Indiana Board of Pharmacy Adopts UMPJE to Modernize Pharmacist Licensure

Board Adopts Modern Solution

The Indiana Board of Pharmacy recently voted to adopt the Uniform Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (UMPJE) as the state’s official pharmacy law exam.

This forward-thinking move aligns Indiana with a growing national effort to streamline pharmacist licensure while maintaining rigorous competency standards.

Seven states have already adopted the UMPJE, with ten more in the process. Indiana joined this modernization effort after extensive review and stakeholder input.

Senate Bill 293 Would Eliminate a Key Safeguard

Senate Bill 293, currently advancing through the legislature, would eliminate Indiana’s jurisprudence examination requirement entirely — effectively overriding the Board’s expert judgment just as it has implemented an updated solution.

The timing raises concerns. After the Board spent considerable time evaluating options and selecting the UMPJE, SB 293 would remove the law exam requirement altogether rather than working within the Board’s modernization plan.

Why the Board’s Decision Makes Sense

The UMPJE addresses concerns about multi-state practice while preserving essential public safety protections:

Reduces Barriers: Pharmacy graduates who pass the UMPJE can practice in any participating state without taking multiple law exams, reducing costs and time to licensure.

Maintains Standards: The exam tests knowledge of federal regulations and core pharmacy law principles that protect patients.

Allows State Flexibility: Indiana can still require supplemental education on state-specific regulations through courses or modules, as outlined in the Board’s plan.

Ensures Accountability: Pharmacists remain subject to disciplinary action for violating Indiana-specific laws, regardless of exam requirements.

Respecting Regulatory Expertise

State boards of pharmacy exist to make these highly technical licensing decisions. Board members bring specialized knowledge of pharmacy practice, patient safety, and regulatory requirements.

The Indiana Board carefully weighed the evidence before adopting the UMPJE. According to data from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the exam maintains high standards. In Wisconsin’s pilot program, the UMPJE had a 74% pass rate — demonstrating it is far from a rubber stamp.

The Wisconsin pilot allowed students who had completed the law portion of their Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum to take one attempt at the law exam prior to graduation, providing early assessment while preserving rigor.

The Right Path Forward

Lawmakers should:

• Reject SB 293 or amend it to align with the Board’s UMPJE adoption

  
  

• Support the Board’s expertise in technical licensure decisions

  
  

• Allow the UMPJE implementation to proceed as planned

  
  

• Monitor outcomes and request transition reports from the Board

Weighing the Consequences

While SB 293’s sponsors may intend to reduce regulatory burdens, eliminating the law exam requirement entirely could leave Indiana as an outlier — potentially with lower standards than neighboring states.

The Board’s adoption of the UMPJE already achieves the goal of reducing unnecessary barriers while preserving the essential requirement that pharmacists demonstrate competency in the laws governing their practice.

Conclusion

Indiana’s Board of Pharmacy has done its job — balancing access, efficiency, and public safety through a carefully researched policy decision.

The question now is whether lawmakers will support that expert judgment or undo it.

Indiana patients deserve pharmacists who understand the laws designed to protect them. The Board has identified a path forward that modernizes licensure while maintaining accountability.

For more information about the UMPJE and Indiana’s adoption, contact the Indiana Board of Pharmacy or visit the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at nabp.pharmacy.