FAMU Pharmacy, Law Programs Show Major Improvement in Licensure Exam Rates
FAMU’s pharmacy and law programs dramatically improved licensure exam passage rates after state officials threatened to eliminate the struggling programs two years ago.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Florida A&M University students achieved significantly improved licensure examination passage rates for law and pharmacy programs in 2025, addressing concerns raised by state education officials who had threatened to eliminate the struggling programs two years ago.
According to FAMU’s 2026 accountability plan, 90% of pharmacy students passed their licensure exam on the first attempt in 2025, a dramatic improvement from the 67% passage rate recorded in 2024.
The law program showed even more substantial gains over a three-year period. First-time bar exam passage rates climbed from 41% in 2023 to 63% in 2024, and reached 73% in 2025.
State Official Had Threatened Program Closure
Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine had expressed serious concerns about the programs’ performance during a meeting two years ago, stating he was “prepared to take away” the programs without improvement.
“Practically speaking, it’s just a horrible waste of resources to take years of a young person’s life, put them through an educational program where at the tail end of it they don’t have the knowledge base to pass their boards,” Levine told the Phoenix in a phone interview Wednesday.
“The thought that people pay an exorbitant sum for tuition and the taxpayers contribute to the cost of these degrees, students should be well prepared” to pass their licensure exams, he said.
University Responds With Task Force, Reforms
During the 2024 meeting, Levine questioned whether admissions standards were sufficient for the underperforming programs. “Not everyone needs to be a lawyer, not everyone can go into nursing, they’re tough career paths,” he said at the time.
Following those comments, Levine said he spoke with interim president Timothy Beard about the scores, who then moved quickly, including establishing a task force for the law school.
“I give them credit. They were willing to take input,” Levine said. “And as I understand it, the results are showing, they’re much improved, and I just think that’s great.”
Significance for Students and State Resources
The improvements represent a major turnaround for programs that serve hundreds of students and receive significant state funding. The enhanced passage rates mean more FAMU graduates are successfully entering their chosen professions after completing their education.
The accountability plan demonstrates FAMU’s response to state oversight and its commitment to improving educational outcomes for students pursuing professional careers in law and pharmacy.
