How much does the NAPLEX exam cost?
How much does the NAPLEX exam cost?
$620 exam & application cost
NAPLEX exam cost
The NAPLEX costs $620 total, including the application and exam fees. Rescheduling your NAPLEX exam costs $50. You can take the NAPLEX up to a maximum of five times, but you must pay the application and exam fees again for each attempt.
| Factor | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application | $100 |
| Exam | $520 |
| Eligibility confirmation | $85 |
| Exam reschedule | $50 |
| Score transfer | $75 per jurisdiction |
| Practice exam | $75 per attempt |
What is the NAPLEX?
The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX) is a standardized exam required for pharmacy licensure in the United States. The exam is designed to assess whether candidates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and effectively practice as entry-level pharmacists, covering areas such as pharmacotherapy, medication safety, patient education, and health promotion.
The NAPLEX is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Pharmacy graduates must pass this exam, along with state-specific law exams (MPJE in most states), to obtain their pharmacist license and begin practicing.
What is on the NAPLEX?
The NAPLEX covers foundational pharmacy knowledge and practices. The exam is divided into five areas of competency that encompass the knowledge, skills, and judgment required of an entry-level pharmacist.
The table below shows a breakdown of the five competency domains and their proportion of the exam:
| Domain | Content | % of Test |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Foundational Knowledge for Pharmacy Practice | 25% |
| Domain 2 | Medication Use Process (Prescribing, Transcribing and Documenting, Dispensing, Administering, and Monitoring) | 25% |
| Domain 3 | Person-Centered Assessment and Treatment Planning | 40% |
| Domain 4 | Professional Practice | 5% |
| Domain 5 | Pharmacy Management and Leadership | 5% |
How many questions are on the NAPLEX?
The NAPLEX features 225 questions, including 200 scored questions and 25 unscored experimental questions. The 25 unscored questions are not labeled, so it's important to answer every question to the best of your knowledge and ability.
Most questions use a scenario-based format that tests the candidate's application of knowledge and their ability to interpret patient information.
How long is the NAPLEX?
The NAPLEX exam is 6 hours long. You are allowed two 10-minute breaks, one at the two-hour mark and another at the four-hour mark.
The total appointment time is 6 hours and 45 minutes to allow time for you to read the consent, conduct, and nondisclosure agreements, view the tutorial, take the exam with two breaks, and take the post-exam survey. The table below shows a breakdown of the appointment:
| Section | Time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | 3 |
| Candidate Consent Agreement | 3 |
| Candidate Conduct Agreement | 3 |
| Nondisclosure Agreement | 5 |
| Tutorial | 5 |
| Exam | 360 |
| Break 1 (at 120 minutes) | 10 |
| Break 2 (at 240 minutes) | 10 |
| Survey | 5 |
| Exit | 1 |
| Total NAPLEX time | 405 |
NAPLEX pass rate
The average NAPLEX pass rate is 75.7% for first-time exam takers. However, pass rates vary significantly depending on the school, ranging from as low as 16.7% at one school to 100% at another.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NAPB) publishes the annual NAPLEX passing rates for each school, which prospective students may find helpful when choosing which pharmacy school to attend.
NAPLEX FAQs
Can you take the NAPLEX in any state?
Yes, you can take the NAPLEX at any Pearson VUE location in any state. You do not need to travel to the state where you plan to get licensed.
How many times can you take the NAPLEX?
You can take the NAPLEX up to a maximum of 5 times, but additional attempts are subject to a waiting period and other restrictions:
There is a 45-day mandatory waiting period between attempts, with some jurisdictions requiring longer waiting periods of 60 to 90+ days.
There is a 3-attempt limit per 12-month period.
How is the NAPLEX scored?
The NAPLEX uses a scaled score to determine the candidate's ability level, meaning the score is based on the total number of questions answered correctly and the difficulty of the questions, rather than just a percentage or number of correct answers.
You will not receive a numeric score and instead will be given a Pass or Fail result.
All unanswered questions are scored as incorrect, so it's best to answer all the questions even if some of them require guessing.
How hard is the NAPLEX?
NAPLEX is considered a difficult exam as it covers the knowledge and skills learned throughout an entire pharmacy school program. At 6 hours long, the NAPLEX is also longer than most other professional exams. However, the overall difficulty depends on personal aptitude and how well a candidate prepares for the test.
Find a tutor for NAPLEX exam prep
Proper preparation is crucial before taking the NAPLEX exam. Follow these tips to find a reputable, qualified tutor to help you study and prepare:
Consider whether you prefer in-person or online tutoring.
Choose tutors with recent NAPLEX exam experience and high pass rates.
Verify their pharmacy credentials and teaching experience.
Look for someone familiar with the current exam format and content outline.
Ask about their approach to difficult concepts and knowledge gaps.
Find someone whose teaching style matches your learning preferences.
Ensure they offer personalized study plans, not just generic content.
Ask if they include practice exams and question banks with detailed explanations.
Confirm their scheduling flexibility matches your needs.
Request a brief trial session before committing to a full program.
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