Category: Pharmacy Education & Careers
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Finding Quality in a Sea of Pharmacy Schools
The U.S. has gained more than sixty new pharmacy schools since 2000.1 Since then, NAPLEX pass rates have slumped and attrition rates have risen.2,3,4 However, not all schools have dismal outcomes. The statistics show that certain schools are dragging down national NAPLEX pass rates.5 Prospective students need unbiased information about programs before applying. There is…
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Higher Matching Rates May Spell Trouble for Pharmacy Residency Programs
Pharmacy residency programs have experienced a growth spurt. Non-specialized PGY-1 programs increased by 7.6% from 2020 to 2023.1 During the same period, the number of U.S. PharmD graduates decreased by 13.3%.2,3 The decline in pharmacy school enrollment is well known.4 Its long-term effects on residency programs are unknown. Less students may lead to higher residency…
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Why do NAPLEX Pass Rates Keep Falling?
The last time NAPLEX first-time pass rates exceeded 96% was in 2008.1 Since then, the US has seen a 63.2% increase in new pharmacy schools. This leads many to believe low-quality students are being enrolled. What else could cause first-time pass rates to dip? Some blame the ACPE for allowing poor performing schools to remain…
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Is Low Pharmacy School Enrollment Leading to Lower Admission Standards?
Declining pharmacy school enrollment has resulted in lower quality applicants. These candidates have lower GPAs, PCAT scores, and NAPLEX first-time pass rates. The statistics reveal that pharmacy schools need to prioritize quality over filling seats. PharmCAS is the pharmacy school application hub for most colleges. Their data include GPAs, PCAT scores, number of applications, etc.…
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A Brief History of the Pharmacist Job Market and Its Impact on Pharmacy School Enrollment
Since 2000 the pharmacist job market has been a roll coaster of extremes. First, there was a shortage of pharmacists and pharmacy schools. Then there was a surplus of pharmacists and pharmacy schools. Why is this industry so erratic? One could blame the explosion of new pharmacy schools. Another culprit is retail pharmacy working conditions.…
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