TY - JOUR T1 - The NAPLEX: evolution, purpose, scope, and educational implications JF - American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Y1 - 2008 A1 - Newton, D. W. A1 - Boyle, M. A1 - Catizone, C. A. KW - *Educational Measurement KW - Education, Pharmacy/*standards KW - History, 20th Century KW - History, 21st Century KW - Humans KW - Licensure, Pharmacy/history/*legislation & jurisprudence KW - North America KW - Pharmacists/*legislation & jurisprudence KW - Software AB - Since 2004, passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) has been a requirement for earning initial pharmacy licensure in all 50 United States. The creation and evolution from 1952-2005 of the particular pharmacy competency testing areas and quantities of questions are described for the former paper-and-pencil National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NABPLEX) and the current candidate-specific computer adaptive NAPLEX pharmacy licensure examinations. A 40% increase in the weighting of NAPLEX Blueprint Area 2 in May 2005, compared to that in the preceding 1997-2005 Blueprint, has implications for candidates' NAPLEX performance and associated curricular content and instruction. New pharmacy graduates' scores on the NAPLEX are neither intended nor validated to serve as a criterion for assessing or judging the quality or effectiveness of pharmacy curricula and instruction. The newest cycle of NAPLEX Blueprint revision, a continual process to ensure representation of nationwide contemporary practice, began in early 2008. It may take up to 2 years, including surveying several thousand national pharmacists, to complete. VL - 72 SN - 1553-6467 (Electronic)0002-9459 (Linking) N1 - Newton, David WBoyle, MariaCatizone, Carmen AHistorical ArticleUnited StatesAmerican journal of pharmaceutical educationAm J Pharm Educ. 2008 Apr 15;72(2):33. U2 - 2384208 ER -