Student Information

The PCOA measures your performance in pharmacy curricula and helps you become familiar with the examination process prior to sitting for the licensure examination after graduation. Learn more about what to expect during the registration process and on test day by reviewing the content below.

Your college will notify you when it is time to register for the PCOA. After receiving the notification, you can complete your NABP e-Profile and ExamStudio registration.

1. Create an NABP e-Profile.
   • When creating your e-Profile:
     • Ensure the name (including first, middle, and last names, as well as suffixes) you provide matches your valid (not-expired) state-issued photo ID.
     • Have your social security number accessible.
     • Update your profession. If you are a pharmacy technician, update your profession in e-Profile to pharmacy student or pharmacy intern.
   • With your e-Profile, you can register for the PCOA and manage all of your NABP programs and services. If you already have an e-Profile, skip to step two.
2. Register for the PCOA with NABP.
   • Log in to your NABP e-Profile, select Exam Services, and click the PCOA tile. Complete the registration form ensuring your education information is correctly entered.

Contact Customer Engagement if you need to change your education information or your name.

Registration Deadlines for Students

45 days before your PCOA test session month:

• Complete your registration and create an NABP e-Profile as described above. 
• Submit a testing accommodation request, if needed, to your college’s PCOA Administrator. Additional details regarding testing accommodation requests are described below. 

35 days before your PCOA test session month:

You will receive two emails from ExamStudio in order to:

1. Create an ExamStudio account.
   • Your username is provided in the welcome email sent from support@examstudio.com.   
2. Schedule an appointment with ProctorU using your ExamStudio dashboard.  
   • Use the ExamStudio dashboard and follow the instructions in the authorization email sent from support@examstudio.com to schedule your test session appointment.

Testing Accommodations

If you need testing accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), follow the instructions below for submitting a request:

1. Download the Testing Accommodations Request Form.
2. Complete Part I including the candidate statement.
3. Have your practitioner complete Part II including the practitioner statement.
4. Submit the completed Part I and Part II of the Testing Accommodations Request Form to your college’s PCOA Administrator, who will complete Part III.
5. Your college’s PCOA Administrator will submit the completed form (Parts I, II, and III) to NABP for review.
6. You will receive a confirmation email from NABP and your college’s PCOA Administrator will be notified once your ADA request is processed.

If you have any questions regarding your request for testing accommodations, email ADArequest@nabp.pharmacy.

Prepare for test day by familiarizing yourself with the PCOA Content Areas. Read the Student Guide for more information about how to prepare for test day.

Below are some best practices to ensure optimal computer performance during your scheduled testing session. You will receive “Test it Out” instructions from NABP’s remote proctor, ProctorU, before your test session. Follow those instructions to minimize any potential technical disruptions on your test day.   

• Restart your computer before performing the “Test It Out” and before “Logging In” on test day.
• When “Test It Out” is performed, it should be tested on the computer during a similar time as the test session appointment scheduled.
• “Test It Out” should be performed from your ExamStudio dashboard and not through the ProctorU website.
• Test the computer in the same room you will be taking the exam to best simulate your test day experience.
• When testing your computer, make sure the network usage is the same as when you will be taking the exam. For example, test your computer while others in your household are also utilizing the network to best simulate your test day experience.  
• Check that the computer you plan to use on test day has enough memory capacity and memory speed. 
• Visit the ProctorU website for additional test-taker details.

Prepare for test day by familiarizing yourself with the PCOA content areas.

Test Day Troubleshooting

If you experience any issues on the day of your scheduled exam, ProctorU will provide technical assistance. If ProctorU is unable to resolve the technical issue(s) during your originally scheduled test session, contact your college’s PCOA Administrator. The Administrator will provide additional information about rescheduling your testing session. If you need to reschedule, you will receive instructions to schedule an appointment during another testing session.