I85PREP
⌘ K
AL MPJE study materials
AL MPJE study resources

AL MPJE practice questions

One question at a time. Build your AL MPJE understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under federal law, how many refills may a prescriber authorize on a single prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance?

  1. None Correct answer.
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Five within six months

Explanation

Federal regulations prohibit refilling a Schedule II prescription; each dispensing requires a new prescription. A prescriber may issue up to three sequential prescriptions with 'do not fill before' dates covering no more than 90 days, but that is not a refill authorization.

Question 2Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A prescriber issues a prescription for a Schedule IV controlled substance on March 1 and authorizes the maximum number of refills federal law allows. If refills are obtained promptly, what is the last date a refill may lawfully be dispensed?

  1. March 1 of the following year
  2. September 1 of the same year Correct answer.
  3. December 1 of the same year
  4. There is no outer time limit as long as refills remain

Explanation

A prescription for a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance may not be filled or refilled more than six months after its date of issue, and no more than five refills may be authorized. Six months from March 1 is September 1.

Question 3Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under federal law, testosterone and other anabolic steroids are placed in which schedule?

  1. Schedule III Correct answer.
  2. Schedule I
  3. Schedule IV
  4. Schedule II

Explanation

Anabolic steroids, including testosterone, are listed in Schedule III, which recognizes a medical use with moderate-to-low abuse potential. Schedule III prescriptions may be refilled up to five times within six months.

Question 4Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A patient asks that her prescription be placed in a conventional, non-child-resistant container. Which statement is correct under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act?

  1. Child-resistant packaging may never be waived once a prescription has been written
  2. Either the prescriber or the patient may direct non-child-resistant packaging Correct answer.
  3. Non-child-resistant packaging is permitted only for controlled substances
  4. A prescriber may direct noncomplying packaging, but a patient may not request it

Explanation

The Poison Prevention Packaging Act generally requires child-resistant containers for oral prescription drugs, but it allows noncomplying packaging when the prescriber directs it or the patient requests it. Manufacturers are also permitted to market one noncomplying package size.

Question 5Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under the Durham-Humphrey Amendment, a drug product must be dispensed only on prescription when it is:

  1. Stocked only in hospitals because of its administration requirements
  2. Priced above a threshold established by FDA
  3. Habit-forming or not safe for self-medication without professional supervision Correct answer.
  4. Manufactured outside the United States

Explanation

The Durham-Humphrey Amendment created the prescription/over-the-counter dichotomy: a drug that is habit-forming or that is unsafe for self-medication because of its toxicity or method of use must bear the prescription legend and be dispensed only on prescription.

Question 6Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which form does a community pharmacy use to order Schedule II controlled substances from a wholesale distributor?

  1. DEA Form 222 Correct answer.
  2. DEA Form 41
  3. DEA Form 224
  4. DEA Form 106

Explanation

DEA Form 222 is the order form used to procure Schedule I and II controlled substances; an electronic equivalent through CSOS may also be used. The form must be completed and retained in accordance with DEA recordkeeping rules.

Question 7Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which body issues and renews pharmacist licenses in Alabama?

  1. The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners
  2. The Alabama Pharmacy Association
  3. The Alabama Department of Public Health
  4. The Alabama Board of Pharmacy Correct answer.

Explanation

The Alabama Board of Pharmacy, created under Title 34, Chapter 23 of the Alabama Code, licenses pharmacists and pharmacies and adopts rules governing the practice of pharmacy. The Department of Public Health administers the state's prescription drug monitoring program, and the Board of Medical Examiners licenses physicians.

Question 8Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which item is required by federal law on the label of a dispensed prescription?

  1. The drug's acquisition cost
  2. The patient's diagnosis
  3. The name and address of the dispensing pharmacy Correct answer.
  4. The prescriber's DEA registration number

Explanation

Federal labeling requirements for prescription drugs dispensed by a pharmacy include the name and address of the pharmacy, the prescription serial number, the date, the patient name, directions for use, the prescriber's name, and any required cautionary statements. Diagnosis, cost, and DEA number are not required label elements.

Question 9Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A pharmacist accepts an oral emergency order for a Schedule II drug on Monday, March 3, and the prescriber agrees to follow up with a written prescription. Within how many days must the written prescription be delivered to the pharmacy?

  1. 30 days
  2. 2 days
  3. 15 days
  4. 7 days Correct answer.

Explanation

When a pharmacist dispenses a Schedule II controlled substance on an oral emergency order, the prescriber must deliver a written or compliant electronic prescription within seven days. If it is not received, the pharmacist must notify DEA.

Question 10Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which statement about the biennial inventory of controlled substances required of a registered pharmacy is correct?

  1. It may be taken on any date the registrant chooses, provided it is repeated every two years Correct answer.
  2. It must be taken on January 1 of each odd-numbered year
  3. It must be taken on the exact anniversary of the pharmacy's registration date
  4. It is required only if requested in writing by a DEA investigator

Explanation

Federal regulations require a biennial inventory every two years on any date selected by the registrant, kept at the registered location with the records for at least two years. A newly registered pharmacy takes an initial inventory on the date it first engages in business.

Question 11Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A pharmacy discovers that 200 oxycodone tablets are missing and believes they were stolen. What action does federal law require?

  1. Report the loss only to the state board of pharmacy
  2. Notify DEA in writing on DEA Form 106 within one business day of discovery Correct answer.
  3. Report nothing if the loss is less than 5 percent of the pharmacy's stock
  4. Note the loss on the next biennial inventory instead of reporting it

Explanation

A registrant must notify the local DEA field division in writing within one business day of discovering a theft or significant loss, using DEA Form 106. The report is completed as additional facts become known, and losses in transit are reported on DEA Form 107.

Question 12Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

On June 1 a patient presents a Schedule II prescription for 60 tablets and requests a partial fill of 20 tablets. Under federal law, what is the latest date the remaining 40 tablets may be dispensed?

  1. June 4, three days after the partial fill
  2. July 1, thirty days after the partial fill Correct answer.
  3. June 8, one week after the partial fill
  4. December 1, six months after the partial fill

Explanation

When a Schedule II prescription is partially filled at the request of the patient or the prescriber, the remainder may be dispensed within 30 days of the partial fill, as long as the total dispensed does not exceed the quantity prescribed. Different periods apply when the pharmacy cannot supply the full quantity or when the patient is in a long-term care facility or terminally ill.

Question 13Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A patient asks Pharmacy B to transfer an unfilled prescription for a Schedule IV drug from Pharmacy A so that it can be refilled at Pharmacy B. How many times may that prescription be transferred between pharmacies for refill purposes?

  1. As many times as the patient requests
  2. Two times
  3. One time only Correct answer.
  4. Never, because controlled substance prescriptions may not be transferred

Explanation

Federal rules permit a controlled substance prescription in Schedules III through V to be transferred between pharmacies for refill purposes only one time, with documentation of the transfer on both ends. DEA rules also address the transfer of electronic prescriptions for initial filling.

Question 14Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A practitioner who has never had an in-person encounter with a patient wishes to prescribe a Schedule II stimulant through a telemedicine visit. Under the Ryan Haight Act, which is required?

  1. A DEA Form 222 to authorize the telemedicine prescription
  2. A signed patient consent form retained in the medical record
  3. Nothing additional, as long as the prescription is transmitted electronically
  4. An in-person medical evaluation, unless a specific statutory exception applies Correct answer.

Explanation

The Ryan Haight Act generally requires at least one in-person medical evaluation before a practitioner may prescribe a controlled substance by means of telemedicine, unless a specific exception applies, such as treatment in a DEA-registered facility. The practitioner must also hold a valid DEA registration.

