College of Pharmacy takes action to strengthen NAPLEX performance

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 28, 2025) — The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) continues to proactively address recent North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rate trends through curriculum enhancements and targeted student support initiatives. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) releases de-identified test means for the previous cycle in late January, which makes timely pivoting challenging. While the latest published results reflect a transitional period, College leadership remains confident that various interventions launched in 2023 and 2024 will drive improvement in future testing cycles. 

To respond to last year’s decline in first-time pass rates, the College established a dedicated task force of faculty, students, alumni, and preceptors to analyze contributing factors and implement solutions. This effort led to a series of comprehensive interventions, including:

• Expanded NAPLEX preparation resources—Fourth-year students now have full access to the RxPrep™ platform, a tool for board exam readiness. The number of hAPPE hour board review sessions for fourth-year students has also been increased.
• Higher performance standards—The College has implemented stricter passing requirements in its Integrated Drugs and Disease sequence to align with national testing expectations.
• Strengthened curriculum—The return of Rx Files as a required course beginning with the class of 2028 and adjustments to the Patient-Centered Care Experience (PaCE) laboratory sequence ensure deeper coverage of essential drug knowledge.
• New assessment strategies — Rx Files will require completion of oral exams covering the Top 300 drugs and will also incorporate the NAPLEX Advantage. The NAPLEX Advantage™ is a practice assessment that simulates exam day conditions, allowing students to identify strengths and areas for improvement ahead of test day.

“Our college has long been a leader in pharmacy education, and when we saw a drop in pass rates last year, we took immediate and decisive action,” said Dean Kip Guy, Ph.D. “We are confident that these targeted interventions will yield lasting improvements, ensuring our students are among the most prepared in the country. We anticipate seeing gains in the next testing cycle."

Associate Dean Frank Romanelli, PharmD, emphasized that while the latest results are still being analyzed, they align with expectations given the timeline of curriculum enhancements. 

"While we strive for the best possible outcomes, we understood that this would be a transition period as we implemented curriculum and support enhancements," said Romanelli. “The interventions we’ve put in place were based on task force feedback and were designed to produce lasting improvements, but these outcomes, like many in academia, take time to come to fruition. We remain fully committed to preparing and ensuring our graduates are among the most highly sought-after pharmacists in the country."

The NAPLEX, which underwent a major blueprint update in 2021 and a minor realignment in 2025, continues to evolve, requiring pharmacy schools nationwide to adapt accordingly. UKCOP is committed to transparency, innovation, and student success, ensuring that every graduate is fully equipped for professional achievement and impact.