NAPLEX (NABP) - North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NABP)

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), is a standardized examination that assesses a candidate’s knowledge and skills to practice pharmacy safely and effectively. It’s a requirement for becoming a licensed pharmacist in the United States and is recognized across all states and territories.

Completion Time: 6 hours

Cost: 

• $520 exam fee and $100 nonrefundable application fee

• $85 additional nonrefundable processing fee if applying to practice in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah or Wisconsin

• $105 per state to transfer NAPLEX score and obtain licensure in multiple states

Exam Format

The NAPLEX is a computer-based exam consisting of 225 questions, with 200 scored and 25 unscored. Most questions are asked in a scenario-based format, with topics covering:

• Core Concepts in Pharmacy Practice – 25%

• Medication Use Cycle – 25%

• Patient-Centered Evaluation and Care Planning – 40%

• Professional Standards and Ethics – 5%

• Leadership and Management in Pharmacy – 5%

Candidates have 6 hours to complete the exam, but the total appointment time is 6 hours and 40 minutes to allow time to read and agree to the NABP’s non-disclosure agreement, read the tutorial, take 2 optional 10-minute breaks and complete a post-exam survey. 

Exam results are presented as pass/fail without a scaled score provided. Candidates whose primary jurisdiction participates in NABP’s online exam interface receive their pass/fail result within 14 business days in their NABP e-Profile. While this includes most jurisdictions, candidates are required to receive the results direction from California, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Those who fail the exam may retake it but must begin the eligibility process again and pay the $100 application fee and a new $520 exam fee. A board of pharmacy must reconfirm eligibility.

Retest candidates receive their new Authorization to Test after the mandatory 45-day waiting period following the date of the previous exam attempt. However, some jurisdictions require a longer waiting period between attempts. 

NAPLEX candidates have a 3-attempt limit per 12-month period, with a maximum of 5 attempts unless the board of pharmacy in a jurisdiction determines otherwise.

Eligibility

The NAPLEX is intended for recent college of pharmacy graduates and foreign-education pharmacists who are Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certified. It’s one component of the pharmacist licensure process, required nationwide.

Applicants must have:

• Graduated from an entry-level school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or earned FPGEC certification

• Request the school to send official transcripts directly to NABP electronically or via mail if the candidate is making their first NAPLEX attempt, isn’t currently licensed in the U.S. or has never submitted their official transcript to NABP 

NABP confirms eligibility to take the NAPLEX for Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia (D.C.), Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. All other states have their own process of confirming eligibility and candidates should refer to the state board of pharmacy for these details.

Application Process

• Create or log in to NABP e-Profile

• Follow instructions

• Select primary jurisdiction where seeking licensure

• Purchase exam

• Receive Authorization to Test letter

• Schedule exam

• NAPLEX/MPJE Candidate Applciation Bulletin

• NAPLEX Competency Statements

• NAPLEX Sample Questions

• Official Pre-NAPLEX Practice Exam (Cost $75)

The NABP also offers the following certifications:

• Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE)

• Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE)