NAPLEX Candidate's Review Guide Page 1 of 7

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The NAPLEX®, or North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination™, is developed by
the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) for use by the state boards of
pharmacy as part of their assessment of competence to practice pharmacy. It is a valid and SITE SEARCH
objective examination that tests your mastery of the most important aspects of competent
practice, as defined in the NAPLEX competency statements.
In cooperation with participating state boards of pharmacy, the NAPLEX is uniformly
developed, administered, and scored under policies and procedures developed by NABP's
Advisory Committee on Examinations and approved by NABP's Executive Committee. The
content of the NAPLEX is approved by boards of pharmacy, practitioners, and educators
from around the country through their service as NAPLEX Review Committee members,
item writers, and board of pharmacy representatives.
Preparing for the NAPLEX
Your formal education, internship, and practical experiences all prepare you for the
NAPLEX and licensure as a pharmacist. The NAPLEX has been designed to assess how
well you can apply your learning and skills to actual practice situations and to evaluate your
ability to meet the responsibilities of the practice of pharmacy. You should base your
preparation on the knowledge that you have acquired during your professional education.
You should be competent in evaluating and responding to situations that occur in daily
practice. Consult the NAPLEX Competency Statements for a description of possible
examination question topics.
Candidates are advised that NABP does not sanction, endorse, or recommend any
particular review course or study guide for use in preparation for the NAPLEX..

The Computer-Adaptive NAPLEX

The examination is administered using a computer-adaptive approach, which allows it to be
individualized to meet each candidate's level of ability. That measure is compared to a
predetermined, minimally acceptable level of competence that the examinee must meet or
exceed in order to pass the examination. Computer-adaptive testing (sometimes referred to
as CAT) selects the next question to administer based on your responses to the previous
questions. Therefore, you must respond to all questions selected for you. Omitting a
question is not permitted. Computer-adaptive testing will not permit you to change your
response to a question once you have moved on to the next question. To summarize:

You cannot omit or skip a question.

You cannot go back and review a question.

You cannot change an answer to a question once you have confirmed an answer
and moved on to the next question.

NAPLEX Competency Statements

NABP has developed the NAPLEX Competency Statements. The Competency Statements
summarize and outline the knowledge and skills that you are expected to have acquired
before you take the NAPLEX, and that you are expected to be able to demonstrate in
answering the examination questions. All NAPLEX questions are based on these
Competency Statements, which are reviewed and revised as necessary. A strong
understanding of the Competency Statements will aid in your preparation to take the
NAPLEX.

Area 1 Manage Drug Therapy to Optimize Patient Outcomes (Approximately 50% of

Test)

1.1.0 - Evaluate the patient and/or patient information to determine the presence of a

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disease or medical condition, to determine the need for treatment and/or referral, and to
identify patient-specific factors that affect health, pharmacotherapy, and/or disease
management

1.1.1 - Identify and/or use instruments and techniques related to patient assessment
and diagnosis

1.1.2 - Identify and define the terminology, signs, and symptoms associated with
diseases and medical conditions

1.1.3 - Identify drug and non-drug methods of preventing and treating diseases and
medical conditions

1.1.4 - Identify patient factors, biosocial factors, and concurrent drug therapy that are
relevant to the maintenance of wellness and the prevention or treatment of a disease
or medical condition

1.2.0 - Assure the appropriateness of the patient's specific pharmacotherapeutic agents,

dosing regimens, dosage forms, routes of administration, and delivery systems

1.2.1 - Identify drug products by their generic, trade, and/or common names

1.2.2 - Identify the known or postulated sites and mechanisms of action of

pharmacotherapeutic agents

1.2.3 - Evaluate drug therapy for the presence of pharmacotherapeutic duplications

and interactions

1.2.4 - Identify indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions associated

with a drug product's active and inactive ingredients

1.2.5 - Identify physicochemical properties of drug substances that affect their

solubility, pharmacokinetics, pharmacologic actions, and stability

1.2.6 - Interpret and apply pharmacokinetic principles to calculate and determine

appropriate drug dosing regimens

1.2.7 - Interpret and apply biopharmaceutic principles, and the pharmaceutical

characteristics of drug dosage forms and delivery systems, to assure bioavailability
and enhance patient compliance

