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College of Pharmacy No. 5 in national board licensure exam first-time pass rate

Lipscomb is leading the way in preparing pharmacists to be leaders in their field.

Kim Chaudoin | 

Lipscomb's Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center

Lipscomb University’s College of Pharmacy has achieved one of the top first-time pass rates in the nation on the 2019 North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®). 

The College of Pharmacy’s Class of 2019 had a 98.33 percent first-time pass rate, which ranks them No. 5 in the country of the 135 universities whose graduates took the most recent national licensure boards. Lipscomb’s graduates performed at a level that was 10 percent higher than the national average. This marks the highest first-time NAPLEX® pass rate for Lipscomb in its 13 year history. 

To become a licensed pharmacist, an individual must successfully pass two examinations administered by the National Associations of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The NAPLEX® measures a candidate’s knowledge of the practice of pharmacy. It is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.

In addition to the NAPLEX®, the national licensure exam also includes a Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, a standardized exam created by the NABP to assess competency and knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics. Lipscomb’s Class of 2019 achieved a 94 percent first-time pass rate, the highest of any universities in Tennessee.
 
“I am so proud of the Class of 2019’s pass rates on the profession’s two major licensure exams.  The outstanding results are attributed to the hard work of our graduates and the outstanding mentorship and training provided by our faculty and preceptors,” said Dr. Tom Campbell, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy. “Seeking excellence in all we do is one of our core values and being in the top five of pharmacy programs in the country is reflective of how we live out our values.” 
Campbell said Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy offers student pharmacists an education that gives them an opportunity to see the real-world applications of what they are learning in the classroom from the first day they are part of the program. Coupled with Lipscomb’s location in Nashville, the health care capital of the country, student pharmacists have a unique opportunity to get real-world experience in some of the top facilities in the nation.  

“I look forward to seeing how our graduates will take the knowledge and lessons learned here at Lipscomb and impact the world through the practice of pharmacy,” said Campbell. “Our goal in preparing our students is to prepare them to be practitioners in the pharmacies of the future and transforming pharmacies for the innovation of tomorrow.”

Lipscomb College of Pharmacy graduates are successful after they complete their studies and have a 100 percent placement rate following graduation.

Lipscomb University is the home of Middle Tennessee’s first College of Pharmacy founded in 2007. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Learn more at www.lipscomb.edu/pharmacy.