PHARMACY LAW – MPJE PRACTICE
EXAM 2026/2027QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026/2027 EDITION
WITH INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A pharmacist receives a prescription for a controlled substance
that contains all required elements except the prescriber’s DEA
registration number. What should the pharmacist do?
A. Dispense the prescription because the DEA number is optional
B. Add the DEA number from the pharmacy’s records
C. Contact the prescriber to obtain the missing information before
dispensing
D. Ask the patient to provide the DEA number
**Answer: **C. Contact the prescriber to obtain the missing
information before dispensing
Rationale: A controlled-substance prescription must contain the
information required by federal and applicable state law. A
pharmacist should not independently add or fabricate missing
prescriber information. The pharmacist should contact the
prescriber and resolve the deficiency before dispensing.
2. Which activity is generally considered within the pharmacist’s
professional responsibility?
,A. Diagnosing every medical condition presented by a patient
B. Dispensing medications in accordance with applicable law and
professional standards
C. Practicing medicine without a license
D. Changing a patient’s diagnosis without consulting the
prescriber
**Answer: **B. Dispensing medications in accordance with
applicable law and professional standards
Rationale: Pharmacists are licensed healthcare professionals
whose responsibilities commonly include dispensing
medications, evaluating prescriptions, counseling patients,
identifying medication-related problems, and performing other
legally authorized professional functions. The precise scope
varies by jurisdiction.
3. A pharmacist believes a prescription may have been forged.
What is the most appropriate initial action?
A. Dispense it immediately because the patient is waiting
B. Destroy the prescription
C. Take reasonable steps to verify its authenticity before
dispensing
D. Report the patient to law enforcement without investigation
**Answer: **C. Take reasonable steps to verify its authenticity
before dispensing
Rationale: Pharmacists have a professional and legal
responsibility to evaluate prescriptions for authenticity. When
forgery is suspected, the pharmacist should use appropriate
verification procedures and follow applicable reporting
,requirements rather than automatically dispensing or destroying
the prescription.
4. Which federal agency primarily enforces the federal Controlled
Substances Act?
A. Food and Drug Administration
B. Drug Enforcement Administration
C. Federal Trade Commission
D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
**Answer: **B. Drug Enforcement Administration
Rationale: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is
responsible for enforcing the federal Controlled Substances Act
and regulating the registration of individuals and entities
authorized to handle controlled substances. Other agencies have
separate responsibilities involving drugs and healthcare.
5. A pharmacist receives a prescription that appears clinically
inappropriate because the prescribed dose is unusually high.
What is the pharmacist’s best course of action?
A. Automatically reduce the dose
B. Dispense the prescription without question
C. Contact the prescriber to clarify the prescription
D. Substitute another medication without authorization
**Answer: **C. Contact the prescriber to clarify the prescription
Rationale: Pharmacists should identify potentially unsafe
prescriptions and resolve clinically significant discrepancies
before dispensing. The pharmacist generally should not
, independently alter the prescribed drug or dosage unless
authorized by law, protocol, or an appropriate collaborative
arrangement.
6. What is the primary purpose of state pharmacy practice acts?
A. To establish federal drug prices
B. To regulate the practice of pharmacy within the state
C. To regulate only pharmaceutical manufacturers
D. To eliminate federal pharmacy regulations
**Answer: **B. To regulate the practice of pharmacy within the
state
Rationale: State pharmacy practice acts establish the legal
framework governing pharmacy practice within a jurisdiction.
They commonly address pharmacist licensure, pharmacy
permits, technician requirements, dispensing standards,
professional conduct, and disciplinary authority.
7. A pharmacy technician is asked to perform a task that state law
reserves exclusively for a pharmacist. What should the
pharmacist do?
A. Allow the technician to perform it if the pharmacy is busy
B. Allow it if the patient consents
C. Perform the task personally
D. Delegate it because technicians work under pharmacist
supervision
**Answer: **C. Perform the task personally
EXAM 2026/2027QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026/2027 EDITION
WITH INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A pharmacist receives a prescription for a controlled substance
that contains all required elements except the prescriber’s DEA
registration number. What should the pharmacist do?
A. Dispense the prescription because the DEA number is optional
B. Add the DEA number from the pharmacy’s records
C. Contact the prescriber to obtain the missing information before
dispensing
D. Ask the patient to provide the DEA number
**Answer: **C. Contact the prescriber to obtain the missing
information before dispensing
Rationale: A controlled-substance prescription must contain the
information required by federal and applicable state law. A
pharmacist should not independently add or fabricate missing
prescriber information. The pharmacist should contact the
prescriber and resolve the deficiency before dispensing.
2. Which activity is generally considered within the pharmacist’s
professional responsibility?
,A. Diagnosing every medical condition presented by a patient
B. Dispensing medications in accordance with applicable law and
professional standards
C. Practicing medicine without a license
D. Changing a patient’s diagnosis without consulting the
prescriber
**Answer: **B. Dispensing medications in accordance with
applicable law and professional standards
Rationale: Pharmacists are licensed healthcare professionals
whose responsibilities commonly include dispensing
medications, evaluating prescriptions, counseling patients,
identifying medication-related problems, and performing other
legally authorized professional functions. The precise scope
varies by jurisdiction.
3. A pharmacist believes a prescription may have been forged.
What is the most appropriate initial action?
A. Dispense it immediately because the patient is waiting
B. Destroy the prescription
C. Take reasonable steps to verify its authenticity before
dispensing
D. Report the patient to law enforcement without investigation
**Answer: **C. Take reasonable steps to verify its authenticity
before dispensing
Rationale: Pharmacists have a professional and legal
responsibility to evaluate prescriptions for authenticity. When
forgery is suspected, the pharmacist should use appropriate
verification procedures and follow applicable reporting
,requirements rather than automatically dispensing or destroying
the prescription.
4. Which federal agency primarily enforces the federal Controlled
Substances Act?
A. Food and Drug Administration
B. Drug Enforcement Administration
C. Federal Trade Commission
D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
**Answer: **B. Drug Enforcement Administration
Rationale: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is
responsible for enforcing the federal Controlled Substances Act
and regulating the registration of individuals and entities
authorized to handle controlled substances. Other agencies have
separate responsibilities involving drugs and healthcare.
5. A pharmacist receives a prescription that appears clinically
inappropriate because the prescribed dose is unusually high.
What is the pharmacist’s best course of action?
A. Automatically reduce the dose
B. Dispense the prescription without question
C. Contact the prescriber to clarify the prescription
D. Substitute another medication without authorization
**Answer: **C. Contact the prescriber to clarify the prescription
Rationale: Pharmacists should identify potentially unsafe
prescriptions and resolve clinically significant discrepancies
before dispensing. The pharmacist generally should not
, independently alter the prescribed drug or dosage unless
authorized by law, protocol, or an appropriate collaborative
arrangement.
6. What is the primary purpose of state pharmacy practice acts?
A. To establish federal drug prices
B. To regulate the practice of pharmacy within the state
C. To regulate only pharmaceutical manufacturers
D. To eliminate federal pharmacy regulations
**Answer: **B. To regulate the practice of pharmacy within the
state
Rationale: State pharmacy practice acts establish the legal
framework governing pharmacy practice within a jurisdiction.
They commonly address pharmacist licensure, pharmacy
permits, technician requirements, dispensing standards,
professional conduct, and disciplinary authority.
7. A pharmacy technician is asked to perform a task that state law
reserves exclusively for a pharmacist. What should the
pharmacist do?
A. Allow the technician to perform it if the pharmacy is busy
B. Allow it if the patient consents
C. Perform the task personally
D. Delegate it because technicians work under pharmacist
supervision
**Answer: **C. Perform the task personally
