Preparing NAPLEX-Ready Graduates Requires Collaboration to Optimize Success

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Licensure Examinations
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) pass rates are declining, sparking investigations into contributing factors.
• Existing studies and program-specific interventions have yielded mixed results in addressing NAPLEX success.
• A need exists to involve a broader range of stakeholders in developing effective solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key stakeholders invested in and capable of influencing NAPLEX outcomes.
• To propose collaborative strategies for improving NAPLEX pass rates and ensuring graduate preparedness.
• To recommend specific actions for regulatory bodies and pharmacy programs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of factors influencing NAPLEX success, including PharmD program characteristics, curriculum, and student preparedness.
• Review of current approaches and their effectiveness.
• Identification of collaborative opportunities among the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and PharmD programs.

Main Results:

• Recommendations for NABP and ACPE include increased transparency in exam blueprint changes and aligning accreditation standards with NAPLEX content.
• PharmD programs are advised to engage preceptors in exam preparation and offer structured student support.
• AACP members can develop shared resources, such as practice question banks.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative efforts among all stakeholders are essential to address declining NAPLEX pass rates.
• Improved alignment between pharmacy education and licensure requirements will enhance graduate preparedness for practice.
• Ultimately, these improvements will benefit patient care through a more competent pharmacy workforce.