Pharmacy Licensure in Hawaii
Complete guide to becoming a licensed pharmacist in Hawaii in 2026. Everything below is anchored to the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy. Always confirm application specifics against the board's own site before submitting.
Hawaii's island geography produces a distinctive community and health-system pharmacy environment, with a concentrated employer base and a growing telepharmacy and 340B footprint.
Hawaii pharmacy license — at a glance
Board-issued requirements, refreshed against the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy. Fees marked “Contact board” indicate values that change frequently — always confirm at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/.
- MPJE required
- Yes — MPJE
- Intern hours
- 1500 hours
- Continuing education
- 30 hours per 2 years
- License renewal cycle
- 2 years
- License transfer / reciprocity
- Available via NABP ELTP
- Application fee
- Contact board — see boardUrl
- State Board of Pharmacy
- Hawaii Board of Pharmacy
Steps to pharmacy licensure in Hawaii
A typical PharmD graduate in Hawaii moves through the following milestones on the path to full licensure.
Graduate from an ACPE-accredited PharmD program
The Hawaii Board of Pharmacy requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), or documented Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certification for internationally trained candidates.
Register for the NAPLEX with NABP
Register for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) through your NABP e-Profile. Your Hawaii candidacy is transmitted electronically to the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy after the board approves your license application.
Pass the MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination)
Hawaii uses the MPJE to test state-specific pharmacy law alongside federal drug law. Prepare using Hawaii-specific practice materials — general MPJE prep is not enough because roughly a quarter of the exam is jurisdiction-specific.
Complete 1500 intern hours
Complete supervised pharmacy intern hours as required by the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy. Introductory (IPPE) and advanced (APPE) rotations completed as part of your PharmD curriculum typically count toward this requirement — confirm the board's current attestation process at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/.
Submit your application to the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy
Submit your license application, background check, transcripts, intern-hour attestations, and application fee to the board. Application fees, forms, and processing timelines are published at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/.
Maintain 30 CE hours per 2 years
Once licensed, you must complete 30 hours of ACPE-accredited continuing education per 2 years, including any board-required categories (e.g., patient safety, immunization, controlled substances).
Ready to start NAPLEX prep for Hawaii?
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Hawaii pharmacy licensing FAQ
- How long does it take to get licensed as a pharmacist in Hawaii?
- Most candidates in Hawaii complete NAPLEX registration, the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), application review, and their 1500 required intern hours across roughly 3 to 6 months after graduating from an ACPE-accredited PharmD program. Exact timing depends on the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy's current processing queue — check https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/ for real-time application status.
- Does Hawaii accept license transfer or NAPLEX score transfer from another state?
- Yes. Hawaii participates in the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (ELTP), so pharmacists already licensed in another US jurisdiction can transfer their license to Hawaii. You will still need to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and meet all state-specific requirements confirmed at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/.
- What continuing education (CE) does Hawaii require pharmacists to complete?
- Hawaii pharmacists must complete 30 hours of ACPE-accredited CE per 2 years. Specific category requirements (e.g., patient safety, immunizations, opioid prescribing) are set by the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy — see https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/ for the current CE breakdown.
- Is the MPJE required for licensure in Hawaii?
- Yes. Hawaii requires candidates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), which tests state-specific pharmacy law in addition to federal drug law.
- Where do I apply for a Hawaii pharmacist license?
- Applications are submitted directly to the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy through their official portal at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/. The board publishes current application fees, required documents, background-check instructions, and intern-hour attestation forms on that site.