1.3.0 - Monitor the patient and/or patient information and manage the drug regimen to
promote health and assure safe and effective pharmacotherapy

1.3.1 - Identify pharmacotherapeutic outcomes and endpoints

1.3.2 - Evaluate patient information to determine the safety and effectiveness of

pharmacotherapy

1.3.3 - Identify, describe the mechanism of, and remedy adverse reactions and
iatrogenic or drug-induced illness

1.3.4 - Prevent, recognize, and remedy noncompliance and drug misuse or abuse

1.3.5 - Identify and remedy interactions or contraindications with diagnostic or

monitoring tests or procedures

Area 2 Assure the Safe and Accurate Preparation and Dispensing of Medications
(Approximately 25% of Test)

2.1.0 - Perform calculations required to compound, dispense, and administer medication

2.1.1 - Calculate the quantity of medication to be compounded or dispensed; reduce

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and enlarge formulation quantities, and calculate the quantity or ingredients needed
to compound the proper amount of the preparation

2.1.2 - Calculate nutritional needs and the caloric content of nutrient sources

2.1.3 - Calculate the rate of drug administration

2.1.4 - Calculate or convert drug concentrations, ratio strengths, and/or extent of

ionization

2.2.0 - Select and dispense medications

2.2.1 - Determine whether a particular drug dosage strength or dosage form is

commercially available, and whether it is available on a nonprescription basis

2.2.2 - Identify commercially available drug products by their characteristic physical

attributes

2.2.3 - Interpret and apply pharmacokinetic parameters and quality assurance data to
determine equivalence among manufactured drug products, and identify products for
which documented evidence of inequivalence exists

2.2.4 - Identify the appropriate packaging, storage, handling, and disposal of

medications

2.2.5 - Identify and describe the use of equipment and apparatus required to
administer medications

2.3.0 - Prepare and compound extemporaneous preparations and sterile products

2.3.1 - Identify and describe techniques and procedures related to drug preparation,
compounding, and quality assurance

2.3.2 - Identify and use equipment necessary to prepare and extemporaneously

compound medications

2.3.3 - Identify the important physicochemical properties of a preparation's active and

inactive ingredients; describe the mechanism of, and the characteristic evidence of,
incompatibility or degradation; and identify methods for achieving stabilization of the
preparation

Area 3 Provide Drug Information and Promote Public Health (Approximately 25% of
Test)

3.1.0 - Access, evaluate, and apply information to promote optimal health care

3.1.1 - Identify the typical content and organization of specific sources of drug and
health information

3.1.2 - Interpret and evaluate data presented in textual, tabular, or graphic form

3.1.3 - Evaluate the suitability, accuracy, and reliability of information from reference
sources by explaining and evaluating the adequacy of experimental design, and by
applying and evaluating statistical tests and parameters

3.2.0 - Educate patients and health care professionals regarding prescription medications,
nonprescription medications, and medical devices

3.2.1 - Provide information regarding a medication's therapeutic actions, and

describe appropriate remedies to minimize the principal untoward effects resulting
from drug therapy

3.2.2 - Provide information regarding a medication's precautions, warnings,

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contraindications, and interactions with food

3.2.3 - Provide information regarding the proper storage, administration, and disposal
of medications

3.2.4 - Identify products and describe techniques for the self-monitoring of patients'
health status

3.2.5 - Provide advice regarding the selection, use, and care of medical/surgical
appliances or devices, durable medical equipment, and medication administration
equipment

3.3.0 - Educate patients and the public regarding wellness, disease states, and medical
conditions

3.3.1 - Provide information regarding medications used in the prevention and

treatment of diseases and medical conditions, including emergency patient care

3.3.2 - Provide information regarding nutrition, lifestyle, and other non-drug measures
that are effective in promoting health, or preventing or minimizing the progress of a
disease or medical condition

