Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (CoPPS, IPH) has reported significant improvements in licensure exam outcomes for its Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2025. According to data from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the latest cohort achieved an 89.8% first-time pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). This marks a notable increase from the previous year’s rate of 69.3%, representing a gain of more than 20 percentage points and placing FAMU graduates above both state and national averages.
Performance on the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) also improved. The Class of 2025 recorded a 56.5% first-time pass rate, compared to 55.7% for the prior class. When including all attempts, MPJE performance reached 62.1%.
“Florida A&M University is committed to building a stronger pipeline of skilled talent who are prepared for careers in critical health professions,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “The exceptional performance of our pharmacy graduates on the licensure and board exams demonstrates our focus on post-graduation readiness and holistic student development through all phases of the academic experience.”
“These remarkable gains in NAPLEX and MPJE performance reflect the power of academic excellence, accountability, and a shared dedication to preparing our graduates for professional impact,” said Donald Palm, III, Ph.D., executive vice president for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation. “Congratulations to Provost Watson, Dean Ablordeppey, and the outstanding faculty of FAMU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health for their exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to student success.”
FAMU CoPPS, IPH Interim Dean Seth Ablordeppey, Ph.D., attributed these results to ongoing efforts by faculty, staff, and students.
“The significant gains in NAPLEX and MPJE performance demonstrate what is possible when data‑driven instruction, early intervention and intentional student support come together with determination and hard work. We are proud of the Class of 2025 and grateful to every member of our college community who contributed to this progress. As we continue strengthening our programs, we remain focused on preparing practice‑ready graduates who will lead with competence, compassion and integrity in the communities they serve,” said Ablordeppey.
The college credits its progress to coordinated academic interventions, enhanced accountability measures, expanded support systems for students during licensure preparation, integrated board preparation activities, early diagnostic assessments, increased faculty engagement, and participation in programs such as Resources to Increase Success on Licensure (RISE).
“These results underscore the effectiveness of our targeted, data driven strategies to strengthen licensure readiness,” said Jocelyn D. Spates, PharmD, associate dean of clinical affairs. “Integrated board preparation, early diagnostic assessments, increased faculty engagement, and the Resources to Increase Success on Licensure (RISE) program have all contributed to this upward trajectory. We are proud of our graduates and grateful to the faculty and staff whose commitment made this progress possible.”
