HB4154 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 15658 AAS 28830 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4154

Introduced 10/15/2025, by Rep. Natalie A. Manley

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 85/7

from Ch. 111, par. 4127

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall authorize the examination of applicants as pharmacists at such times and places as it may determine (rather than not less than 3 times per year). Provides that the Department and the Board of Pharmacy shall regularly monitor the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination or its successor to ensure that the examination of applicants is of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists for the calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027 shall be required to pass only the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. Provides that the results from the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination for such applicants shall be disregarded and shall not prohibit an applicant who has successfully passed the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination from engaging in the practice of pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (rather than the designated testing service), a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Provides that the Department shall notify applicants taking the examination of their results no later than 2 weeks after (rather than within 7 weeks of) the examination date. Makes conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Pharmacy Practice Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(225 ILCS 85/7) (from Ch. 111, par. 4127)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 7. Application; examination. Applications for original licenses shall be made to the Department in writing or electronically on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by the required fee, which shall not be refundable. Any such application shall require such information as in the judgment of the Department will enable the Board and Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for a license.

The Department shall authorize the examination examinations of applicants as pharmacists not less than 3 times per year at such times and places as it may determine. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) or its successor shall be monitored regularly by the Department and the Board of Pharmacy to ensure that the examination of applicants is shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice pharmacy.

Applicants for examination as pharmacists for the calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027 shall be required to pass only the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. The results from the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) for such applicants shall be disregarded and shall not prohibit an applicant who has successfully passed the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination from engaging in the practice of pharmacy.

Applicants for examination as pharmacists shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy designated testing service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee. The examination shall be developed and provided by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

If an applicant neglects, fails, or refuses to take the an examination or fails to pass the an examination for a license under this Act within 3 years after filing his application, the application is denied. However, such applicant may thereafter make a new application accompanied by the required fee and show evidence of meeting the requirements in force at the time of the new application.

The Department shall notify applicants taking the examination of their results no later than 2 weeks after within 7 weeks of the examination date. Further, the Department shall have the authority to immediately authorize such applicants who successfully pass the examination to engage in the practice of pharmacy.

An applicant shall have one year from the date of notification of successful completion of the examination to apply to the Department for a license. If an applicant fails to make such application within one year, the applicant shall be required to again take and pass the examination.

An applicant who has graduated with a professional degree from a school of pharmacy located outside of the United States must do the following:

(1) obtain a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certificate;

(2) complete 1,200 hours of clinical training and experience, as defined by rule, in the United States or its territories; and

(3) successfully complete the licensing requirements set forth in Section 6 of this Act, as well as those adopted by the Department by rule.

The Department may employ consultants for the purpose of preparing and conducting examinations.

(Source: P.A. 100-497, eff. 9-8-17.)