Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing, NAPLEX and FPGEE questions?

Questions regarding admissions to ACPE accredited programs?

What are the different accreditation statuses?

Questions about Distance Learning Programs?

Accreditation Statistics

What are ACPE's guidelines for logo usage?

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Licensing, NAPLEX and FPGEE

Where can I find out information regarding licensing requirements, the NAPLEX exams and the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination?

Please contact the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) at:

1600 Feehanville Drive
Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056
Phone: (847) 391-4406
FAX: (847) 391-4502
E-mail: custserve@nabp.net
Web: www.nabp.net

Admissions Criteria

Questions regarding admissions criteria to ACPE accredited pharmacy programs, which program accept foreign students, which offer non-traditional programs, which require PCAT, and other specific program and admission requirement questions?

Please contact the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy at:

1727 King Street
Alexandria, Virgina 22314
Phone: (703) 739-2330
FAX: (703) 836-8982
E-mail: mail@aacp.org
Web: www.aacp.org

Accreditation Status

What are the different types of Accreditation status?
 
Preaccreditation - A newly instituted Doctor of Pharmacy program of a College or School of Pharmacy maybe granted one of two preaccreditation statuses, depending upon its stage of development. In the instance of a newly founded College or School of Pharmacy, the program progresses through both statuses. The standards are the same as those employed for accredited status, however, preaccreditation involves, in large measure, planning in accord with standards and provision of reasonable assurances for a quality outcome.

- Precandidate A new program that has no students enrolled but that meets the eligibility criteria for accreditation may be granted Precandidate accreditation status.  The granting of Precandidate status indicates that a college or school’s planning for the Doctor of Pharmacy program has taken into account ACPE standards and guidelines and suggests reasonable assurances of moving to the next step, that of Candidate status.  Granting of Precandidate status brings no rights or privileges of accreditation.  Full public disclosure by the college or school of pharmacy of the terms and conditions of this accreditation status is required.

- Candidate Following achievement of Precandidate status, and once students have enrolled in a new program, but the program has not had a graduating class, the program may be granted Candidate status. The granting of Candidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Reasonable assurances are expected to be provided that the program may become accredited as programmatic experiences are gained, generally, by the time the first class has graduated. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges as graduates of an accredited program.

Full Status - The professional degree program of a college or school of pharmacy is granted initial or full accreditation if it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of ACPE that the program complies with accreditation standards, including the appropriateness of the program’s mission and goals, the adequacy of resources and organization to meet the mission and goals, outcomes which indicate that the mission and goals are being met, and the reasonable assurance of the continued compliance with standards.

Full Accreditation with Probation - A professional program of a College or School of Pharmacy that has been granted accreditation and is subsequently determined to be in non-compliance with a standard or standards will be given the accreditation status of probation. Due notice of this action, indication of the area(s) of non-compliance, and the time period within which the program is expected to bring itself into compliance with standards (not to exceed two years) are given. Graduates of a program in a probationary status retain all the rights and privileges associated with an accredited program. Probation is not an adverse accreditation action.

The many varieties of distance learning share the common element of a student who is geographically separate from an instructor, with limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction. As a result, educational content, activities and communication are delivered in text, graphic, audio or video formats either electronically or using physical media such as paper, CD ROM or video tape. The earliest form of distance learning was the correspondence course delivered by mail. Today, distribution through the Internet has become increasingly popular. Most contemporary distance learning employs simple approaches such as presenting text and graphics on web pages or broadcasting classes on-line using video and audio. No existing technology is robust enough to teach all pharmacy content, skills and values at a distance, so distance-learning programs must build in opportunities for face-to-face interaction between students, faculty, practitioners and patients.

Distance learning allows the school to go to the students, if family, work or finances make it impossible to attend a traditional, brick-and-mortar institution. The scheduling flexibility of some distance-learning programs makes them suitable for part-time students. In fact, distance learning has been popular for many years in some non-traditional doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programs developed for practicing pharmacists with baccalaureate (B.S.) degrees. Distance-learning programs that offer a Pharm.D. to entry-level students, however, are a completely new occurrence.

While distance learning has much to offer place-bound students, some educational experiences may be lost. Going away to school exposes students to life experiences that help to shape interpersonal and coping skills. Daily interaction with pharmacy faculty and peers may assist in developing values and skills for socializing students into the profession. On the other hand, practice environments are continually changing, so distance learners may actually be developing social skills for health-care settings of the future, where interactions between professionals and patients are likely to take place through distance communication as well as face to face.

Learning from a distance is not for everyone, but if you or someone you know has the interest, self-discipline and motivation to succeed in a distance-learning program in pharmacy, then contact colleges or schools with distance-learning pathways to see if one is right for you. A list of ACPE-accredited colleges and schools with distance-learning pathways is on this website.

Accreditation Statistics

120 Colleges and Schools with accreditation status

- 94 Colleges and Schools with full accreditation
- 18 Colleges and Schools with Candidate status
- 8 Colleges and Schools with Precandidate status

397 Continuing Education Providers with Accreditation Status

2 Continuing Education Providers who also offer Certificate Programs