Stylistic Conventions
Most of the stylistic conventions of the NAPLEX will become evident as you work through
the sample questions provided in this Guide. You may find it helpful, however, to note the
following information:

1. Every effort has been made to exclude questions about drugs that have been
recalled or removed from the market. Questions about drugs generally concern the
drugs most commonly given for a certain condition or in a particular situation.
2. Depending upon the question, a drug may be called by its generic name, its trade
name, or its common name.
3. In calculation questions, weights and measures are considered to be the equivalents
found in standard pharmaceutical references.
4. Molecular and atomic weights are supplied when necessary.
5. In calculation questions, you should assume that each quantity is meant to be
measured with the same degree of precision. For example, if 2g of ointment is
prepared using 0.25g of x and 0.416g of y, each of these values should be assumed
to have three significant figures; i.e., 2.00g, 0.250g, and 0.416g.
6. Negative words, such as NO, NOT, NONE, NEVER, and EXCEPT, are capitalized
and printed in boldface type to draw attention to the kind of response expected.

Abbreviations and Symbols

The abbreviations and symbols used on the NAPLEX are those that an entry-level
pharmacist should recognize. Generally, these are written in accordance with accepted style
manuals, published for health professionals and commonly used in practice. The list below
is partial, not exhaustive, but it will give you an idea of the types of abbreviations and
symbols used on the NAPLEX.

Alanine aminotransferase ALT

Aspartate aminotransferase AST
As needed prn
Beta ß
Beta-adrenergic ß-adrenergic
Blood urea nitrogen BUN
By mouth PO
Centimeter cm
Complete blood count CBC
Creatinine clearance CLcr
Deciliter dL

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Degrees Celsius °C
Degrees Fahrenheit °F
5% Dextrose in water D5W
Dosage units i (ii, iii)
Drop gtt
Electrocardiogram ECG
Every 4 hours q4h
Every morning qAM
Gamma g
Gamma globulin g-globulin
Gastrointestinal GI
Gram g
Half-life t1/2
Hour (as in 50 milliliters per hour) h (as in 50 mL/h)
International normalized ratio INR
Intramuscular IM
Intravenous IV
Kilocalorie kcal
Liter L
Micron µ
Microgram µg
Microliter µL
Milliequivalent mEq
Milligram mg
Milliliter mL
Millimole mmol
Milliosmole mOsm
Nanometer nm
Normal saline NS or 0.9% NaCl
Over-the-counter OTC
Radioactive iodine ¹³¹ I
Second (as in 2 drops per second) s (as in 2 gtt/s)
Subcutaneous SC
Unit unit (not abbreviated)
Weight/volume w/v

Taking the NAPLEX

The computer-adaptive NAPLEX is available for administration on a daily basis, Monday
through Saturday, excluding holidays, through the Prometric Testing Centers™. Consult the
Prometric Thomson Learning™ Web site located at www.2test.comfor a complete list of
Prometric Testing Centers.
The NAPLEX consists of 185 questions. Of these, 150 questions have been pretested and
validated previously, while 35 questions are being pretested or evaluated for use in future
examinations. The pretest questions are indistinguishable from other questions and are
interspersed throughout the examination. Your responses to the pretest questions are
recorded for statistical purposes and do not play any part in calculating your score. Only
your responses to the 150 validated questions will contribute to your score.
All questions on the NAPLEX examination are five-option, multiple-choice items. There are
no fill-in-the blank or essay questions. The NAPLEX questions have only one correct
answer. As you determine which answer is correct, you should consider the five alternatives
given and select the best answer from the alternatives listed. You should select the answer
that is best among the responses that accompany the question.
Many of the questions on the examination are associated with scenarios or patient profiles,

