Preparing for the NAPLEX®

Published on 16/06/2015 by admin

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CHAPTER 1 Preparing for the NAPLEX®

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAPLEX

The North American Pharmacy Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) is the clinical aptitude test developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and administered to pharmacy graduates to assess the competency of candidates for pharmacy practice. It is a requirement to obtain pharmacy licensure in all 50 states.

MPJE

The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) is the examination developed by the NABP to test the candidate’s competency and knowledge of federal and state pharmacy law. The questions are customized to the specific law in each state. It is required for a pharmacy license by 44 states and the District of Columbia.

REGISTRATION

Candidates wishing to register for the NAPLEX with or without the MPJE must contact the board of pharmacy in the state they are seeking licensure or their school of pharmacy and complete a paper examination registration form for each examination. Candidates may also choose to register online for the NAPLEX or MPJE at www.napb.net. Candidates should check the website to see if their state participates in online registration.

Candidates may submit their registration, paper or online, before graduation; however, the state board of pharmacy will authorize eligibility only after all graduation requirements have been met.

The NAPLEX and MPJE may be taken on the same day, if time permits; however, it may be beneficial to take the examinations on separate days due to the diversity of the material.

FEES

Examination fees:

• NAPLEX: $465 per examination
• MPJE: $185 per examination

For those who wish to change their appointments, an additional fee of $50 will be charged. Candidates who withdraw from taking the NAPLEX will receive a partial refund of $140; those who withdraw from taking the MPJE will receive a partial refund of $65. Cancellations or rescheduling the exam must be done at least two business days before the scheduled appointment.

Fees are payable to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy or NABP and submitted in the form of a money order, bank draft, or certified check. Personal check or cash is not accepted.

After registration, candidates will receive an authorization to test (ATT) letter, which confirms the candidate’s eligibility by the state board of pharmacy. Upon receipt, candidates can schedule their appointments for examination and have one year to do so. The ATT and application expires after one year.

The NABP website, www.nabp.net, can provide the most current information.

ANSWER FORMAT OF THE NAPLEX

The computer-adaptive NAPLEX examination consists of 185 multiple-choice questions; however, only 150 questions are scored. The remaining 35 are considered pretest questions, which have no impact on the final score. These questions are used to help develop future tests. Because no indication is given to determine the scored questions versus the nonscored questions, it is to test-takers’ advantage to answer all questions to the best of their knowledge.

The test also uses case/scenario-based format (i.e., patient profiles) and K-type multiple choice questions in which three choices are given and candidates select from five combinations of those three choices:

I. Choice 1
II. Choice 2
III. Choice 3

A. I only
B. III only
C. I and II
D. II, III
E. I, II, III

TEST STRUCTURE OF THE NAPLEX

The NAPLEX has three core areas:

1. Ensure safe and effective pharmacotherapy and optimize therapeutic outcomes (approximately 54% of the exam).
2. Ensure safe and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications (approximately 35% of the exam).
3. Provide health care information and promote public health (approximately 11% of the exam).

Candidates may refer to the NAPLEX blueprint for more detailed dissection of the topics covered on the examination at www.nabp.net.

If the candidate does not pass the exam, he/she may retake the exam after 91 days for the NAPLEX and after 30 days for the MPJE.

ADMINISTRATION PROCESS

NAPLEX

The NAPLEX has 185 questions to be taken in a 4 hour and 15 minute time period. There is an optional 10 minute break after approximately two hours of testing time.

The test is presented in a computer-adaptive testing format, which means that each answered question will determine the difficulty of the next. A correctly answered question in a series will be followed by a harder question. An incorrect response will be followed by an easier question.

Every question must be answered in the order it is presented. The test-taker cannot return to previous questions and change answers, so all responses are final. Due to the adaptive nature of the exam, questions also cannot be skipped because each response determines the next question.

MPJE

The test consists of 90 questions; only 60 are scored. The exam is to be taken in two hours with no break.

TEST TAKING STRATEGY

• Arrive to the testing center at least 30 minutes before the examination to allow time to check-in.
• Take a snack for the 10-minute break during the NAPLEX.
• Take proper identification (refer to candidate bulletin).
• Relax the night before the exam and eat a nutritious breakfast the morning of the examination.
• Although there is no penalty for guessing, you still want to make your best effort to choose a correct response.
• Make educated guesses. If you can rule out one or more answer choices, you have a better chance of selecting the right answer.
• Limit your time on any one question; as a general rule of thumb, be halfway through the NAPLEX by the 10 minute break.
• Use various study guide materials, including text books, flashcards, class notes, and practice tests. Take a full-length practice test before the examination.
• Do not try to “cram” new material. Create a study schedule that allots adequate time for the various sections of the NAPLEX.

SCORE RESULTS

NAPLEX

The scaled NAPLEX scores range from 0 to 150 with a minimally acceptable level of performance on the examination reflected by a score of 75. To obtain a score, the candidate has to complete at least 162 questions. Test scores are not given directly to the candidate; instead, they are forwarded by the NABP to the board of pharmacy from which the candidate is seeking licensure.

Depending on the state, candidates may transfer their scores to more than one state. Candidates should check the website (www.nabp.net) about the score transfer program. The state to which they wish to transfer their scores should also be contacted for more information.

MPJE

The minimum acceptable passing score on the MPJE scale is 75. To obtain a score, the candidate has to complete at least 77 questions. MPJE scores cannot be transferred between states. Candidates must take the law portion for each individual state in which they are seeking licensure.

THE PRE-NAPLEX

The NABP also offers the pre-NAPLEX. It is designed to familiarize the test-taker with the testing experience. The pre-NAPLEX is the only practice exam written and developed by the NABP.

There are 50 questions on the pre-NAPLEX and two forms are available. The cost for each practice examination is $50. The candidate must register with the website and set up a username and password. Each candidate may take the pre-NAPLEX two times but must complete the first test before starting another one and pay for each test. The test may be taken with any computer with Internet access, including at home, a school, a library, and at any time. The scores are scaled and interpreted similar to the NAPLEX.

NAPLEX AND MPJE REGISTRATION BULLETIN

A free bulletin regarding the NAPLEX and MPJE is offered to all candidates. Topics covered include registration procedures, testing appointment information, NAPLEX and MPJE administration, NAPLEX and MPJE score results, the pre-NAPLEX, and NAPLEX score transfer information. It is available online at http://www.nabp.net/ftpfiles/bulletins/NAPLEXMPJE.pdf or through your state board of pharmacy.

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