Evolving Standards: An Examination of NAPLEX Blueprint Changes and Implications for the Academy

Diana M. Sobieraj; Thomas M. Ellington; Aleda M.H. Chen; Michael P. Kelsch; Lisa Lebovitz; Sarah Spinler; Mary E. Ray

doi:10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101400

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Evolving Standards: An Examination of NAPLEX Blueprint Changes and Implications for the Academy

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Evolving Standards: An Examination of NAPLEX Blueprint Changes and Implications for the Academy

Diana M. Sobieraj, Thomas M. Ellington, Aleda M.H. Chen, Michael P. Kelsch, Lisa Lebovitz, Sarah Spinler and Mary E. Ray

American journal of pharmaceutical education, Vol.89(5), 101400

05/2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101400

PMID: 40187565

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Abstract

To examine changes in the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX®) blueprint from 2007 to 2025 and identify trends in the blueprint competencies and their alignment with curricular standards. Members of the research team created a crosswalk using the 2025 NAPLEX® blueprint as the reference year, to which they mapped the 2007, 2016, and 2021 blueprints. The crosswalk was distributed to several other assessment and curriculum colleagues at various institutions, both public and private, for iterative review and revision until consensus was reached. The same process was used to map the 2025 blueprint to Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities (COEPA) 2023. New NAPLEX® subdomains in 2025 include immunization, ethics, and mentorship/ preceptorship. Notable differences in blueprints include structural changes in content moving from separately identifiable areas (i.e., math and compounding) and into a collective domain with other content and reducing formulation-related content while increasing clinical content. The latter aligns with a substantial amount of content mapping to the “Provider” and “Problem-solver” curricular outcomes and the clinical sciences, particularly medication use processes, area of ACPE Standards 2025 Appendix 1. The 2025 NAPLEX blueprint resembles a shift towards clinical content in comparison to prior blueprints. Curricular outcomes related to solving problems, providing whole person care, and stewardship of medication systems for prescribing, order processing, dispensing, administration, and effects monitoring align with the new NAPLEX® blueprint.

Pharmacy Education

curricular assessment

licensure examination

Details

Title: Subtitle: Evolving Standards: An Examination of NAPLEX Blueprint Changes and Implications for the Academy
Creators: Diana M. Sobieraj - University of Connecticut
Thomas M. Ellington - Shenandoah University
Aleda M.H. Chen - Cedarville University
Michael P. Kelsch - North Dakota State University
Lisa Lebovitz - University of Maryland, Baltimore
Sarah Spinler - Binghamton University
Mary E. Ray - University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, 180 S. Grand Avenue/CPB 231M Iowa City, IA 52242
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of pharmaceutical education, Vol.89(5), 101400
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101400
PMID: 40187565
NLM abbreviation: Am J Pharm Educ
ISSN: 0002-9459
eISSN: 1553-6467
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 04/03/2025
Date published: 05/2025
Academic Unit: Pharmacy; Pharmacy Practice and Science
Record Identifier: 9984808533302771

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