February 24, 2026

Ferris State Pharmacy grad licensing exam pass rates among the best in the nation, show students are prepared for success in their field

Class of 2025 Ferris State University College of Pharmacy grads ranked in the top 20 nationally on licensing exams, exceeding the national average.

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination is a 6-hour, 225-question standardized test required for pharmacy licensure in the United States and Canada.

 Administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the exam measures entry-level competence in drug therapy, safe medication preparation/dispensing, and patient care. It is a high-stakes, computerized, pass/fail exam, often including patient-scenario questions. 

The NABP this month announced pass rate scores, with 94.4 percent of 90 Ferris State graduates successfully passed the exam on their first try. That exceeds 91.7 percent state average for grads taking the test for the first time, as well as the 85.7 percent national average. The rate places the Ferris State class in the top 20 nationally.

“This is an outstanding achievement that reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our faculty,” said Dr. Stephen Durst, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to be practice-ready pharmacists and healthcare leaders.”

The exam is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they receive their degree. 

Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy is one of just three in the state and is known as the university’s first accredited program.

The college dates back to 1893 when Woodbridge N. Ferris saw an opportunity to help prepare local residents for pharmacy licensure examinations. The college’s accreditation has continued uninterrupted since the 1930s.

Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy provides students with a scientific foundation and significant hands-on experience. The PharmD program puts students together with faculty experts who are breaking new ground in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical research.

Students complete more than 1,700 hours of pharmacy practice experience integrated into the curriculum which is built upon the principles of active learning.

First-year and second-year students complete their coursework on the Big Rapids campus. Students move to the Ferris State campus on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile during the third year with fourth year students in practice sites throughout the State’s upper and lower peninsulas.

The College of Pharmacy also has dual degree opportunities with a Master of Business Administration through the College of Business or a Master of Public Health from the College of Health Professions.