Question 15Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, what is the maximum amount of pseudoephedrine base that may be sold to one customer in a single day?

  1. 1 gram
  2. 7.5 grams
  3. 3.6 grams Correct answer.
  4. 9 grams

Explanation

Federal law limits retail sales of pseudoephedrine base to 3.6 grams per customer per day and 9 grams per customer in any 30-day period. Purchasers must be at least 18 years old, show photo identification, and sign a written or electronic logbook.

Question 16Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Alabama's prescription drug monitoring program, which collects controlled substance dispensing data, is administered by which agency?

  1. The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners
  2. The Alabama Department of Revenue
  3. The Alabama Board of Pharmacy
  4. The Alabama Department of Public Health Correct answer.

Explanation

Alabama's PDMP operates within the Alabama Department of Public Health under the Alabama Code provisions governing the program. Dispensers submit controlled substance dispensing data, and authorized prescribers and pharmacists may query patient histories.

Question 17Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which statement best describes the credentialing of pharmacy technicians in Alabama?

  1. Technicians are licensed as health care workers by the Department of Public Health
  2. Technicians need no credential as long as a pharmacist directly supervises them
  3. Technicians need only national certification from a private certifying body
  4. Technicians must be registered with the Alabama Board of Pharmacy Correct answer.

Explanation

Alabama requires pharmacy technicians to register with the Alabama Board of Pharmacy and to practice under pharmacist supervision within Board-established ratios and permitted duties. National certification may be required for certain technician categories but does not replace state registration.

Question 18Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

An adult presents at an Alabama community pharmacy requesting an influenza vaccination. Which statement is correct?

  1. Only a physician may authorize each individual dose
  2. The pharmacist may administer it only on hospital orders
  3. Vaccines may be administered only by licensed nurses
  4. The pharmacist may administer it under a valid prescription or physician-approved protocol Correct answer.

Explanation

Alabama law and Board of Pharmacy rules authorize pharmacists to administer vaccines to adults, and within defined age limits to older children, pursuant to a prescription or a physician-approved protocol. The pharmacist must meet training, certification, and documentation requirements.

Question 19Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A pharmacist receives a subpoena duces tecum for a patient's records but has no patient authorization. Under HIPAA, what is the appropriate response?

  1. Disclose only after satisfactory assurance that the requester notified the patient or obtained a protective order Correct answer.
  2. Release the complete record immediately upon receipt of the subpoena
  3. Refuse to disclose because HIPAA bars disclosures in response to subpoenas
  4. Require the patient's written authorization in every case before releasing anything

Explanation

HIPAA permits disclosure in response to a subpoena only when the covered entity receives satisfactory assurance that the party seeking the information made a reasonable effort to notify the individual or that a qualified protective order has been obtained. Otherwise the pharmacist should not release the records.

Question 20Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, what data elements make up a drug's product identifier?

  1. The drug name, strength, and NDC only
  2. The NDC and the manufacturer's DEA registration number
  3. The NDC, lot number, and expiration date only
  4. The NDC, serial number, lot number, and expiration date Correct answer.

Explanation

The DSCSA defines the product identifier as a standardized graphic containing the NDC, a unique serial number, the lot number, and the expiration date. It is the basis for package-level verification and interoperable electronic tracing through the supply chain.

Question 21Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A pharmacy wants its corporate distribution center personnel to sign DEA order forms on the pharmacy's behalf. What is the proper mechanism?

  1. File a separate DEA registration for each authorized signer
  2. Execute a power of attorney naming each authorized signer Correct answer.
  3. List the authorized signers on DEA Form 224
  4. Obtain DEA approval of each order before it is placed

Explanation

A registrant may execute a power of attorney authorizing one or more individuals to sign DEA Form 222 on its behalf. The executed power of attorney is retained with the filled order forms, is subject to inspection, and must be revoked in writing when the authorization ends.

Question 22Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Where state law permits, a pharmacy sells a Schedule V controlled substance without a prescription. Which record must the pharmacy maintain?

