How to study and pass NAPLEX? This is the question that arises in every graduate who wishes to become a registered pharmacist in the U.S. Especially for non-U.S. resident graduates who really suffer from respect to time and money. To pass NAPLEX is not that easy but you have to act smartly for good preparation.
The NAPLEX. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam.
It is the one test that every single pharmacy graduate has to pass in order to practice. Let us try to understand the background and composition of NAPLEX.
NAPLEX Background
The NAPLEX. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam evaluates the candidate’s knowledge of the practice of pharmacy. It is one of the procedures that the board of pharmacy uses to asses candidate competence to practice as a pharmacist.
For beginners, I would recommend you visit the NAPLEX page on the NABP website. This is the official website of the National Association of Board of Pharmacy. You can find the latest information about registration costs and test availability.
Before you get started I would recommend you download the NAPLEX Application Bulletin. You can find the updated bulletin on the NABP website. This bulletin guides each and everything which a candidate must know about NAPLEX.
NABP keeps on updating the bulletin that is why I am not sharing the link over here. For all of you download the latest bulletin from the NABP website. It is a comprehensive guide of around 53 pages. Read the whole of it carefully.
Make sure to focus on what to bring to the test center and type of IDs acceptable. Registration should match with your ID. Do not choose an ID which contradicts with your application name, for example, if someone register as John Mike Abraham and his ID is John Abraham.
NAPLEX Test Composition
The NAPLEX test consists of 250 questions. Out of 250 questions, 50 are the experimental base. These experimental questions are added for evaluation for use in future NAPLEX and hence do not affect your score. These experimental questions are mixed throughout the test so there is no way to guess which question is real or which is experimental.
Let us see the test composition of NAPLEX.
Multiple Choice Questions
We all are familiar with these types of questions. In these questions, you have to select only the most appropriate answer. The best way to attempt these questions is to eliminate the irrelevant options and narrow down the options to 1 or 2.
Multiple Response Questions
A multiple response question is basically a multiple choice question: The questions allow participants to select multiple alternatives, and more than one of these can be correct. Multiple response questions are normally more difficult to answer compared to multiple-choice questions.
The best way to handle these types of questions is to deal with each answer option as a true or false statement. Ignore everything else, and just evaluate each choice individually.
This helps to reduce the “overwhelm” the multiple response questions can bring.
Constructed Response
These are fill in the blank questions. The example in the bulletin involves a calculation where you have to fill in the answer with the nearest whole number.
Ordered Response
For these questions, you have to highlight, drag, and order answer options in a particular order (such as highest to lowest). The example in the candidate bulletin involves the potency of topical corticosteroids.
Hot Spot
This is where you have a diagram where you have to use your computer mouse to identify something on the diagram (example in the bulletin is HIV life cycle).
Just knowing what types of questions are possible decreases anxiety and therefore helps you prepare best. Remember one of the best ways to get ready for the exam is to practice, practice, practice, and practice some more. There are lots of sample questions on AccessPharmacy available for you to prepare. Keep working hard! Test time is just around the corner.
NAPLEX Becoming Clinical Oriented
You’ve probably heard that the NAPLEX has been getting more “clinical” over the years. This is true. There are more scenario-based questions where you are given a clinical case and asked to interpret questions about it.
Don’t let your ego convince you that you don’t need to study that much. You need to prep for this exam like it’s the most important one you’ll take in your life (because quite possibly, it is).
The goal of the NAPLEX is to make sure you can practice pharmacy without killing someone. You are more likely to get asked about a rare (but potentially fatal) side effect than you are to get asked about the 4th line of therapy in a patient with refractory hypertension and Stage 4 CKD.
Remember that, and remember it well. Especially if you’re someone who is prone to talking yourself out of the answers you’ve picked.
How Long to Study For NAPLEX?
Depending on how intensely you study, I think you can prep for the NAPLEX in 2 – 4 weeks on average. Can you do it in less (or more) time? Yes, but it really just depends on your study style.
Outside of the $575 you’re spending to take the exam, the NAPLEX is also one of the only things standing between you and a decent income. Waiting 45 days for a second attempt is only costing you money.
Plus if you’re doing a residency, most programs require that you pass the NAPLEX so you can complete the “distribution” requirement of their program. Fail the NAPLEX more than once, and you may have a difficult conversation with your residency program director.
So, my best advice is to study for the NAPLEX for as long as it takes you to feel over-prepared. Best to leave nothing to chance with so much at stake. For most people, this should be achievable in 2 – 4 weeks.
My Recommended NAPLEX Preparation Guides
RxPrep
RxPrep offers everything you need in a NAPLEX review book. At more than 1000 pages, RxPrep is extremely comprehensive, yet easy to read. The book is broken into 73 chapters classified by disease state or pharmacy topic.
Get your copy now and start preparing ORDER NOW
Comprehensive Pharmacy Review for NAPLEX
As the name states, Comprehensive Pharmacy Review (CPR) is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive NAPLEX review books on the market. With contributions from more than 50 pharmacists, CPR is comprised of more than 1400 pages broken up into 64 chapters. Each chapter covers a different topic ranging from disease states to special patient populations, to miscellaneous pharmacy topics.
Get this book now ORDER NOW
The APhA Complete Review for Pharmacy
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) produces a solid overall NAPLEX review book that is updated annually. With more than 1000 pages and 42 chapters, APhA’s review book covers all of the major pharmacy topics, including disease states, drug information, calculations, and federal pharmacy law.
Do not wait to get your copy now ORDER NOW
I wish good luck to all those who are preparing for NAPLEX. If my article helps you in getting ready for NAPLEX do post your comment below. Share it with your friends around.
