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NAPLEX Competency Statements

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) Competency Statements provide a blueprint of the topics covered on the examination. They offer important information about the knowledge, judgment, and skills you are expected to demonstrate as an entry-level pharmacist. A strong understanding of the Competency Statements will aid in your preparation to take the examination.

As of January 1, 2021

Note: The NAPLEX Blueprint will be updated for exams administered starting May 1, 2025. If you are testing after May 1, 2025 you should use the new NAPLEX Content Outline to gain an understanding of the topic areas covered in the exam.

Area 1 – Obtain, Interpret, or Assess Data, Medical, or Patient Information (Approximately 18% of Test)

  • 1.1 – From instruments, screening tools, laboratory, genomic or genetic information, or diagnostic findings
  • 1.2 – From patients: treatment adherence, or medication-taking behavior; chief complaint, medication history, medical history, family history, social history, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic background
  • 1.3 – From practitioners: treatment adherence, or medication-taking behavior; chief complaint, medication history, medical history, family history, social history, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic background
  • 1.4 – From medical records: treatment adherence, or medication-taking behavior; chief complaint, medication history, medical history, family history, social history, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic background
  • 1.5 – Signs or symptoms of medical conditions, healthy physiology, etiology of diseases, or pathophysiology
  • 1.6 – Risk factors or maintenance of health and wellness
  • 1.7 – Evidence-based literature or studies using primary, secondary, and tertiary references

Area 2 – Identify Drug Characteristics (Approximately 14% of Test)

  • 2.1 – Pharmacology, mechanism of action, or therapeutic class
  • 2.2 – Commercial availability; prescription or non-prescription status; brand, generic, or biosimilar names; physical descriptions; or how supplied
  • 2.3 – Boxed warnings or REMS
  • 2.4 – Pregnancy or lactation

Area 3 – Develop or Manage Treatment Plans (Approximately 35% of Test)

  • 3.1 – Triage or medical referral
  • 3.2 – Therapeutic goals or outcomes and clinical endpoints
  • 3.3 – Medication reconciliation; indication or therapeutic uses; lack of indication; inappropriate indication; duplication of therapy; omissions
  • 3.4 – Drug dosing or dosing adjustments; duration of therapy
  • 3.5 – Drug route of administration, dosage forms, or delivery systems
  • 3.6 – Drug contraindications, allergies, or precautions
  • 3.7 – Adverse drug effects, toxicology, or overdose
  • 3.8 – Drug interactions
  • 3.9 – Therapeutic monitoring parameters, monitoring techniques, monitoring tools, or monitoring frequency
  • 3.10 – Drug pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics
  • 3.11 – Evidence-based practice
  • 3.12 – Non-drug therapy: lifestyle, self-care, first-aid, complementary and alternative medicine, or medical equipment

Area 4 – Perform Calculations (Approximately 14% of Test) 

  • 4.1 – Patient parameters or laboratory measures
  • 4.2 – Quantities of drugs to be dispensed or administered
  • 4.3 – Rates of administration
  • 4.4 – Dose conversions
  • 4.5 – Drug concentrations, ratio strengths, osmolarity, osmolality, or extent of ionization
  • 4.6 – Quantities of drugs or ingredients to be compounded
  • 4.7 – Nutritional needs and the content of nutrient sources
  • 4.8 – Biostatistics, epidemiological, or pharmacoeconomic measures
  • 4.9 – Pharmacokinetic parameters

Area 5 – Compound, Dispense, or Administer Drugs, or Manage Delivery Systems (Approximately 11% of Test)

  • 5.1 – Physicochemical properties of drug products affecting compatibility, stability, delivery, absorption, onset, duration, distribution, metabolism, or elimination
  • 5.2 – Techniques, procedures, or equipment for hazardous or non-hazardous sterile products
  • 5.3 – Techniques, procedures, or equipment for hazardous or non-hazardous non-sterile products
  • 5.4 – Equipment or delivery systems
  • 5.5 – Instructions or techniques for drug administration
  • 5.6 – Packaging, storage, handling, or disposal

Area 6 – Develop or Manage Practice or Medication-Use Systems to Ensure Safety and Quality (Approximately 7% of Test)

  • 6.1 – Interdisciplinary practice, collaborative practice, or expanded practice responsibilities
  • 6.2 – Continuity of care or transitions of care
  • 6.3 – Disease prevention or screening programs; or stewardship
  • 6.4 – Vulnerable populations, special populations, or risk prevention programs
  • 6.5 – Pharmacy informatics