  1. An entry in the same logbook used for pseudoephedrine sales
  2. The prescriber's DEA number, the patient's diagnosis, and a copy of photo identification
  3. A copy of the purchaser's photo identification only
  4. The purchaser's name and address, drug, quantity, date, and dispensing pharmacist's name Correct answer.

Explanation

Federal regulations require that a written or electronic record be kept of the purchaser's name and address, the name and quantity of the controlled substance, the date of sale, and the name or initials of the pharmacist dispensing it. The record must be available for inspection for the required retention period.

Question 23Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A community pharmacy compounds an oral suspension for a specific patient under a valid prescription. Which statement is correct?

  1. The pharmacy may routinely compound copies of commercially available products in any quantity
  2. The pharmacy must obtain FDA approval of the preparation before dispensing it
  3. Compounding is exempt from USP standards and state law
  4. The pharmacy is exempt from new drug approval requirements if it meets section 503A conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 503A exempts traditional pharmacy compounding from new drug approval, adequate directions for use, and current good manufacturing practice requirements if its conditions are met. Those conditions include a prescription for an identified patient, compliance with USP standards, use of permitted bulk substances, and no compounding of essentially a copy of a commercially available product.

Question 24Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A pharmacy located in another state mails prescription drugs to patients who live in Alabama. What does Alabama law require of that pharmacy?

  1. It must hold an Alabama nonresident pharmacy license Correct answer.
  2. It may operate under its home-state license with no Alabama credential
  3. It must be inspected by the Department of Public Health before each shipment
  4. It needs no license if the prescriber holds an Alabama license

Explanation

Alabama requires a pharmacy located outside the state that ships, mails, or delivers prescription drugs to Alabama patients to obtain an Alabama nonresident pharmacy license. The pharmacy must also comply with Alabama labeling, recordkeeping, and patient information requirements and is subject to Board inspection.

Question 25Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Which requirement applies before a practitioner may issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances?

  1. The pharmacy must pre-approve the practitioner's electronic signature
  2. The practitioner must use a DEA-compliant application with identity proofing and two-factor authentication Correct answer.
  3. The practitioner must obtain a separate electronic DEA registration number
  4. A paper copy must follow every electronic prescription

Explanation

The DEA electronic prescription rule requires the prescribing application to meet specific technical standards, the practitioner to be identity-proofed and issued a two-factor credential, and the pharmacy to verify the prescription's digital signature before dispensing. No separate registration number exists and no paper follow-up is required.

Question 26Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under federal law, what is the maximum number of refills that may be authorized on a prescription for a Schedule III controlled substance?

  1. Two refills within three months of issuance
  2. Unlimited refills within one year of issuance
  3. No refills, since a new order is required
  4. Five refills within six months of issuance Correct answer.

Explanation

Federal regulations limit prescriptions for Schedule III and IV controlled substances to a maximum of five refills, and each refill must be dispensed within six months of the date the prescription was issued. Once those limits are reached, the prescriber must issue a new prescription. Schedule II prescriptions, by contrast, may not be refilled at all.

Question 27Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

At what interval must a pharmacy renew its DEA registration to continue dispensing controlled substances?

  1. Every three years Correct answer.
  2. Every five years
  3. Every two years
  4. Every year

Explanation

DEA registrations for pharmacies and other registrants run for a three-year period and must be renewed before expiration to avoid a lapse in authority to handle controlled substances. DEA typically sends a renewal notice well before the expiration date. Operating with an expired registration is unlawful.

Question 28Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

Under Alabama Board of Pharmacy rules, which task may a registered pharmacy technician perform?

