Are temporary licenses issued for initial pharmacist licensure?

Temporary licenses for initial pharmacist licensure are not generally issued, as most jurisdictions require a fully completed application process alongside the passing of necessary examinations for licensure. The expectation is that an applicant meets all criteria for licensure before receiving a license to practice, which means they wouldn’t receive a temporary license while waiting for those processes to be finalized.

In some instances, states may offer conditional or provisional licenses under specific regulations, but this is generally not the norm. This means that once the full licensure requirements are satisfied, a permanent license is issued instead of a temporary one, ensuring that the pharmacist has met the necessary qualifications to safely and effectively practice. Therefore, the idea that temporary licenses could be routinely granted for initial licensure does not conform to standard licensing practices.