The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) was founded shortly after the beginning of the 20th century. Although early members have since disagreed upon the exact date of the founding, the NABP was clearly seen as a forum in which early state boards of pharmacy could meet and discuss issues of mutual concern. It has also been argued that the desire for reciprocity of licensing among the states also encouraged the organization of the NABP. As early as 1901, Dr. Henry M. Whelpley, then dean of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, saw the need for board members to confer, and in 1903 he presented a paper to the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) in which he urged such an organization of state board delegates. As a result, this annual conference resolved that an organizational meeting for such delegates be called for its 1904 meeting in Kansas City.
These board delegates were particularly interested in the requirements for practical experience in contemporary pharmacy courses. Although they were unable to come to an accord on that issue, it was decided to form a committee of five to draft a constitution and by-laws. In addition, George Reimann was elected president.
During the early gatherings of the NABP, academic standards and legislation were discussed. The fourth conference in 1907 in New York City produced the first sample examination questions. That same year, the Syllabus Committee put forth a suggested course of study for schools of pharmacy.
In 1908 H.C. Christensen organized an Inter-state Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The objectives of this group were to further reciprocity and to accomplish the “aims and objectives as the NABP.” In 1913 Christensen was elected chairman of the NABP Advisory Examination Committee and in 1914 he was elected secretary of the NABP. At the same time the Inter-state Association was disbanded.
In 1919 a system of nine districts (later adjusted to eight) within the NABP was established, which conducted their own meetings. Early in Christensen's administration Chicago became the NABP's permanent headquarters. In 1942 he resigned as secretary for health reasons and was succeeded by Patrick H. Costello, who held the secretaryship until 1962.
During their administrations the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy was involved in five areas: education; requirements for practical experience; board examinations and grading standards; law enforcement and legislation; and assistant pharmacists. First, the NABP advocated higher standards and the furtherance of education for the profession. In fulfilling their constitutional purpose to “provide for interstate reciprocity in pharmaceutic licensure based upon a uniform minimum standard of pharmaceutic education and uniform education,” the NABP has been very successful. In 1904 there were few legal requirements concerning the education of pharmacists, but by 1920 the NABP had adopted resolutions to establish definite educational standards for reciprocity. The length of college training gradually increased from two
years to three. In 1934 a resolution was adopted to establish a standard four-year college course as a minimum, and the association worked in conjunction with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to bring about these changes.
Another area in which the NABP achieved success has been the creation and maintenance of high standards in state board examinations. Each state adopts its own requirements for licensure, but through the efforts of the NABP, most state boards of pharmacy have adopted the NABPLEX examination as the standard for licensure. This work began in 1912 when the NABP established a platform to discuss examinations. Largely through the work of L. L. Walton, the NABP produced several guides. The association still produces these review guides for students and interns preparing for the licensing examination. In 1932 a study was approved to investigate the possibility of a national pharmacy examination, but no action was apparently taken. Examination clinics and workshops under the guidance of Robert L. Swain led to many resolutions concerning practical examinations.
Law enforcement and legislation efforts of the NABP have dealt with broad topics from the regulation in 1914 of the sale of cocaine to the adoption in 1927 of the metric system. The NABP has also worked to unify and strengthen state pharmacy boards.
Other topics of concern to the NABP include publicity, relations with other professions, and the labor pool of pharmacists.
