NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$640
Provider
NABP
Validity
One-time
Available
USA
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- Graduate from an entry-level pharmacy programme accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and receive the degree, or hold FPGEC certification if you were educated outside the United States.
- Note the exclusions NABP publishes: graduates of non-US programmes holding ACPE Precertification, Provisional Certification, Certification, International-Accreditation, International Pre-Accreditation or Provisional International-Accreditation are not eligible for the NAPLEX without FPGEC certification, and neither are graduates of ACPE-accredited post-baccalaureate programmes whose initial degree came from a non-entry-level programme.
- Be found eligible by the board of pharmacy in the jurisdiction where you seek licensure. NABP does not make eligibility decisions, though it confirms eligibility on behalf of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Wisconsin for an additional $85 fee.
- Create an NABP e-Profile and apply in its Exam Services section, paying the $100 nonrefundable eligibility application fee.
- Send an official transcript from your college of pharmacy to NABP if you have never taken the NAPLEX, are not licensed in the US, or have never submitted an official transcript to NABP, regardless of graduation year.
- Purchase the exam once eligibility is granted, at $520, which produces the Authorization to Test that lets you schedule with Pearson.
- Submit a Request for Testing Accommodations form with your online application if you need accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Number of Questions
225 questions on a computerized fixed form. 200 are scored and 25 are pretest questions distributed throughout the exam. NABP states you will not know which questions affect your result.
Duration
Six hours of exam time inside a total appointment of six hours and 45 minutes. The extra 45 minutes covers the prescreens, post screens and the nondisclosure agreement, which include a 3-minute Examination Conduct Acknowledgement, a 3-minute Consent to Release Results, a 5-minute nondisclosure agreement and a 5-minute NAPLEX tutorial.
Question Format
Scenario-based questions built on a patient profile or medical record that must be read before answering, Profiles that force scrolling: NABP states you cannot proceed to the next question until you have scrolled through all presented information, Stand-alone questions interspersed among the scenarios, answerable from the stem alone, Pharmaceutical calculation items covering doses, rates of administration, concentrations, ratio strengths, osmolarity and osmolality, Biostatistical, epidemiological and pharmacoeconomic calculation items, Questions are presented in fixed order, cannot be skipped, and cannot be revisited once the answer is confirmed
Passing Requirement
Reported as Pass or Fail only. NABP states candidates do not receive a scaled score. The passing standard was established by a panel of pharmacy experts and NABP states the ability level defining it is the same for every NAPLEX administration. Any question left unanswered is scored as incorrect, so completing the exam matters to the result.
How It Is Delivered
Proctored at Pearson Professional Centers. Candidates must remain seated once admitted, may not leave the testing room without permission, and may not leave the test centre building for any reason until the exam is complete, including during breaks.
Languages Offered
English. NABP does not publish an alternate-language administration of the NAPLEX.
Visit the official NABP certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam)?
Graduate from an entry-level pharmacy programme accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and receive the degree, or hold FPGEC certification if you were educated outside the United States.. Note the exclusions NABP publishes: graduates of non-US programmes holding ACPE Precertification, Provisional Certification, Certification, International-Accreditation, International Pre-Accreditation or Provisional International-Accreditation are not eligible for the NAPLEX without FPGEC certification, and neither are graduates of ACPE-accredited post-baccalaureate programmes whose initial degree came from a non-entry-level programme.. Be found eligible by the board of pharmacy in the jurisdiction where you seek licensure. NABP does not make eligibility decisions, though it confirms eligibility on behalf of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Wisconsin for an additional $85 fee.. Create an NABP e-Profile and apply in its Exam Services section, paying the $100 nonrefundable eligibility application fee.. Send an official transcript from your college of pharmacy to NABP if you have never taken the NAPLEX, are not licensed in the US, or have never submitted an official transcript to NABP, regardless of graduation year.. Purchase the exam once eligibility is granted, at $520, which produces the Authorization to Test that lets you schedule with Pearson.. Submit a Request for Testing Accommodations form with your online application if you need accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act..
How much does the NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam) cost?
The NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam) exam costs $640. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam)?
Visit the official NABP certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the NAPLEX (Pharmacy Licensing Exam)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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