(246) School or College Characteristics Associations with First-Time Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam Pass Rates

Objective : This study aimed to assess the correlation between pharmacy schools' law-related curriculum and first-quartile pass rates for the 2022 and 2023 MPJE exams.

Methods: A list of pharmacy schools in MPJE-utilizing states, using 2022 and 2023 pass rates from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. School websites were reviewed for law-related curriculum details, including course timing, credit hours, number of courses, and faculty with law degrees. Additional data, such as number of graduates, institution type (private or public), and founding year, were collected. Schools were categorized based on first-time MPJE pass rates into first-quartile or lower three quartiles and analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Among 125 pharmacy schools, 27 and 31 were categorized as first-quartile in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In 2022, law-curriculum characteristics didn't correlate with first-quartile pass rates in analyses. However, placing a law course the semester before advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) was associated with first-quartile pass rates in 2023 in the univariable analysis (p=.003), not in the multivariable analysis (p=.290). Variables significantly associated with 2022 first-quartile pass rates in the univariable analysis included precandidate status before 2000, having an associated law school, and public school status. The 2023 data revealed only private school status was associated with higher NAPLEX pass rates.

Conclusions: The study suggests that law-course characteristics weren't consistently associated with first-time MPJE pass rates. Although a law course the semester before APPEs was associated with first-quartile pass rates in 2023 in the univariable analysis, further research is needed to understand factors influencing pharmacy students' MPJE success.