NAPLEX Preparation Program Characteristics and Resources Associated With First-Time Exam Pass Rates

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Licensure Examination Outcomes

Background:

• Pharmacy schools allocate significant resources to North America Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) preparation, often utilizing vendor-provided materials.
• There is an ongoing need to understand which preparation strategies are most effective in improving student pass rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of formal NAPLEX preparation programs and associated resources linked to first-time NAPLEX pass rates.
• To identify specific program elements that may correlate with either increased or decreased examination success.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted among pharmacy schools regarding their formal NAPLEX preparation programs during the 2021/2022 academic year.
• Data on school characteristics and required student resources were analyzed for association with 2022 NAPLEX first-time pass rates.

Main Results:

• Offering a formal NAPLEX preparation program and accelerated curricula were associated with lower pass rates.
• Required use of vendor question banks, review books, and live faculty-led reviews showed weak correlations with decreased pass rates.
• Schools without formal preparation programs consistently exceeded the national average NAPLEX pass rate.

Conclusions:

• Formal NAPLEX preparation programs alone are insufficient to guarantee success.
• Systemic and programmatic factors influencing NAPLEX competencies should be addressed earlier in pharmacy education.
• Resource allocation in NAPLEX preparation requires re-evaluation to ensure effectiveness.