NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy)
NAPLEX
North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination
The licensure exam every pharmacist in the US must pass to practice. Tests whether a PharmD graduate can safely select, dispense, and manage drug therapy — the single national gateway to a pharmacist license.
Full program: 11 decks, 1,194 cards.
What's on the exam
NAPLEX Content Outline (effective May 1, 2025)
Foundational Knowledge for Pharmacy Practice
25% (≈50 of 200 scored questions)Pharmacology and mechanism of action · Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics · Pharmaceutics · Sterile and nonsterile compounding · Pharmaceutical calculations · Biostatistics and epidemiology
Medication Use Process (Prescribing, Transcribing and Documenting, Dispensing, Administering, and Monitoring)
25% (≈50 of 200 scored questions)Prescription/order interpretation and documentation · Dispensing and product verification · Routes and devices of administration · Stability and compatibility · Therapeutic monitoring and follow-up
Person-Centered Assessment and Treatment Planning
40% (≈80 of 200 scored questions)Patient data and laboratory assessment · Drug therapy selection · Dosing and dose adjustments · Drug interactions and contraindications · Evidence-based treatment guidelines · Therapy modification and discontinuation
Professional Practice
5% (≈10 of 200 scored questions)Patient safety and medication error prevention · Patient communication and education · Legal and professional standards
Pharmacy Management and Leadership
5% (≈10 of 200 scored questions)Medication-use systems and operations · Quality improvement · Hazardous drug handling · Inventory and formulary management
Frequently asked questions
How much does the NAPLEX cost?
The NAPLEX costs $620. $100 NABP application fee + $520 exam fee, plus state board licensure fees.
How long is the NAPLEX and how many questions does it have?
225 items (200 scored, 25 unscored) — 6 hours (with scheduled breaks).
What do you need to pass the NAPLEX?
Scaled score of 75 or higher.
Can you retake the NAPLEX?
After 45 days; up to 5 attempts (NABP limit; state boards may be stricter).
What is the best way to study for the NAPLEX?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Foundational Knowledge for Pharmacy Practice 25% (≈50 of 200 scored questions), Medication Use Process (Prescribing, Transcribing and Documenting, Dispensing, Administering, and Monitoring) 25% (≈50 of 200 scored questions), Person-Centered Assessment and Treatment Planning 40% (≈80 of 200 scored questions), Professional Practice 5% (≈10 of 200 scored questions), Pharmacy Management and Leadership 5% (≈10 of 200 scored questions)). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our NAPLEX program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.