USC School of Pharmacy students achieved a 97% passing rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) exam from April to October 2021, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
Of the 150 first-time USC test takers, 97% passed, exceeding the national average of 85%. In 2020, the USC pass rate was 93% and the national average was 88%.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which administers the test, reevaluates and updates the exam’s competency statements every five years to ensure current best practices. The NAPLEX exam 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.
The 225-question computer-based exam “tests a prospective pharmacist’s ability to measure pharmacotherapy and therapeutic outcomes, prepare and dispense medications, and implement and evaluate information for optimal health care.”