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?

Accreditation
Initial or Continued Accreditation. The professional program of a College or School of Pharmacy is granted initial or continued accreditation if it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ACPE that the program complies with accreditation standards, including the appropriateness of program purposes, the adequacy of resources and organization to meet those purposes, educational outcomes which indicate that those purposes are being met, and the reasonable assurance of the continued meeting of those purposes. 

In the event that evaluation presents program concerns of such character so as impact upon prospects for continued compliance with a standard or standards may result in non-compliance with a standard or standards if not adequately addressed, cautionary notice is given. The chief executive officer of the institution and the Dean of the College or School of Pharmacy are given a period of time, generally not more than one year, to demonstrate that the program will continue in compliance. During this period, the accreditation status of the program is continued and the program is designated as having Cautionary Notice. The response of the institution to Cautionary Notice should be presented in writing in advance of the meeting in which the program is scheduled for consideration. The chief executive officer of the institution, or a designate, and the Dean of the College or School of Pharmacy are invited to attend this meeting and present comments. If the response is inadequate and the program is found to be in non-compliance with a standard or standards, the program will be placed in a probationary status. Such probationary status will be published in the ACPE Directory along with appropriate notifications as set forth in 9.13 below.

Upon initial or continued accreditation of a program, or in the event of voluntary withdrawal from accreditation, or upon a decision to let accreditation lapse, written notification of such actions shall be made to the U.S. Secretary of Education, the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency, the appropriate regional and/or other accrediting agencies, and the public within 30 days.  Public notification includes presentation on the ACPE web site.

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, are given. The response of the institution should be presented in writing in advance of the meeting in which the program is scheduled for consideration. The chief executive officer of the institution, or a designate, and the Dean of the College or School of Pharmacy are invited to personally attend this meeting and present comments. Probation reflects a diminished accreditation status. 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. Adverse accreditation action is defined as withdrawal or denial of accreditation or preaccreditation.   Adverse accreditation action will be taken if a College or School of Pharmacy fails to bring a program into compliance within the period specified by the Council; such time period shall not exceed two years and may be extended only for good cause.
Written notification of probationary action shall be made to the U.S. Secretary of Education, the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency, appropriate regional and/or other accrediting agencies, and the public, at the same time the institution is notified of the probationary action, but no later than 30 days after the decision is made. Public notification includes presentation on the ACPE web site. 
 
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 generally 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 has a Dean 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. A new program that has students enrolled but has not had a graduating class may be granted Candidate status. The granting of Candidate status denotes a developmental program, which 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.

Upon granting preaccreditation status (Precandidate or Candidate) to a program, or in the event of voluntary withdrawal from preaccreditation, or upon a decision to let preaccreditation lapse, written notification of such action shall be made to the U.S. Secretary of Education, the appropriate state licensing or authorizing agency, the appropriate regional and/or other accrediting agencies, and the public within 30 days. Public notification includes presentation on the ACPE web site.

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

106 Colleges and Schools with accreditation status

- 90 Colleges and Schools with full accreditation
- 10 Colleges and Schools with Candidate status
- 6 Colleges and Schools with Precandidate status

414 Continuing Education Providers with Accreditation Status

39 Continuing Education Providers who also offer Certificate Programs

1 Continuing Education Providers have inactive status