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

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

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