Free Uniform MPJE Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Uniform MPJE practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A DEA-registered community pharmacy is open on a Saturday. The only pharmacist on the schedule has called in sick, and the pharmacy is staffed by two certified pharmacy technicians and a cashier. A patient presents a prescription for a Schedule IV controlled substance. Under the federal controlled substance regulations, who is permitted to fill that prescription?

   1. A. A pharmacist acting in the usual course of professional practice who is employed in the registered pharmacy
   2. B. A certified pharmacy technician acting in the usual course of employment for the registered pharmacy
   3. C. Any employee of the registered pharmacy who has been granted access to the controlled substance stock
   4. D. A pharmacist licensed by the state who is neither individually registered nor employed in a registered pharmacy

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The filling of a controlled substance prescription is restricted by role and by registration nexus: "A prescription for a controlled substance may only be filled by a pharmacist, acting in the usual course of his professional practice and either registered individually or employed in a registered pharmacy, a registered central fill pharmacy, or registered institutional practitioner." With no pharmacist present, the prescription cannot be filled at all that day. A technician or other employee is not a pharmacist, so neither may fill it no matter what access or training the registrant has given them, and a pharmacist with no individual registration and no employment at a registered pharmacy, central fill pharmacy or institutional practitioner lacks the registration nexus the section requires.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1306.06 Persons entitled to fill prescriptions

2. 2A pharmacist fills a controlled substance prescription that she knows was not issued in the usual course of professional treatment. Under the federal rule on the purpose of issue of a prescription, what is her exposure?

   1. A. The person knowingly filling such a purported prescription is subject to the penalties provided for violations of the law relating to controlled substances, as is the person issuing it
   2. B. The person knowingly filling such a purported prescription is subject to revocation of the pharmacy's registration, while the penalties for the violation fall on the person issuing it
   3. C. The person knowingly filling such a purported prescription incurs no federal exposure, because the responsibility for proper prescribing rests on the prescribing practitioner
   4. D. The person knowingly filling such a purported prescription is subject to the penalties only where the prescription is for a controlled substance listed in Schedule II

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The regulation places the pharmacist alongside the prescriber: an order purporting to be a prescription issued not in the usual course of professional treatment "is not a prescription within the meaning and intent of section 309 of the Act (21 U.S.C. 829) and the person knowingly filling such a purported prescription, as well as the person issuing it, shall be subject to the penalties provided for violations of the provisions of law relating to controlled substances." That forecloses the reading under which the pharmacist bears no federal exposure. Registration action is a separate consequence and not a substitute for the penalties, and the provision draws no distinction by schedule.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1306.04(a) Purpose of issue of prescription

3. 3A DEA inspector arrives at a pharmacy and asks to review records. The pharmacist-in-charge asks what an administrative inspection may cover. Which of these is among the stated purposes of such an inspection?

   1. A. Making a physical inventory of all controlled substances and listed chemicals on hand at the premises
   2. B. Reviewing the pricing data the pharmacy applies to the controlled substances it dispenses at retail
   3. C. Reviewing the sales data other than shipping data for the controlled substances the pharmacy has dispensed
   4. D. Reviewing the financial statements that show the pharmacy's revenue from controlled substance dispensing

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The purposes listed in the regulation include inspecting and copying required records, inspecting equipment and substances, "Making a physical inventory of all controlled substances and listed chemicals on-hand at the premises," collecting samples, and checking distribution information. The other three options name the very categories the regulation carves out: "Unless the owner, operator or agent in charge of the controlled premises so consents in writing, no inspection authorized by these regulations shall extend to: (1) Financial data: (2) Sales data other than shipping data; or (3) Pricing data." Each of those is reachable only by written consent and so is not among the stated purposes.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1316.03(c) Authority to make inspections; 21 CFR 1316.04(a) Exclusion from inspection

4. 4A pharmacy has submitted its application for a DEA registration and expects approval shortly. May it begin ordering controlled substances while the application is pending?

