Locate your numerical score and review any diagnostic reports included in your North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) results to interpret them. The NAPLEX® is scored on a scale of zero to 150 by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), which created and governs it. To pass, you must get a score of 75 or higher; if you get an unsatisfactory score, you will receive a diagnostic report detailing your performance in major competency areas. You failed the NAPLEX® exam if you received a score of zero.
The numerical score you receive in your NAPLEX® results is not the number of items you answered correctly or the percentage of items you answered correctly. Instead, your score is calculated on a scale of zero to 150, so a minimum passing score of 75 does not necessarily imply that you answered 50 percent of the exam questions correctly. The NABP, like other standardized test and entrance exam developers, does not reveal the secret algorithms that determine your score. However, it is stated that your score reflects your ability level as well as how it compares to the passing level.
Your NAPLEX® results may also indicate whether you passed or failed the test. The exam consists of 185 questions, and if you answer at least 162 but fewer than 185, your score may be lower than you expect due to a penalty based on the number of questions you did not answer. If you answered less than 162 questions correctly, your NAPLEX® results will not include a score, and you will need to retake the test.
If you get a diagnostic report with your NAPLEX® results, it means you got a failing score, which is less than the required 75. While the NABP does not allow for further examination of exam items, a diagnostic report indicates your relative performance in the major competency areas assessed on the NAPLEX®. As you prepare to retake the NAPLEX®, this information can help you study more effectively.
One of the many difficult steps toward becoming a practicing pharmacist is passing the NAPLEX®. Your NAPLEX® results are used by boards of pharmacy to determine your readiness for licensure and entry-level pharmacy work. You can usually view your scores on the NABP’s official website or receive them from the state board where you are seeking licensure seven business days after your exam date. Your results will also be sent to the state boards of pharmacy that you choose.