the Board for the applicants.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The Board-approved testing services may not accept certificates and verifications sent to or by the applicant.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>If any of the documents required under this regulation are in a language other than English, the certifying or verifying authority shall submit a certified translation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>The applicant shall bear the costs of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Translation by a certified translator;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Taking the test of oral English competency; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Obtaining documents required under this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Graduates of a Foreign School or College of Pharmacy.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In addition to the other examination requirements set forth in this regulation, an applicant who has graduated from a foreign school or college of pharmacy shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be approved to take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE); and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Obtain the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Education Committee (FPGEC) Certificate.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The passing score for the FPGEE is 75.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Upon successful completion of the FPGEE and submission of the FPGE Certificate, an applicant may be approved by the Board to take Exam I and Exam II.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>