  1. Performing the final check on a filled prescription
  2. Counseling a patient on how to take a new prescription
  3. Entering prescription data for a pharmacist to verify Correct answer.
  4. Administering a vaccine to an adult patient

Explanation

Pharmacy technicians in Alabama work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and may perform supportive tasks such as data entry, counting, and labeling, with the pharmacist retaining verification responsibility. Patient counseling, final verification of a filled prescription, and vaccine administration are functions reserved to the pharmacist. Technician authority is therefore defined by the pharmacist's delegated oversight.

Question 29Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

A prescriber's office asks whether a prescription for a Schedule II analgesic for a hospice patient may be faxed to the community pharmacy. Which statement is correct?

  1. A faxed order is valid only if the patient signs a waiver at the time of pickup
  2. Faxed Schedule II orders are never permitted; the written original must be presented
  3. A faxed order is valid only after the pharmacist obtains oral confirmation
  4. A faxed order is valid because the patient is enrolled in hospice care Correct answer.

Explanation

Federal rules generally require a written or electronic prescription for Schedule II drugs, but they create a specific exception allowing a faxed prescription to serve as the original for patients in a long-term care facility or hospice care. Oral emergency orders are a separate exception with follow-up requirements. For an ordinary outpatient, a fax alone would not satisfy the Schedule II requirement.

Question 30Federal and Alabama pharmacy law and regulatory framework

During an investigation, a pharmacy determines that a drug product it received is illegitimate. Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, what must the pharmacy do?

  1. Quarantine it and notify FDA and trading partners within 24 hours Correct answer.
  2. Hold it for 30 days and report the matter to the state board of pharmacy
  3. Return it to the seller and document the return in the invoice file
  4. Destroy it and record the destruction in the controlled substance log

Explanation

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act requires trading partners that determine a product is illegitimate to quarantine it and notify the FDA and the immediate trading partners within 24 hours. Simply returning the product or destroying it would leave the supply chain and regulators uninformed. The duty applies to all trading partners, including dispensing pharmacies.

Question 31Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Which statement correctly describes the composition of the Alabama Board of Pharmacy?

  1. Its members are chosen by the Alabama Pharmacy Association.
  2. Its members serve without appointment by any state official.
  3. It includes public members who are not pharmacists. Correct answer.
  4. Every member must hold an active pharmacist license.

Explanation

The Board of Pharmacy is a state regulatory agency whose members are appointed through the state appointing authority and includes public (consumer) members alongside pharmacist members. Because consumer seats exist, membership is not limited to licensees.

Question 32Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

An Alabama community pharmacy wants to open a second location across town. What is required before the second site may dispense prescriptions?

  1. Only a new DEA registration is needed for the second site.
  2. The existing permit may be used at both sites if one pharmacist-in-charge oversees both.
  3. A separate pharmacy permit must be issued for the new location. Correct answer.
  4. The Board must be notified, but no additional permit is required.

Explanation

Pharmacy permits in Alabama are issued for a specific physical location and are not transferable to another address. Opening an additional location therefore requires its own permit from the Board.

Question 33Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Every permitted pharmacy in Alabama must have which of the following?

  1. A designated pharmacist-in-charge responsible for compliance. Correct answer.
  2. At least two pharmacists on duty during all operating hours.
  3. A pharmacist owner holding a majority of the business.
  4. A consulting physician present on the premises at all times.

Explanation

Board rules require each pharmacy to designate a pharmacist-in-charge, a licensed pharmacist who is accountable for the pharmacy's compliance with pharmacy law and rules. The number of staff pharmacists on duty is not fixed at two.

Question 34Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Which examinations must a candidate pass to be licensed as a pharmacist in Alabama?

  1. The NAPLEX and a state jurisprudence oral examination.
  2. Only a state compounding practical examination.
  3. Only the MPJE.
  4. The NAPLEX and the MPJE. Correct answer.

Explanation

Alabama requires the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination plus the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination before a pharmacist license is granted. Both the clinical and the jurisprudence exams are required.

Question 35Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Under Alabama law, when may a pharmacist substitute a therapeutically equivalent generic product for a prescribed brand-name drug?

