International Commission

• Sherief Khalifa, PhD

  Professor and Vice Chancellor for Quality & Institutional Effectiveness, Dean, College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, UAE, and Professor of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Egypt

  Ajman, UAE (Chair)

• Donald E. Letendre, BSPh, PharmD, FASHP

  Dean and Professor, University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy

  Iowa City, Iowa, USA (Vice Chair/Chair-Elect)

• Abeer M. Al-Ghananeem, PhD

  Professor of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics and Associate Dean of Research at Sullivan University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences; Member of the Board of Trustees at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University College for Innovation 

  Louisville, Kentucky, USA

• Abdullah M. Alhammad, BSc, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

  Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University

  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Jannet M. Carmichael, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FAPhA

  President of Pharm Consult NV, LLC

  Reno, Nevada, USA

• Michael Katz, PharmD

  Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, and Director, International Programs and Residency Programs, University of Arizona, College of Pharmacy 

  Tucson, Arizona, USA

• Shailendra Saraf, MPharm, PhD

  Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. (NIPER)
  

  Ahmedabad, India

• Jenelle Sobotka, PharmD, FAPhA

  Professor and Director, Online Certificate and Masters Programs in Pharmacy Leadership, University of Cincinnati, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy

  Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

ISP Advisory Group (ISPAG): 2022 – 2023 Term

• Lilian Azzopardi, BPharm (Hons), MPhil, PhD, MRPharmS, FFIP

  Msida, Malta

• Tina Penick Brock, RPh, MS, EdD

  Boulder, Colorado, USA

• Rula M. Darwish, PhD

  Amman, Jordan

• Rümeysa Demirdamar, PhD

  Lefke, Northern Cyprus

• Nettie Dzabala, MSc Pharm

  Blantyre, Malawi

• Lamia El Wakeel, PhD

  Cairo, Egypt

• Manohar D. Karvekar, PhD, MPharm

  Bangalore, India

• Beom-Jin Lee, PhD

  Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon, South Korea

• Silvana Nair Leite, PhD

  Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

• Arijana Meštrovic, MPharm, DrSc

  Zagreb, Croatia

• Imelda G. Peña, RPh, DrPH

  Manila, Philippines

• Antonio Sánchez Pozo, PhD

  Granada, Spain

• Mohamad Rahal, PhD

  Beirut, Lebanon

• P.T. Thomas, BPharm, MS, PhD

  Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

• Daisy Volmer, PhD

  Tartu, Estonia

International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Programs

ACPE ISP Quality Criteria may be voluntarily adopted by degree programs in pharmacy outside of the United States.

International-Accreditation Quality Criteria

Quality Criteria for International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Programs in Pharmacy
Adopted: June 17, 2022; Released: January 1, 2023

Glossary

Glossary For ISP International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation Documents

Policies and Procedures

The ACPE Board has adopted policies and procedures that apply to the International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy that are based outside the United States of America (USA) and its territories; namely, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.

• Policies and Procedures for International-Accreditation, International-Preaccreditation, and Provisional International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Programs in Pharmacy in Countries other than the United States and its Territories (Adopted June 17, 2022; effective January 1, 2023)

• Memo Regarding Policies and Procedures (July 2022)

Application for International-Accreditation:

ACPE accepts applications for International-Accreditation for programs that are a minimum of four academic years in length. A summary of the steps in the application process and associated documentation, forms, flowcharts, and timelines are available for download.

Guidance:

• Guidance for Submission of a Letter of Intent
• Eligibility Criteria
• Glossary For ISP International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation Documents
• Threshold Rubric for Authorization of Initial On-Site Visit
• Documentation and Data Required for Self-Study Report for International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America
• Guidelines and Suggested Questions for On-Site Evaluations for International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America

• Webinar: How to Complete Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report Template

• Sample Guidance on the Submission of Appendices List and Descriptions in the Self-Study Report (SSR)

• Guidelines for Preparing Electronic Documents for Submission

Forms and Templates

• Summary of International-Accreditation Application Steps and Required Documentation
  *Confirm with ACPE whether country-specific requirements are met. For schools located in Saudi Arabia, email Silvi Kastrati, for further information and additional guidance.
• Invitation to Evaluate
• International-Accreditation Application Flowchart
• Description of Pharmacy Practice (Criterion 1)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) List (Criterion 19)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Profile (Criterion 19)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report (Criterion 19)

• • Webinar: How to Complete Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report Template
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Tables (Criterion 20)

• Self-Assessment Instrument for International-Accreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America (Version for Schools/Colleges of Pharmacy)

Deadlines for Submission of Application for International-Accreditation*

• June 2024 International-Accreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Application Deadline Has Already Passed

• January 2025 International-Accreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Click Here to See Sample Timeline

• June 2025 International-Accreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Click Here to See Sample Timeline

Application for International-Preaccreditation:

ACPE accepts applications for International-Preaccreditation for programs that are a minimum of four academic years in length. A summary of the steps in the application process and associated documentation, forms, flowcharts, and timelines are available for download.