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while others are stand-alone items that do not require you to refer to a scenario. Questions
associated with a scenario or profile should be answered within the context of the scenario
in which they appear. For instance, penicillin might be the drug of choice to treat most
patients who are suffering from strep throat, but if the scenario indicates that the particular
patient has a penicillin allergy, another drug should be selected. Remember, it is important
that you answer the questions within the context of the scenario/profile.
In no case on the exam will you find that answering one question correctly depends upon
correctly answering another question. You will be able to answer each question
independently from the questions that surround it. Therefore, answering one scenario
question incorrectly does not mean that you will incorrectly answer other questions in that
scenario set.
You will have four hours and fifteen minutes to complete the examination, with a 10-minute
mandatory break after approximately two hours of testing time. Additional time will be
allowed for you to review a short tutorial at the beginning of the examination and to
complete a computer-administered evaluation questionnaire at the end of the examination.

Examination Results
The minimum acceptable passing score on the NAPLEX scale is 75. The passing score
reported is NOT a percentage value. The score is calculated by first determining the
candidate's ability level on the NAPLEX, and then comparing that to the predetermined
minimum acceptable ability level established for the NAPLEX. The passing standard has
been established by a panel of pharmacy experts, and the ability level that defines the
passing standard is the same for all NAPLEX administrations.
To receive a test score, you must have completed at least 162 questions on the
examination. Candidates completing less than 162 questions will NOT have their score
reported. Candidates completing at least 162 questions but less than 185 questions will
have a penalty applied and their scores adjusted accordingly in order to reflect the number
of questions that remained unanswered.
NABP will report your NAPLEX score to the board of pharmacy that conferred your eligibility
approximately five days after your scheduled test day. The board of pharmacy will report
your score to you. Check with the board of pharmacy for an estimation of when you may
expect to receive your score after you have taken the examination.
NABP does NOT release scores to candidates, and score results are NOT released at the
test center. By applying to take the NAPLEX, you authorize NABP to release your test score
to the board of pharmacy. NABP will not release your scores to any other party. NABP does
not have the authority to report, nor will it report, any individual scores by telephone, fax, or
letter.
Diagnostic reports will also be provided by the board of pharmacy to candidates who fail the
examination along with the examination results. The diagnostic report will indicate the failing
candidate's relative performance in each major competency area, to identify areas that may
require further review. Because of the secure nature of the NAPLEX, no further review of
the test questions is allowed.
The NAPLEX is the means by which boards of pharmacy can assess the entry-level
competence of candidates for licensure. Any other use of individual NAPLEX scores is
inappropriate and is not condoned by NABP.

Pre-NAPLEX™
Preparing for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination™ (NAPLEX®) is much
easier when students use the Pre-NAPLEX™. The only NAPLEX practice exam written and
developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®), the Pre-NAPLEX
will familiarize students with the NAPLEX testing experience.
Because the Pre-NAPLEX is similar to the actual NAPLEX in many ways, students who take
the Pre-NAPLEX will have a chance to “preview” the NAPLEX experience before exam day.
In fact, the questions on the Pre-NAPLEX are actual questions that have previously
appeared on the NAPLEX exam.
Students who complete the Pre-NAPLEX will not only be able to practice for the NAPLEX,
but will also be given an estimated, scaled score based on their answers to the Pre-
NAPLEX questions. Pre-NAPLEX scores are interpreted in a similar fashion as the
NAPLEX. Please note that, like other practice exams, students’ scores on the Pre-NAPLEX
will be similar to what they can expect to receive on the NAPLEX, but may not be the actual
score attained, nor is it a guarantee of passing the NAPLEX examination.
For added convenience, Pre-NAPLEX is Internet based so it can be accessed at home, the
library, school, or work. Students can register for and take one or more of the exams online
at www.pharmacist.com or www.nabp.net. The Pre-NAPLEX consists of three different
exam forms, each with 50 questions. The cost for each Pre-NAPLEX attempt is $50.

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Students can sit for the Pre-NAPLEX at any time on any day.
Click here for more information regarding the Pre-NAPLEX at www.PreNaplex.com.

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