Close

December 2025 Electronic Mailbags

December 4, 2025

December 11, 2025

December 18, 2025

Competency Assessment Is Now Exam Services

The Competency Assessment department is changing its name to Exam Services!

We are excited about this change and want to share the background with you. The new name better reflects our team’s scope of work, and it reduces the potentially negative connotation that may arise when candidates hear the term “Competency Assessment.” This change is effective immediately, and we are making the necessary updates, both internally and externally.

The goal of this name change is part of a broader effort to streamline the candidate journey and create a more consistent, efficient experience for all stakeholders, including those beyond the candidate. It was also critical to incorporate “services” into our department name. Our department oversees all NABP Exams that measure competency, but we also provide other services, such as ADA accommodations for exam candidates and our FPGEC certification program.

Our new email address is: ExamServices@nabp.pharmacy. Emails sent to the previous CompAssess inbox will be routed directly to our new one. We are rolling out the changes with a goal of completing everything by December 5.

back to top

Save the Date for the NABP Forums Taking Place in Fall 2026

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) is pleased to announce the dates for the 2026 NABP Forums, which will take place at NABP Headquarters in Mount Prospect, IL. The dates are as follows:

There is no registration fee to attend these events, and NABP covers the cost of travel and lodging for one executive officer and one board member from each board of pharmacy.

Additional information about the NABP Forums will be provided in spring 2026. In the meantime, we hope you find the advance notice of the dates helpful when planning your 2026 board meetings.

back to top

Utilizing Pulse by NABP to Identify Suspect Ozempic in the Supply Chain

This memorandum serves to highlight urgent alerts recently issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Novo Nordisk regarding the discovery of suspect Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1 mg within the legitimate US drug supply chain. These seized suspect products, some of which contained non-sterile suspect needles, pose a risk to patient safety.

State boards are strongly encouraged to review the following releases for detailed information on the specific lot numbers and visual identifiers associated with these suspect units:

In light of these findings, NABP reminds states that Pulse by NABP is available as a tool for inspectors and investigators to conduct rapid product verifications. As evidenced by recent enforcement actions where Pulse was successfully deployed to identify suspect Ozempic units in the field, this platform provides the digital connectivity necessary to verify the legitimacy of trading partners and product transactions efficiently. 

State boards are encouraged to leverage Pulse to assist in identifying these suspect products and removing them from circulation to protect public health.

States interested in signing up for Pulse or those with questions regarding integration should email Erika Vahst at evahst@nabp.pharmacy.

back to top

Draft Model Legislative Language: Enforcement Authority for Medical Spas and Unlicensed Facilities

As we approach the upcoming legislative sessions, NABP is pleased to share the attached draft model legislation regarding pharmacy board enforcement and pharmaceutical supply chain integrity. This language is designed to address the growing public health challenges associated with medical spas and other unlicensed facilities procuring and compounding prescription drugs.

A “Lite” Approach to Regulation

We recognize that establishing a completely new licensure regime for medical spas may present significant political and legislative hurdles in many jurisdictions. Consequently, the attached document serves as a “lite” version of regulation.

Instead of immediately creating a new licensing category for medical spas and other facilities that operate in a similar fashion, this language focuses on granting Boards of Pharmacy the specific authority to:

Future Model Act Integration

Please note that NABP is currently developing a more comprehensive draft regarding medical spa regulation. We intend to integrate this comprehensive version into the NABP Model Act in the near future. However, this immediate “lite” version is available now for states needing a more agile legislative solution to address immediate safety concerns. 

Legislative Outlook

NABP anticipates significant legislative activity in this space starting in January. As these issues gain visibility, we want to ensure you have the tools you need to protect public health in your state. The Association is ready to assist member boards with this language or any other legislative inquiries. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you require additional support or guidance.

Attachment

back to top

MPJE Item Development Workshop – March 11-13, 2026

NABP will host the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Item Development Workshop on March 11-13, 2026, at NABP Headquarters in Mount Prospect, IL. The item development process is a collaborative effort, and NABP encourages all MPJE participating states to attend this important workshop.

Provide contact information for your jurisdiction’s participants (in-person, remote, or hybrid) on the response form by Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

For those attending in person, the NABP Meeting Services department will provide travel information via the email provided on the response form. Travel expenses will be reimbursed for up to two participants per jurisdiction. All expenses must follow the NABP travel policy for timely processing.

Tentative Meeting Schedule (all times are Central Daylight Time):

If your state board is unable to send a representative, the writing assignment needs to be completed remotely. Further instructions for remote writers will be communicated closer to the workshop. 

If you have any questions or comments, contact the Exam Services Team at MPJE@nabp.pharmacy.

back to top

Updates to NABP Education Verification and Transcript Processes

NABP is implementing updates to the education verification and transcript review processes to enhance exam eligibility workflows, improve efficiency for jurisdictions, and support the national expansion of the Early MPJE option. These updates are designed to maintain exam integrity, reduce administrative burden for boards of pharmacy, and improve the student experience.

Purpose of the Updates

Since 2020, NABP has securely collected and processed official transcripts to confirm that all candidates are graduates of Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited entry-level programs. This remains essential to protect exam validity and safeguard the practice of pharmacy against falsified documentation.

The following enhancements address evolving state requirements, strengthen partnerships with schools, and introduce new automation capabilities within the NABP Service Dashboard. NABP is modernizing the workflow to improve processing and increase efficiency.

Key Enhancements

  1. Updated Transcript and Education Verification Framework
    • The previous mandatory transcript block in the exam purchase workflow will be removed; however, boards will still maintain access to verified official transcripts through the e-Profile Connect system.
    • For boards using NABP Eligibility Services, NABP will continue to collect, review, and store official transcripts and will mark education verified within the e-Profile.
  2. Use of School Graduate List
    • Schools will submit official, certified graduation list containing graduate names, eProfile ID numbers, and conferral dates.
    • Rosters will be uploaded through the NABP Service Dashboard and verified by NABP staff.
    • Rosters will support faster Authorization To Test (ATT) issuance while maintaining safeguards such as the use of score holds, where needed, until official transcripts are received.
    • Streamlined review of rosters will increase overall efficiency for all boards and will also enable eligibility automation for jurisdictions utilizing NABP Eligibility Services.
  3. Support for the Early MPJE
    • Education may be marked verified based on school-submitted rosters for students participating in the national Early MPJE option (one attempt available for preconferral students).
    • NABP will continue requiring the transcript to be uploaded to the students’ e-Profile account, and the MPJE result will not be released until that has been uploaded and verified. The transcript requirement will remain in place for the NAPLEX.
  4. Enhanced Technology and Tracking
    • Improvements to the Transcripts Dashboard include bulk transcript uploads, cohort management, campus identifiers, and education-verified indicators.
    • NABP is exploring automated transcript review technology to assist staff and ensure consistency.

Benefits to the Boards of Pharmacy

These improvements will:

Next Steps

Contact NABP if your board is interested in adopting NABP eligibility services or participating in the national Early MPJE option. NABP values your feedback and looks forward to continued collaboration as these enhancements are implemented. Contact ExamServices@nabp.pharmacy with any questions or feedback.

back to top