Guidance

• Guidance for Submission of a Letter of Intent
• Eligibility Criteria
• Glossary For ISP International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation Documents
• Threshold Rubric for Authorization of Initial On-Site Visit
• Documentation and Data Required for Self-Study Report for International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America
• Guidelines and Suggested Questions for On-Site Evaluations for International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America

• Webinar: How to Complete Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report Template

• Sample Guidance on the Submission of Appendices List and Descriptions in the Self-Study Report (SSR)

• Guidelines for Preparing Electronic Documents for Submission

Forms and Templates

• Summary of International-Preaccreditation Application Steps and Required Documentation
  *Confirm with ACPE whether country-specific requirements are met. For schools located in Saudi Arabia, email Silvi Kastrati, for further information and additional guidance.
• Invitation to Evaluate
• International-Preaccreditation Application Flowchart: Currently not available
• Description of Pharmacy Practice (Criterion 1)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) List (Criterion 19)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Profile (Criterion 19)
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report (Criterion 19)

• • Webinar: How to Complete Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report Template
• Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Tables (Criterion 20)

• Self-Assessment Instrument for International-Preaccreditation of Professional Degree Program of Schools of Pharmacy based outside the United States of America (Version for Schools/Colleges of Pharmacy) 

Deadlines for Submission of Application for International-Preaccreditation

• June 2024 International-Preaccreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Application Deadline Has Already Passed

• January 2025 International-Preaccreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Click Here to See Sample Timeline

• June 2025 International-Preaccreditation decision by the ACPE Board: Click Here to See Sample Timeline

Maintaining International-Accreditation:

Forms and Templates: 

• Invitation to Evaluate for Continuation of International-Accreditation

Interim Reports:

• Guidelines for Interim Reports during the International-Accreditation Term and Interim Reports for Two-Years Post-International-Accreditation Focused On-Site Evaluation
• Interim Report Template
• Interim Report Template for Two-Years Post-International-Accreditation Focused On-Site Evaluation

• Interim Report Template for Focused On-Site Evaluation

• Interim Report Template International-Preaccreditation Version

• Interim Report Template for Focused Visit International-Preaccreditation Version

• Guidelines for Preparing Electronic Documents for Submission

Substantive Change(s) Reports:

• Substantive Change(s) Report Template

Annual Reporting:

• ACPE Policies and Procedures: Extract regarding Annual Reporting
• Enrollment Memo and Form
• Template: Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report (Criterion 19)

• Webinar: How to Complete Faculty (Academic Staff) Resource Report Template

ACPE Logo Guidelines:

• ACPE Logo Usage Guidelines

Fees

The fee structure for ACPE international services and related resources are available below.

• 2023 Fee Schedule

• World Bank Data – Country Classifications (for 2023 Fee Schedule)

• For Estimated Total Fees for First Seven Years of International-Accreditation:

  Please contact ACPE

• For Estimated Fees for Future Years:

  Please contact ACPE

ACPE has a rich history of engagements and promoting information exchange internationally among organizations and agencies involved in the quality assurance of pharmacy education.

Communications

• Future Meetings and Presentations

  • May 2023 International Commission Meeting: May 16-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL, USA
  • November 2023 International Commission Meeting: November 13-15, 2023 in Chicago, IL, USA
• Guidelines for Logos and Marks
• ACPE Report of Proceedings and Other Communications

• ISP Annual Report (February 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022)

• ISP Webinars

  • Past ISP Informational Webinar: May 3, 2022 at 9:00-10:30am Central USA time. To access the recording, click here.
  • Future ISP Informational Webinar: May 22, 2023 at 9:00-10:30am Central USA time. To register for the webinar, click here.

• ISP Announcements

  • ACPE renews its MOU with Knowledge E on July 13, 2021
  • ACPE and CAA Virtual Signing Ceremony on December 7, 2020

Hosting International Visitors

ACPE has hosted visitors from around the world, and has provided assistance to many countries in their efforts to establish or develop their own quality assurance systems for pharmacy education. If you are interested in visiting ACPE, please e-mail ISP Director, Mike Rouse, at [email protected].

