NAPLEX
NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) is a standardized examination administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) for individuals seeking licensure as a pharmacist in the United States. The exam is designed to assess a candidate's knowledge of pharmacy practice and is one of the requirements for pharmacist licensure in the U.S.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The NAPLEX is a computer-based exam consisting of 185 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 150 are used to calculate the candidate's score, while the remaining 35 are pretest questions used for future exam development. The exam covers a wide range of topics related to pharmacy practice, including pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, and patient care.
Content Areas[edit | edit source]
The NAPLEX is divided into three main content areas:
- Ensuring Safe and Effective Pharmacotherapy and Health Outcomes (67% of the exam): This section tests the candidate's ability to identify, assess, and manage medication-related problems, and to optimize patient health outcomes.
- Safe and Accurate Preparation, Compounding, Dispensing, and Administration of Medications and Provision of Health Care Products (33% of the exam): This section tests the candidate's knowledge of drug products, dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and devices for administering medication.
- Safe and Effective Operation and Management of Pharmacy Practice (This area is integrated throughout the exam): This section tests the candidate's understanding of the social, economic, administrative, and behavioral aspects of pharmacy practice.
Scoring[edit | edit source]
The NAPLEX is scored on a scale of 0 to 150, with a passing score of 75. The score is based on the number of questions answered correctly, with no penalty for incorrect answers. The exam is designed to measure a candidate's competence to practice as an entry-level pharmacist.
Preparation[edit | edit source]
Preparation for the NAPLEX involves a combination of academic study, practical experience, and review of exam-specific materials. Many candidates use study guides and practice exams to prepare for the test. The NABP also offers a Pre-NAPLEX practice exam to help candidates familiarize themselves with the format and content of the exam.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD