LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 2, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) is reporting strong gains in first-time pass rates on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) following several years of focused curriculum enhancements and expanded student support.
According to data released by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the PharmD class of 2025 achieved a 92.7% first-time pass rate, well above the national average of 85.7%.
The results represent a 20.8 percentage point increase from 2024 and continue the college’s longstanding record of preparing graduates for licensure success.
UK’s performance also stands out nationally when compared with other highly ranked pharmacy programs. With 124 first-time test takers, one of the largest cohorts in the country, the college combined both size and success, demonstrating strong outcomes across an entire class. When compared among programs with 120+ first-time attempts, UK ranked fourth in the nation.
“These results confirm what we know about our students and our faculty,” said Craig Martin, PharmD, MBA, interim dean. “When we set high expectations and provide the right support, our graduates perform. I want to thank the faculty, staff, preceptors, alumni and students who served on our NAPLEX task force. Their thoughtful work and commitment to improvement made this progress possible.”
Beginning in 2023, the college launched a comprehensive action plan to strengthen exam readiness and align coursework more closely with national testing standards. Students received full, complimentary access to commercially available practice programs and were offered expanded board preparation sessions known as ‘hAPPE hours’ during their fourth year. Faculty raised performance standards within the Integrated Drugs and Disease sequence, reintroduced Rx Files as a required course and adopted the NAPLEX Advantage test as a component of the course to simulate exam conditions. Predictive modeling tools were also used to identify students who could benefit from early outreach and targeted support.
“We stopped, stepped back and took a very focused and evidence-based approach,” said Frank Romanelli, PharmD, associate dean for academic programs. “This year’s results are a testament to our efforts and demonstrate the resilience of our faculty and students. We intend to capitalize on this momentum and to keep reaching higher.”
The NAPLEX serves as the national licensure examination for pharmacists and continues to evolve alongside the demands of modern pharmacy practice. UKCOP remains committed to continuous improvement, transparency and innovation to ensure students are equipped to succeed on licensure exams and throughout their careers.
“I am immensely proud of our graduates,” Martin said. “Their discipline, perseverance and professionalism drive these outcomes. We will continue refining our curriculum, strengthening support systems and preparing every graduate to lead in the profession.”