   1. A. No, because no person required to be registered may engage in any activity for which registration is required until the application is granted and a certificate is issued
   2. B. Yes, because the pending application itself confers provisional authority to acquire but not to dispense controlled substances at the applicant's registered location
   3. C. Yes, provided the pharmacy records each acquisition in a separate log and reports the quantities to DEA once the certificate of registration has been issued
   4. D. No, unless the state board of pharmacy has already issued the pharmacy permit, which supplies interim federal authority pending the grant of registration

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The regulation makes the grant and the certificate the gating events: "Any person who is required to be registered and who is not so registered may apply for registration at any time. No person required to be registered shall engage in any activity for which registration is required until the application for registration is granted and a Certificate of Registration is issued by the Administrator to such person." A pending application therefore confers nothing, whether for acquisition or dispensing, and no retrospective reporting cures it. A state permit does not supply federal authority; the state permit is what a registered pharmacy needs before it may dispense.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1301.13(a) Application for registration; time for application; expiration date

5. 5A pharmacist is completing a DEA order form and must identify which party in a transaction qualifies as an "individual practitioner" as that term is defined for purposes of the controlled substance regulations. Which of the following meets that definition?

   1. A. A nurse practitioner permitted by the jurisdiction where she practices to dispense controlled substances in the course of professional practice
   2. B. A pharmacist licensed by the jurisdiction where he practices to dispense controlled substances in the course of professional practice
   3. C. An institutional practitioner permitted by its jurisdiction to dispense controlled substances in the course of professional practice
   4. D. A central fill pharmacy permitted by the jurisdiction where it operates to prepare controlled substance orders for a retail pharmacy

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The definition turns on the identity of the party, and it carries three express exclusions: "Individual practitioner means a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or other individual licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted, by the United States or the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, to dispense a controlled substance in the course of professional practice, but does not include a pharmacist, a pharmacy, or an institutional practitioner." A nurse practitioner authorized by the jurisdiction to dispense is an "other individual" within the definition and is elsewhere described as a mid-level practitioner, which is a subset of individual practitioner. A pharmacist, an institutional practitioner and a pharmacy are each carved out by the closing clause, however fully the jurisdiction has authorized them to dispense.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1300.01(b), definitions of "individual practitioner" and "mid-level practitioner"

6. 6A pharmacist is asked who bears responsibility when a controlled substance prescription turns out to have been issued without a legitimate medical purpose. How does the federal rule allocate that responsibility between the prescriber and the pharmacist?

   1. A. The responsibility for proper prescribing and dispensing is upon the prescribing practitioner, but a corresponding responsibility rests with the pharmacist who fills the prescription
   2. B. The responsibility for proper prescribing and dispensing is upon the prescribing practitioner alone, and the pharmacist's duty is limited to confirming the form of the prescription
   3. C. The responsibility for proper prescribing and dispensing is shared equally between the practitioner and the pharmacist, each of whom must independently examine the patient
   4. D. The responsibility for proper prescribing and dispensing is upon the pharmacist who fills the prescription, because the pharmacist is the last professional in the chain

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The regulation names a primary duty and then attaches a parallel one: "The responsibility for the proper prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances is upon the prescribing practitioner, but a corresponding responsibility rests with the pharmacist who fills the prescription." That wording rules out confining the pharmacist to a check of the prescription's form and equally rules out shifting the primary duty onto the pharmacist. Nor does the corresponding responsibility require the pharmacist to examine the patient; a separate provision describes a corresponding liability resting on a pharmacist who fills a prescription not prepared in the form prescribed by the regulations.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1306.04(a) and 1306.05(f)

7. 7A pharmacist asks whether DEA always needs a warrant before conducting an administrative inspection. Which situation is stated as an exception to the warrant requirement?

   1. A. An entry made with the consent of the owner, operator or agent in charge of the controlled premises
   2. B. An entry made after the registrant has been given twenty-four hours written notice of the inspection
   3. C. An entry made during the registrant's posted business hours while a pharmacist is on duty
   4. D. An entry made within twelve months following the registrant's most recent renewal of registration

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The regulation states the general requirement and then lists the exceptions: "In all cases where an inspection is contemplated, an administrative inspection warrant is required pursuant to section 510 of the Act (21 U.S.C. 880), except that such warrant shall not be required for establishments applying for initial registration under the Act, for the inspection of books and records pursuant to an administrative subpoena... nor for entries in administrative inspections (including seizures of property): (a) With the consent of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the controlled premises." Advance written notice, business hours and recency of renewal are none of them among the exceptions, which otherwise cover imminent danger, conveyances, exceptional or emergency circumstances, and situations where a warrant is not constitutionally required.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1316.07 Requirement for administrative inspection warrant; exceptions

8. 8A pharmacy wants to add Schedule II controlled substances to the schedules its registration authorizes. How is that change made?