  1. Only when the generic costs less than the brand product.
  2. Never, unless the prescription is written by generic name.
  3. Only after obtaining written consent from the prescriber each time.
  4. Unless the prescriber directs otherwise or the patient objects. Correct answer.

Explanation

Alabama's substitution law permits dispensing an interchangeable generic without new prescriber authorization, but the prescriber may require the brand product and the patient may refuse the substitution. Price differences alone do not trigger the rule.

Question 36Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

How long must an Alabama pharmacy retain prescription records?

  1. Five years.
  2. Indefinitely, until the pharmacy closes.
  3. Two years. Correct answer.
  4. Six months.

Explanation

Board rules require prescription records to be maintained and readily retrievable for at least two years. Records must remain available for inspection throughout that period.

Question 37Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Before an individual may work as a pharmacy technician in an Alabama pharmacy, the individual must:

  1. Complete a four-year pharmacy degree.
  2. Hold a current pharmacist intern registration.
  3. Be registered with the Board of Pharmacy. Correct answer.
  4. Pass the NAPLEX.

Explanation

Alabama requires pharmacy technicians to be registered with the Board before performing technician duties. Technician registration is a distinct credential from pharmacist licensure or intern registration.

Question 38Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Who is eligible for registration as a pharmacy intern in Alabama?

  1. Only applicants who have already passed the NAPLEX.
  2. Certified technicians with five years of experience.
  3. Any high school graduate who is trained on the job.
  4. Students enrolled in an accredited college of pharmacy. Correct answer.

Explanation

Intern registration is tied to enrollment in a recognized college of pharmacy, and interns practice under pharmacist supervision as part of their professional training. Prior technician experience does not create eligibility.

Question 39Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A community pharmacy is sold to a new owner who will keep the same location, staff, and name. What must happen before the new owner dispenses prescriptions?

  1. Only the DEA registration must be updated.
  2. Nothing is required, because the permit follows the business assets.
  3. The Board must be notified within 30 days after the sale.
  4. The new owner must obtain a new pharmacy permit. Correct answer.

Explanation

A pharmacy permit is issued to a specific owner for a specific location, so a change of ownership requires a new permit application and Board issuance before dispensing continues. Updating federal registrations alone does not satisfy state law.

Question 40Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A pharmacy owner decides to close the store permanently. Which action does Alabama law require?

  1. Surrendering the permit only after all records are destroyed.
  2. Notifying the Board and providing for transfer of prescription records. Correct answer.
  3. Returning the permit only at the next scheduled renewal.
  4. Continuing to fill refills for 90 days after closing.

Explanation

A closing pharmacy must notify the Board, and the pharmacist must arrange for prescription files and patient records to be preserved or transferred so patients can obtain needed medications. Records are not destroyed at closing.

Question 41Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A pharmacist's Alabama license has lapsed because required continuing education was never reported. The pharmacist:

  1. May not practice until the license is reinstated. Correct answer.
  2. May continue practicing while CE is completed within the year.
  3. May practice but may not dispense controlled substances.
  4. May practice if supervised by a pharmacist with a current license.

Explanation

Continuing education is a condition of license renewal, so once the license lapses the individual is no longer a licensed pharmacist. Practice of pharmacy is unlawful until reinstatement requirements are satisfied.

Question 42Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Alabama's counseling requirement for a new prescription is satisfied when the pharmacist:

  1. Counsels only if the patient asks a question.
  2. Posts counseling information at the pickup counter.
  3. Offers counseling and provides it unless the patient declines. Correct answer.
  4. Provides a printed leaflet with the prescription.

Explanation

The pharmacist must offer to counsel each patient or caregiver receiving a new prescription and must provide that counseling unless it is declined. Written material or posted signage supports but does not replace the offer.

Question 43Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

In an Alabama pharmacy, which function must be performed by the pharmacist?

  1. Counting the dosage units.
  2. Affixing the prescription label.
  3. Entering the prescription into the computer.
  4. Final verification of a filled prescription. Correct answer.