Consultation

ACPE offers consultation in a broad range of areas related to quality assurance and advancement of pharmacy education, including:

• Professional degree programs in pharmacy
• Continuing pharmacy education/continuing professional development
• In-service training
• Credentialing
• QA systems/development of standards

Workshops

ACPE offers and conducts training and workshops on topics such as preparation of self-studies, evaluator training, assessment, curricular development, continuing professional development, and standards development. Training programs may also be customized to meet the needs of global stakeholders.

The SMART Pharmacist Program is a sustainable, evidence-based educational initiative, designed for national professional institutions, associations, and chambers to foster changes in the pharmacy profession. To learn more, visit the SMART Pharmacist Program website: www.smartpharmacistprogram.org

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COVID-19 UPDATE

Partners of the SMART Pharmacist Program: In this very unusual and unpredictable time of pandemic, we would like to connect with all of you, in different countries, all over the World and express our support.

We would also like to recognize and thank our SMART Pharmacists who are serving patients at the front line. We have prepared a short video message that we would like to ask you to forward to all of them to keep the motivation and sustainability of the Program.

Complaints

ACPE has an obligation to assure that any program that holds an International-Accreditation Status remains compliant with the Quality Criteria or is making progress towards achieving compliance at an appropriate pace, and that the School conducts its affairs with impartiality, non-discrimination, honesty, and frankness.

Complaints from Institutions, students, academic staff, or the public against a Professional Degree Program with International-Accreditation Status or Institution housing a Professional Degree Program with International-Accreditation Status must be based upon the fact that such Program or Institution is not in compliance with Quality Criterion/Criteria or is not making progress towards achieving compliance at the appropriate pace, or is not in compliance with the International-Accreditation and International-Preaccreditation Policies and Procedures, as established, from time to time, by ACPE.

Complaints must be submitted in writing to the ACPE office, must provide a detailed description of the complaint and its relation to Quality Criteria or the International-Accreditation Policies and Procedures, and must provide direct contact information of the complainant(s). Requests for confidentiality by the complainant shall be respected to the extent that any identifying information is not necessary for the resolution of the complaint.

Anonymous complaints pertaining to International-Accreditation matters are retained and, depending on circumstances and the severity of the complaint as determined by the ACPE Executive Director, may be forwarded to the Dean of the affected Professional Degree Program for a response.  Where a complainant has threatened or filed legal action in a court of law or before a governmental agency against a Program or Institution housing said Program, ACPE reserves the right to hold such complaint in abeyance until after the later of a final judgment by a court of law or governmental agency or finalization of any appeal of such judgment.

ACPE will proceed expeditiously in the investigation and resolution of complaints in a manner that is fair and equitable to all parties. The Executive Director, or his/her designate, shall have the authority to: (i) review the complaint in order to determine relevance to the Quality Criteria, policies, or procedures; (ii)   dismiss a complaint if it is determined that such complaint has no merit or is outside the scope of ACPE International-Accreditation activities; (iii) forward relevant complaints to the Dean of the school for a response to ACPE;  and (iv) conduct any further investigation deemed necessary to promptly determine the facts surrounding the issue and the validity of the complaint. ACPE shall diligently investigate and resolve complaints in a timely manner, taking into consideration all parties involved, the severity and complexity of the allegations, and pursuant to any legal obligations.

If, on the basis of such investigation, after notice to the school and opportunity for response from the School, the Executive Director finds a complaint to be extremely serious in nature, charging egregious conduct that may warrant an Adverse  Action by ACPE, or involve an interpretation that the Executive Director believes should be made by the Board, the complaint will be submitted to the Board for consideration at the next regularly scheduled meeting.  Where the Board finds that a Program or School has violated the Quality Criteria, engaged in unethical conduct, or that its integrity has been seriously undermined, the Board will either:

(a) request that the School show cause, within a stated time period, as to why an Adverse Action should not be taken; or

(b) in extreme cases, immediately discontinue its relationship with the Program by denying International-Accreditation or International-Preaccreditation or withdrawing the offending Program’s International-Accreditation Status.

A record of complaints regarding a specific School or Program is maintained in perpetuity at the ACPE office for future consideration.  The complaint file will be reviewed by Staff members as a component of the evaluation visit process.  Evaluation teams will be informed regarding any open complaints against the Program under review.  Information provided to the evaluation team will include the following for any open complaint: (1) the nature of each complaint; (2) the process used to review the complaint; and (3) the status of the complaint.  Any complaints received since the prior evaluation visit and the related investigative materials will be provided to the members of the International Commission and Board as a component of the review process.

For more details regarding ACPE’s Complaints Policy and Procedures, please visit the relevant section of the International Services Program Policies and Procedures manual.

If you wish to file a complaint, please complete the ACPE Complaint Form found here.