Massachusetts MPJE – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarize core Massachusetts pharmacy law concepts for MPJE preparation.

Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy (BOP)

State agency within the Department of Public Health that regulates pharmacy practice and licensing.

Board Composition

13 members: 8 pharmacists, 1 pharmacy technician, 1 public representative, 1 physician, 1 nurse, 1 patient-safety expert.

Independent Pharmacy (MA)

Fewer than 9 pharmacies and fewer than 20 full-time RPh employees.

Chain Pharmacy (MA)

More than 10 pharmacy locations.

Board Member Term

3-year term; maximum of two consecutive terms.

Board Officer Election

Board elects a president and secretary annually on the first Tuesday in December.

BOP Meeting Schedule

Regular meetings first Tuesdays of January, May, and October; additional as needed.

Pharmacist License – Initial Fee

$421 for new Massachusetts pharmacist applicants.

Reciprocity License Fee

$525 for pharmacists transferring licensure into MA.

Score Transfer Fee

$375 when transferring NAPLEX score to MA.

Continuing Education (CE)

40 contact hours every 2 years; at least 20 each calendar year.

Live CE Requirement

Minimum 5 contact hours of live CE per renewal cycle.

Law CE Requirement

2 contact hours of Massachusetts pharmacy law per year (4 per cycle).

Sterile Compounding CE

Pharmacists engaged in sterile compounding need 5 hours CE per year (10 per cycle).

Non-Sterile Compounding CE

3 hours CE per year (6 per cycle) for pharmacists who compound non-sterile preparations.

Vaccine Administration CE

2 contact hours per 2-year cycle for immunizing pharmacists.

Intern Hour Requirement

1,500 hours; can be all experiential or a mix of work and Board-approved internships.

Intern License Fee

$95 for pharmacy intern registration.

Intern License Duration

Valid for 5 years.

Primary Preceptor

Designated pharmacist responsible for overseeing a pharmacy intern’s hours and activities.

Technician Licensing Age

Must be at least 18 years old (16 for technician-in-training).

Pharmacy Technician License Fee

$150 for Massachusetts pharmacy technician license.

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) CE

20 hours every 2 years; includes 1 hr law and 1 hr patient safety.

Technician Renewal

Every 2 years on licensee’s birthday.

Tech Trainee Hour Trigger

Must apply for full tech license after 500 hours and turning 18, or after 1,500 hours/1 year.

RPh : Technician Ratio (Base)

1 pharmacist to 2 technicians; may rise to 1:3 or 1:4 with certified techs/interns.

RPh : Intern Ratio

1 pharmacist may supervise up to 2 pharmacy interns concurrently.

Pharmacy Minimum Size

At least 300 square feet dispensing area.

Private Consultation Area

Designated space labeled “Patient Consultation Area” allowing confidential counseling.

Separate Alarm

Pharmacy must have its own alarm system activated when closed.

Schedule II File

Hard copies for Schedule II prescriptions stored in a separate file.

Patient Counseling Sign

11"×14" sign: “Dear patients, you have the right to know about the proper use of your medication…”.

Pharmacy Hours Sign

Hours must be prominently posted at all customer entrances.

Manager of Record (PIC) Sign

One-inch lettering showing PIC’s name at main entrance.

Lock Box Sign

4"×5" notice: “Lock boxes for securing your prescription medications are available at this pharmacy.”

Ownership Change Notice

Board must be notified within 30 days of a change in pharmacy ownership.

PIC Change Notice

Board must be notified within 10 days; CS inventory signed by outgoing and incoming PIC.

Pharmacy Closure Alarm

Floor-to-ceiling barrier must be locked and alarmed when pharmacist absent.

Prescription Balance Requirement

Balance capable of weighing at least 13 mg, tested and sealed annually.

MLID (Massachusetts List of Interchangeable Drugs)

State list of therapeutically equivalent generics that must be substituted unless ‘no substitution’ indicated.

Schedule VI (MA)

All legend (non-controlled federal) drugs classified as Schedule VI in Massachusetts.

Electronic Prescribing Mandate

All Schedule II–V prescriptions must be e-prescribed; exemptions apply (e.g., outages, veterinarians).