Explanation

Final verification is a professional judgment step that must be performed by the pharmacist before a prescription is released. Counting, labeling, and data entry are supportive tasks that may be delegated to registered technicians.

Question 44Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

To administer vaccines in Alabama, a pharmacist must:

  1. Obtain a separate physician's order for each dose given.
  2. Hold current CPR certification and complete immunization training. Correct answer.
  3. Be certified as a pharmacy technician.
  4. Restrict administration to patients over age 65.

Explanation

Alabama allows pharmacist immunization administration for patients within defined age ranges when the pharmacist has completed accredited immunization training and maintains current CPR certification. A patient-specific order is not required for each dose.

Question 45Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A patient who takes a maintenance medication for hypertension has no refills left and cannot reach the prescriber. What may the pharmacist do?

  1. Dispense a full year's supply to avoid interruption.
  2. Dispense a limited emergency supply. Correct answer.
  3. Refuse all action until a new prescription arrives.
  4. Change the patient to a different antihypertensive.

Explanation

Alabama permits a one-time emergency refill of a non-controlled maintenance medication in limited quantity when the prescriber cannot be reached, with notice to the prescriber afterward. Therapy changes are not part of that authority.

Question 46Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A mail-order pharmacy located in another state dispenses prescriptions to Alabama patients. That pharmacy must:

  1. Hold an Alabama nonresident pharmacy permit. Correct answer.
  2. Do nothing extra because interstate commerce is exempt.
  3. Obtain an Alabama pharmacist license for each pharmacist on staff.
  4. Register only with its home state board.

Explanation

Alabama requires pharmacies located outside the state that ship, mail, or deliver prescriptions to Alabama patients to obtain a nonresident pharmacy permit and comply with Alabama requirements. Home-state licensure alone is insufficient.

Question 47Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A pharmacist suspects that a prescription for a controlled substance was written outside the usual course of professional practice. The pharmacist should:

  1. Fill it because the prescriber's license is valid.
  2. Reduce the quantity dispensed without telling anyone.
  3. Fill it and report the prescriber a month later.
  4. Resolve the concern before dispensing or decline to fill. Correct answer.

Explanation

A pharmacist shares responsibility for the legitimacy of controlled substance prescriptions and must verify a questionable prescription or refuse to dispense if the concern cannot be resolved. A valid prescriber license alone does not justify dispensing.

Question 48Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

Under Alabama law, pharmacists may adjust a patient's drug therapy under a collaborative practice agreement when:

  1. The drug is not a controlled substance.
  2. The pharmacist documents the change after the fact.
  3. A written protocol with a collaborating prescriber authorizes it. Correct answer.
  4. The patient requests the change at the counter.

Explanation

Collaborative practice agreements in Alabama must be in writing with a collaborating prescriber and must define the scope of the pharmacist's authority to initiate, modify, or discontinue therapy. Documentation alone does not create that authority.

Question 49Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

During a shift, no pharmacist is present in the pharmacy. The technicians should:

  1. Have the senior technician verify and release prescriptions.
  2. Stop dispensing and secure the pharmacy until a pharmacist returns. Correct answer.
  3. Continue filling prescriptions queued by the pharmacist.
  4. Dispense only refills that require no counseling.

Explanation

A pharmacy may not dispense or operate without a pharmacist on duty, so technician activity requiring pharmacist supervision must stop and the prescription area must be secured. No category of dispensing may continue in the pharmacist's absence.

Question 50Licensure, registration, and scope of practice

A pharmacy intern in Alabama performs prescription-related activities. Those activities must be:

  1. Under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Correct answer.
  2. Repeated by a technician before release.
  3. Limited to clerical tasks with no patient contact.
  4. Performed only when no technician is on duty.

Explanation

Interns are in training and may perform pharmacist-type activities only under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. Their role is not restricted to clerical work.