UW School of Pharmacy’s class of 2016 distinguished themselves by earning the No. 1 spot in the NAPLEX pass rate in the United States. 99% of our alumni passed the exam the first time they took it last year.
The NAPLEX, or North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, measures a candidate’s knowledge of the practice of pharmacy. It is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.
“This accomplishment is a direct testament to our preeminent faculty, staff and our preceptors, who are key partners in the education and training of our students,” remarked Sean D. Sullivan, Professor and Dean of the UW School of Pharmacy. “But most of all, this pass rate is a tribute to the extraordinary caliber of students who work so hard through the program and in preparation for their exams. I am convinced our alumni graduated from the absolute best place to prepare for a career in pharmacy and this pass rate serves as evidence.”
In 2016, over 15,500 pharmacy alumni nationwide took the NAPLEX, a forty percent increase over 9,000 first-time takers ten years ago. A story in the Pharmacy Times noted that the initial pass rate has declined at the majority of U.S. Schools of Pharmacy. “Last year we saw possibly the lowest overall pass rate for the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) ever, dropping to 85% overall, with some very large swings depending on the college of pharmacy attended,” notes author, Jason Poquette. Possible reasons include the longer exam (increased from 4.5 to 6 hours) or increased number of questions (185 to 250 questions).
The NAPLEX, or North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, measures a candidate’s knowledge of the practice of pharmacy. It is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.