Preparing NAPLEX-Ready Graduates Requires Collaboration to Optimize Success

Abstract

Declining NAPLEX pass rates are prompting widespread discussions and urgent investigations into potential causes, including an examination of PharmD program characteristics, curriculum, student preparedness, and an evolving exam blueprint. Many studies have been conducted to understand the association of various factors with NAPLEX success, and individual programs have attempted to address these factors with mixed results. It is time to include additional stakeholders and collaborate on solutions. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and PharmD programs (including preceptors and students) are all invested in and may influence NAPLEX outcomes. Specific recommendations for the NABP and the ACPE include increasing transparency regarding the timing and process of exam blueprint changes, coordinating a structured crosswalk between ACPE standards and NAPLEX content, and considering overall pass rates as a measurable outcome of program quality. PharmD programs should consider strategies such as engaging preceptors in exam preparation and providing proactive, structured student support for skills such as time management. Collectively, AACP members can leverage their expertise to develop shared resources, such as a practice question bank. Enhancing alignment between education and licensure ensures that pharmacy graduates are prepared for practice, ultimately benefiting patient care.

Keywords: ACPE; Licensure exam preparation; NABP; NAPLEX; Pharmacy licensure.