All Doctor of Pharmacy students are required to pass the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination), plus other requirements that their particular state might have, to be eligible to practice as a pharmacist. Without fulfilling this requirement, pharmacy students will be unable to work in their desired field.
Many pharmacy students are so focused on managing their studies, passing their classes, and trying to form friendships that the NAPLEX exam is rarely on their minds until graduation rolls around. Unfortunately, the stress surrounding the NAPLEX may lead numerous students to act out in ways they normally would not, subjecting them to unnecessary punishments and career delays.
If a student is accused of misconduct surrounding their NAPLEX, working with an academic attorney-advisor will ensure they have every opportunity to overcome such an issue. Call the Lento Law Firm Team today for help.
What is the NAPLEX?
The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) was developed to ensure graduating Pharm.D. students met a certain level of competency. Unlike other graduate exams, it is a computer-adaptive test that adapts to the test-takers ability level. It starts with a pool of available items based on that particular test-takers estimated ability.
As the test-taker answers questions, whether correctly or incorrectly, the computer updates the estimated ability. This goes on and on until a particular condition to terminate the test is met. The idea with computer-adaptive testing is that while the test-takers receive different exams, the competency exhibited is more accurate than a standard fixed test would be able to prove. By requiring Pharm.D. students to take this exam for licensure, NAPLEX is ensuring they safeguard the publics health and welfare.
Structure of the NAPLEX
In addition to being a computer-adaptive exam, the NAPLEX is also a 225-question, multiple-choice exam that usually takes about 6 hours to complete. Additionally, you have the option to take two ten-minute breaks throughout the exam.
Most of the questions refer to a specific patient profile. To answer the question correctly, you need to have a primary knowledge of pharmacy as well as the capacity to understand patient information. Other questions are standalone multiple-choice questions with no patient information provided.
The NAPLEX exam offers several plausible choices as answers, but there is only one answer that is the best choice. There are single-answer questions and combined response questions. For single-answer questions, you must choose the best option for completing the statement or answering the question. But in combined response questions, you will need to choose from various combinations of answer components.
There are twenty-five questions on the exam that are from the Pretest NAPLEX and do not affect your score, but you will not be able to differentiate them from the questions that do count, so it is best to prepare fully for the exam.
Additionally, the NAPLEX is offered year-round when Pearson VUE testing centers are open, making it easier to schedule than other graduate exams. But candidates only have five chances to pass the NAPLEX unless given further permission by the board of pharmacy. There is a mandatory 45-day waiting period after failed attempts, and students cannot take it more than three times in a 12-month period. If you fail it three times within that period, you must wait another 12 months from your first attempt before you can reapply.
Topics Covered on the NAPLEX
The NAPLEX tests six fundamental areas of competence:
- Obtaining, interpreting, or assessing data, medical, or patient information.
- Identifying drug characteristics.
- Developing or managing treatment plans.
- Performing calculations.
- Compounding, dispensing, or administering drugs, or managing delivery systems.
- Developing or managing practice or medication-use systems to ensure safety and quality.
Topics from these areas of competence that might be present on the exam include:
- Treatment adherence or medication-taking behavior of patients.
- Risk factors or maintenance of health and wellness.
- Pregnancy or lactation conditions.
- Boxed warnings.
- Commercial availability of a prescription.
- Drug route of administration, ways to dose it, or delivery systems.
- Drug interactions.
- Medication reconciliation.
- Triage or medical referral.
- Patient parameters or laboratory measures
- Rates of administration.
- Quantities of drugs to be dispensed or administered.
- Pharmacokinetic parameters.
- Instructions or techniques for drug administration
- Package, storage, handling, or disposal.
- Vulnerable populations, special populations, or risk prevention programs.
- Pharmacy informatics.
Misconduct on NAPLEX Applications
Generally, any type of misconduct accusation during the NAPLEX can have a disastrous effect on your pharmacy career. The NAPLEX does not just focus on testing your pharmacology knowledge but also your ability to follow instructions. As such, any irregularities, or outright misconduct, on your application would introduce the idea that you cannot safeguard the publics health and welfare.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the organization that administers the NAPLEX, specifically explains what behavior is forbidden throughout the NAPLEX process, including the application process. For example, test-takers are prohibited from registering for other people, taking exams under someone else's name, presenting a false identity to the application process, or failing to provide accurate information on their application. Even if these incidents were accidental – like you go by Ned, but your real name is Edmonton, and you write “Ned” on the application – the NABP will investigate the issue.
When students are notified of application irregularities or are accused of outright misconduct, they could be barred from taking the NAPLEX until the issue is figured out. This would stall a candidates ability to receive their license. Many students who are involved in a Pharm.D. degree, they have taken out considerable loans, which they are expected to pay back as soon as they start working. If they are unable to begin working and making a Pharm.D. income, they will not be able to repay their loans, which could force them to default on their loans.
It is so important to reach out to an academic attorney-advisor the moment you notice an irregularity on your application or are notified of the issue. Academic attorney-advisors will be able to discuss the issue with NABP on your behalf, ensuring you are not punished unnecessarily.
Misconduct During the NAPLEX
For the most part, misconduct issues associated with the NAPLEX occur during the exam itself. According to NABP, test-takers are forbidden from the following actions while sitting for the exam:
- Failing to bring a photo ID with your signature on it.
- Failing to bring a second form of ID with your signature on it.
- Refusing to have their palm veins scanned.
- Refusing to provide a digital signature or having a photo taken prior to being admitted to the testing room.
- Getting up from their workstation without a test center administrators permission.
- Leaving the test center building for any reason before the exam ends.
- Using your own scratch paper or pen.
- Bringing a calculator into the testing room.
- Bringing electronic or digital devices, including wristbands or watches, into the testing room.
- Having food or beverages of any kind in the testing room without accommodation.
- Bringing in a prohibited item like a camera, recording device, handbag, purse, wallet, mobile phone, or outwear.
- Having a weapon in the testing room.
- Bringing in random items like loose change or car keys.
Additionally, test-takers are prohibited from engaging in any type of misconduct, such as:
- Selling, offering, disclosing, or making available any portion of their exam.
- Transmitting, copying, and reproducing any portion of the exam content.
- Requesting, purchasing, or receiving exam content without NABP authorization.
- Attempting, arranging, or having someone else take the exam for them.
- Attempting, arranging, or taking the exam for someone else.
- Failing to follow the exam administrator's instructions.
- Removing or attempting to remove the scratch paper, note boards, or writing materials from the exam room.
- Tampering with the computers operation.
- Creating a disturbance of any kind.
- Taking the NAPLEX for any other reason than determining if you are eligible for your license unless given outright permission by NABP or the board of pharmacy.
While the prohibited actions seem encumbering, they are there to prevent test-takers from distracting each other. The hope is that it levels the playing field somewhat and allows students to really do their best on the exam. If one student has an unfair advantage over the other, the validity and integrity of the test diminish. The publics health and welfare are no longer protected from individuals who should not be allowed near the pharmacy counter.
But sometimes, testing centers and test administrators take their work too seriously and end up punishing students for behaviors that do not necessarily violate the terms and conditions of the exam. For example, some students with authorized accommodations are reprimanded for having food at their station or taking extra time on a certain section of the exam. When this happens, it is really important to work with an academic attorney-advisor who can help speed up the defense process by gathering evidence and witnesses to attest to your accommodation.
What Happens After NAPLEX-Related Misconduct?
If you are accused of misconduct or irregularities on your application, the NABP will reach out and inform you of the issue. They will then launch a formal investigation to determine if there is any evidence to support the accusations. If they find that you are responsible for the misconduct or an application irregularity, there are several actions they may take, including:
- Putting a hold on your ability to schedule an appointment to take the NAPLEX.
- Putting a hold on your ability to apply for the NAPLEX.
- Forfeiting your testing fees.
- Terminating your tests administration date.
- Withholding your results.
- Invalidating your results.
- Notifying the board of pharmacy or state or federal law enforcement of the misconduct.
- Initiating or participating in civil, criminal, or other administrative proceedings that could result in some sort of disciplinary action.
Generally, after test-takers are notified of an issue, they will be given a hearing date where they can face their accuser and present a defense against the allegations. Once they have presented their own witnesses and evidence, they will have an opportunity to cross-examine the other sides witnesses and evidence.
The board in charge of hearing the arguments will then convene privately to determine if the evidence presented proves the student committed the offense or not. If they determine the test-taker to be responsible for the accused action, they will also notify them of what punishment they will impose. Attorney Lento and his Education Law Team will work tirelessly to mitigate any unnecessarily harsh punishments you could be facing.
Other Issues that Might Affect Your NAPLEX Exam
While there are several things that could affect your NAPLEX exam, including misconduct or application irregularities, there are other issues that might crop up and inhibit your ability to get your license. These issues include:
- Failing to apply for the NAPLEX on time.
- Failing to apply for fee waivers for the exam.
- Not fulfilling the prerequisites required to take the NAPLEX.
- Failing to the NAPLEX five times over almost two years and not being given permission to sit for it again.
How An Academic Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Planning to take the NAPLEX can be an overwhelming and uncomfortable process, especially if you are still enrolled in Pharm.D. classes. But passing the NAPLEX is required before achieving your Pharm.D. license. If you are accused of misconduct on the NAPLEX, whether in your application, during the exam, or afterward, it will have disastrous effects on your ability to practice pharmacology.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento knows how hard you have worked to get where you are and understands the consequences that being accused of violating the policies surrounding NAPLEX can have. Unfortunately, some students decide to defend themselves from these misconduct allegations and fail to do so properly. As such, they find that they are unnecessarily punished for actions that could have been defended against with the help of an academic attorney-advisor.
Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online to learn what Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm can do for you.