   1. A. By applying to modify the existing registration, submitting a written request to the Registration Unit or a request on line, with the registration number and the schedules to be added
   2. B. By applying for a new registration for the location, since the schedules authorized are fixed at the time a certificate of registration is first issued
   3. C. By notifying the Special Agent in Charge in the pharmacy's area in writing at least fourteen days before the pharmacy begins handling the additional schedules
   4. D. By applying to modify the existing registration and paying the full application fee again, since a modification is treated as a new registration for fee purposes

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Modification is the route, and the regulation describes it: "Any registrant may apply to modify his/her registration to authorize the handling of additional controlled substances or to change his/her name or address by submitting a written request to the Registration Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration... Additionally, such a request may be submitted on-line," and the request must contain the registrant's name, address and registration number as printed on the certificate, the substances or schedules to be added, and a signature. A fresh registration is therefore unnecessary. The fourteen-day notice to the Special Agent in Charge belongs to a discontinuance with transfer of the business, and the provision states no duplicate fee.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1301.51(a) Modification in registration

9. 9A pharmacist receives a prescription for a Schedule III controlled substance from a physician assistant who has just begun practicing. Before dispensing, the pharmacist must confirm that the prescriber is entitled to issue the order. Which pair of conditions must the physician assistant satisfy?

   1. A. Authorized to prescribe controlled substances by the jurisdiction where licensed, and either registered with DEA or exempted from registration
   2. B. Authorized to prescribe controlled substances by the jurisdiction where licensed, and supervised by a physician who is registered with DEA
   3. C. Registered with DEA in the schedule prescribed, and holding a written collaborative agreement with the dispensing pharmacy on file
   4. D. Registered with DEA in the schedule prescribed, and enrolled in the prescription drug monitoring program of the jurisdiction where licensed

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Prescribing authority for a controlled substance is built from two independent requirements, a jurisdictional one and a federal one: a prescription "may be issued only by an individual practitioner who is: (1) Authorized to prescribe controlled substances by the jurisdiction in which he is licensed to practice his profession and (2) Either registered or exempted from registration pursuant to §§ 1301.22(c) and 1301.23 of this chapter." Supervision by a registered physician is not a substitute for the prescriber's own authority under either limb; a collaborative agreement with the dispensing pharmacy is not part of the prescriber's authority at all; and monitoring-program enrolment is a separate obligation that does not create prescribing authority.

   Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1306.03(a) Persons entitled to issue prescriptions

10. 10A paper prescription for a controlled substance arrives bearing the patient's name, the drug name and strength, the quantity, directions for use and the prescriber's signature. Which required elements are still missing under the federal rule on the manner of issuance?

    1. A. The patient's address, the dosage form, and the name, address and registration number of the practitioner, together with the date of issue
    2. B. The patient's date of birth, the dosage form, and the name, address and registration number of the practitioner, together with the date of issue
    3. C. The patient's address, the number of refills authorized, and the name and registration number of the practitioner, together with the diagnosis code
    4. D. The patient's address, the dosage form, and the name and telephone number of the practitioner, together with the practitioner's state licence number

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The section lists the required content in one sentence: "All prescriptions for controlled substances shall be dated as of, and signed on, the day when issued and shall bear the full name and address of the patient, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity prescribed, directions for use, and the name, address and registration number of the practitioner." A date of birth and a diagnosis code are not on that list, and neither is a state licence number. The prescriber's address and DEA registration number are required, so a telephone number does not substitute for them, and the number of refills is governed by the separate refill rules rather than by this list.

    Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 — 21 CFR 1306.05(a) Manner of issuance of prescriptions