UHCOP Class of 2020 Graduates Post 4th Straight Year with Highest First-time Pass
Rate in Texas, 6th Highest in Nation Among Peers
March 23 — UH College of Pharmacy's Pharm.D. Class of 2020 achieved a 96.26% first-time
pass rate on the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®), which extends
the college's streak for the highest pass rate in Texas to a fourth consecutive year.
According to the newly released results from exam administrator, the National Association
of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), UHCOP 2020 graduates' first-time pass rate was the sixth
highest in the nation among accredited pharmacy programs with at least 100 first-time
test takers. The national average first-time pass rate for all 2020 graduates from
the 140 programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
was 88.43%.
"In a year that brought unimaginable challenges to successful completion of academic
work and experiential clinical rotations, not to mention adhering to safety protocols
while both preparing for and taking the licensure exams, we're truly in awe of the
resilience, focus and commitment to the profession shown by our Class of 2020," said
UHCOP Dean F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D., R.Ph. "We also are immensely appreciative of
the efforts and flexibility of our preceptors, sites, alumni, faculty and staff in
helping our graduates succeed in achieving their dream of providing outstanding patient
care for our communities under such difficult circumstances."
According to the NABP, the NAPLEX "is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge
and is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they receive their
degree. The NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the
boards of pharmacy to assess a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist."
Alumni, faculty and staff members, and supporters reeled in a haul of accolades and honors — from awards for leadership, service and research to installment to elected offices — at the 2026 Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Seminar April 24-26 in Galveston.
Pharm.D. and M.S. students earned multiple awards and scholarships at the 2026 Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Seminar April 24-26 in Galveston. Students were recognized for excellence in clinical skills, disease state management, leadership, research and scholarship, highlighting the college’s strong statewide presence in health-system pharmacy.
Through hands-on experiences in ambulatory care and active involvement in student organizations, Romafou Bates has grown from a self-described introvert into a recognized leader among his peers. As he prepares to pursue residency training, he remains committed to advancing patient-centered care and building a future where pharmacists play a vital role in health care decision-making.