Recently, The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) released its most up-to-date North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) results, showing University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CU Pharmacy) graduates had a first-time pass rate of 96 percent. Only two other schools in North America saw higher scores.
“I am tremendously proud of our graduates,” said CU Pharmacy Dean, Dr. Ralph Altiere, PhD. “The 2022 NAPLEX has an overall first-time average pass rate of 80 percent, making it one of the most challenging licensure exams. To see our students do so well on their first try is evidence of their hard work, and of the dedication of our faculty and student support staff."
"To see our students do so well on their first try is evidence of their hard work, and of the dedication of our faculty and student support staff.”
Dean Altiere also pointed out that the class of 2022 saw its PharmD education upended by the COVID pandemic yet was still able to perform at a high level for the exam.
“This particular class of students experienced dramatic upheaval. Both their third and fourth years of pharmacy school were remote due to COVID, yet their education achievement did not suffer. In fact, this class had one of our highest residency placements,” he said. “I think that speaks volumes about the high-caliber pharmacy education we provide, as well as our ability to be agile and respond to external challenges.”
Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor, Dr. Brian Hemstreet, PharmD, agrees.
“Given the pandemic-related challenges of the last three years, these results reflect the perseverance, hard work, and dedication of these graduates,” Dr. Hemstreet said. “Likewise, the collective team effort by the CU Pharmacy faculty and staff to continue to deliver a world class pharmacy education and ongoing student support amidst one of the most disruptive times in higher education history is truly a testament to the commitment to student success.”
Also released, the NAPLEX all-time pass rates for 2020-2022; CU Pharmacy’s all-time pass rate stands at 95 percent.
The NAPLEX is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they receive their degree. The NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the boards of pharmacy to assess a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.
NABP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1904, which supports and works with state boards of pharmacy to protect the public health. The board supports patient and prescription drug safety, through examinations that assess pharmacist competency, pharmacist licensure transfer and verification services, and various pharmacy accreditation programs.