E-Prescribing Hard Copy Deadline

If exempt oral C II–V issued, prescriber must send follow-up hard copy within 7 days (3 days for C-II emergency).

Prescription Validity – C-II

Must be filled within 30 days of issue date.

Prescription Validity – C-III, IV, V

Valid for 6 months from date written.

Prescription Validity – Schedule VI

Valid for 12 months from date written.

Refill Limits – C-III, IV, V

Up to 5 refills within 6 months.

Partial Fill upon Patient Request (MA)

C-II prescriptions may be partially filled on patient request; remainder valid for 30 days.

Emergency C-II Oral Rx

Allowed if prescriber provides written Rx marked “Authorization for Emergency Dispensing” within 3 days.

PDMP (MassPAT) Submission

Pharmacies must report C II–V and gabapentin within 24 hours (next business day).

PDMP Check – Pharmacists

Must review MassPAT before dispensing any C II–III narcotic or benzodiazepine; optional first fill C IV–V.

Quality Related Event (QRE)

Documented dispensing error; must notify patient and prescriber and record same day.

Improper Dispensing Report

Serious injury/death events reported to BOP within 15 business days.

Sterile Compounding License

Separate BOP license required; clean room ≥72 sq ft with controlled environment.

Complex Non-Sterile License

Additional license for pharmacies preparing high-risk non-sterile compounds per USP 795.

Sterile Compounding BUD – Non-Sterile Components, Room Temp

Not to exceed 1 day.

Non-Sterile Compounding BUD – Water-Containing Oral

14 days refrigerated (2–8 °C) or earliest ingredient expiry, whichever sooner.

Accountability Documentation

Lot numbers, expiration dates, and prescription link for each compounded preparation.

Central Fill Petition

Pharmacy must petition the MA Board before performing central fill or remote processing.

Telepharmacy License

Remote pharmacists verifying MA prescriptions must hold a MA pharmacist license.

Pharmacist Immunization Authority

May administer any ACIP-recommended vaccine to patients ≥3 years under standing order.

Mental Health & SUD Injection Authority

Pharmacists/interns may administer long-acting antipsychotics or naltrexone with proper training.

Collaborative Practice Agreement

Written agreement allowing pharmacists to modify drug therapy under physician supervision.

Administrative Inspection Warrant

Legal document permitting inspectors access to a pharmacy without a pharmacist present.

DEA Form 222

Triplicate (or CSOS) order form for Schedule I & II controlled substances.

DEA Form 106

Report of theft or significant loss of controlled substances.

DEA Form 41

Record of controlled substance destruction.

DATA-Waived DEA Number

DEA number beginning with ‘X’ authorizing buprenorphine prescribing for opioid use disorder.

DEA Number Check Digit

Sum of odd-place digits + (2 × even-place digits); last digit equals 7th DEA number digit.

Naloxone Good-Faith Law

Allows any person to possess and administer naloxone to someone experiencing opioid overdose.

Optometrist Prescriptive Authority (MA)

Limited to topical ocular medications—does not include glaucoma treatments.

Physician Assistant C-II Cosign Time

Supervising physician must review PA-issued C-II prescription within 96 hours.

Counseling Mandate Topics

Name, description, dosage, side effects, self-monitoring, storage, refills, missed dose actions.

Drug Take-Back Waiver

Facility must obtain MA waiver to host kiosk, police-station box, or single-day collection event.

Syringe Sales (MA)

Pharmacists may sell syringes OTC with no age or quantity limits; no prescription required.

Pseudoephedrine Daily Limit

3.6 grams base per purchaser per day; 9 g per 30 days (7.5 g by mail).

Lock Box Sales Requirement

Pharmacies dispensing C II–V must offer prescription lock boxes for sale.

Hydrocodone-Only ER Packaging

Must be dispensed in child-resistant container or locked box unless abuse-deterrent.

Medication Error Records Retention

QRE and improper-dispensing documents kept for at least 2 years.

Patient Profile Retention

Maintain for a minimum of 12 months from last entry.

Schedule II Multiple Rx Rule

Up to three sequential C-II prescriptions may be issued, each with a ‘do not fill before’ date.

Controlled Substance Registration (CSR)

Massachusetts registration automatically issued with DEA registration to prescribers & pharmacies.