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International Services Program (ISP)

ACPE’s International Services Program offers professional degree program Certification and Precertification, consultation, and training to stakeholders around the world who seek guidance related to quality assurance and advancement of pharmacy education. The expertise, global perspectives, staff resources, and formal processes within the ISP support international stakeholders to advance pharmacy education and quality in their respective countries. ISP was established in January 2011.

Vision

Quality-assured pharmacy education and training prepares graduates throughout the world for expanded roles to optimize safe and effective medication use and improve patient care.

Mission

Promote, assure, and advance the quality of pharmacy education internationally to improve patient care through safe and effective medication use.

Leadership

The activities and programs of the ISP are supported and guided by the International Commission (IC), whose members are appointed by the ACPE Board of Directors, and the ISP Advisory Group (ISPAG), whose expert members are drawn from around the world.

Member of CIQG

International Commission

ISP Advisory Group (ISPAG): 2020 – 2021 Term

  • Ola Ghaleb Al Ahdab, PhD

    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  • Abdullah M. Alhammad, PharmD, BCPS

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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

    Msida, Malta

  • Leida Barrios, MSc

    Panama City, Panama

  • Tina Penick Brock, RPh, MS, EdD

    Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  • Rula M. Darwish, PhD

    Amman, Jordan

  • Rümeysa Demirdamar, PhD

    Lefke, Northern Cyprus

  • Nettie Dzabala, MSc Pharm

    Blantyre, Malawi

  • Manohar D. Karvekar, PhD, MPharm

    Bangalore, India

  • Sherief Khalifa, PhD

    Ajman, United Arab Emirates

  • Rosalyn Cain King, BS, PharmD, MPH, RPh, FNPhA

    Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

  • 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

Certification of Professional Degree Programs

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

Certification Quality Criteria

International Quality Criteria for Certification of Professional Degree Programs in Pharmacy
Adopted: June 23, 2016; Released: July 1, 2016

Glossary

Glossary For ISP Certification and Precertification Documents

Policies and Procedures

The ACPE Board has adopted policies and procedures that apply to the Certification and Precertification 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.

Application for Certification:

ACPE accepts applications for Certification 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:

Forms and Templates

Deadlines for Submission of Application for Certification*

Application for Precertification:

ACPE accepts applications for Precertification 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:

Please e-mail us at “international@acpe-accredit.org” with any questions or inquiries.

Forms and Templates

Fees

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

  • 2020 Fee Schedule

  • World Bank Data – Country Classifications (latest data published June 2019)

  • For Estimated Total Fees for First Seven Years of Certification:

    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.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (AQACHEI), Jordan

On April 11, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (AQACHEI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both organizations agreed to cooperate and collaborate to advance the quality of pharmacy education internationally in accordance with their respective missions, visions, and goals.

Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)

Effective February 1, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreed to regularly communicate, share, and exchange information regarding accreditation criteria, system policies, standards, guidelines, manuals, tools, and publications.

Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP)

Effective February 1, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). ACPE and CCAPP agreed to exchange information related to activities undertaken, trends, developments, and advances in pharmacy education in their respective countries.

Canadian Council on Continuing Education In Pharmacy (CCCEP)

On November 15, 2014, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Canadian Council on Continuing Education In Pharmacy (CCCEP) consented to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) so that both organizations could study their respective quality assurance systems, policies and procedures, and the pharmacy education and training in their respective areas of operation.

Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), United Arab Emirates

Effective July 1, 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was endorsed by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). CAA agreed to accept ACPE as one of the preferred international agencies for the international recognition of United Arab Emirates (UAE) college and university pharmacy programs. ACPE agreed to make its resource pool of appropriately qualified reviewers for the evaluation and assessment of UAE pharmacy degree programs available to CAA.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) International Quality Group (CIQG)

On July 21, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) International Quality Group (CIQG) signed a Memorandum of Affiliation (MOA) to signify their respective commitments to the seven international quality principles of CIQG. As part of the MOA, ACPE agrees to promote these Principles, work with other higher education stakeholders to promote a shared understanding of quality based on the seven Principles, share information regularly on the promotion and implementation of the Principles and engage, when feasible, in joint activities with a view to sharing effective policies and practices in areas of common interest.

Conférence Internationale des Doyens de Pharmacie d'Expression Francaise (CIDPHARMEF)

On July 1, 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Conférence Internationale des Doyens de Pharmacie d’Expression Francaise (CIDPHARMEF). Both ACPE and CIDPHARMEF acknowledged to communicate, cooperate, and explore opportunities in the international arena.

Indian Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (IACP)

Effective September 1, 2020, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the Indian Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (IACP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU marks the collaboration between ACPE and IACP to achieve combined goals of standardizing and advancing the quality of pharmacy education internationally.

International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)

Effective September 12, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) mutually agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). ACPE and FIP will strive to cooperate and collaborate in order to facilitate information exchange and convene, at least annually, to discuss current and future collaborations.

Knowledge E

Effective January 22, 2020, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the Knowledge E DMCC mutually agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). ACPE and Knowledge E agreed to collaborate in organizing various training, conferences, and other educational programs and events.

Korean Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (KACPE)

Effective March 27, 2019, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the Korean Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (KACPE) mutually agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). ACPE and KACPE consented to regularly communicate, share, and exchange information regarding quality assurance systems, policies and procedures, and the pharmacy education/training in their respective countries.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

In the past several years, ACPE’s International Services Program has collaborated with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in the Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program. Initially, ACPE conducted a survey of pharmacy education, regulation and practice issues in low- and middle-income countries identified by MSH. The survey prompted a project in which ACPE representatives traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a consultative visit to the University of Kinshasa, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FOPS). After the visit, ACPE produced a report titled “Recommendations for Advancing Pharmacy Education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” ACPE was also asked to provide an additional consultation for the University of Kinshasa FOPS to draft the strategic plan for the curriculum, including the desired graduate competencies and the curricular content.

In addition, ACPE was contracted by MSH to develop a report on quality assurance of continuing education and continuing professional development. The report was entitled “Continuing Pharmaceutical Education: Guide to Establishing Quality Assured and Accredited Programs.”

National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE), Egypt

Effective July 1, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE). Both organizations agreed to collaborate, cooperate, and regularly communicate with each other regarding their activities in their respective areas of operation.

National Center for Academic Accreditation and evAluation (NCAAA), Saudi Arabia

Effective February 1, 2018, the ACPE Board of Directors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the National Center for Academic Accreditation and evAluation (NCAAA). Both organizations agreed to cooperate and collaborate to advance the quality of pharmacy education internationally in accordance with their respective missions, visions, and goals.

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI)

Effective February 1, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). ACPE and PSI accepted to explore opportunities for collaboration in international activities and to cooperate in any other manner as mutually agreed.

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 mrouse@acpe-accredit.org

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
Consultation may also be provided in broader areas of care delivery and pharmacy practice. ACPE engages appropriate experts from the United States and other countries for each consultation.

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.

Yours truly,
Arijana Mestrovic and Mike Rouse

To view a list of all programs outside of the United States that have been granted Certification Status by ACPE, please click one of the following buttons.

Programs by Country
Programs by Name
Programs by Status

Does ACPE accredit professional degree programs in pharmacy in countries other than the USA?

ACPE offers Certification of pharmacy degree programs outside of the USA. ACPE is NOT currently accepting applications for accreditation of PharmD programs that are based outside of the USA, and the ISP will not offer accreditation of professional degree programs. There is one pharmacy program (the Lebanese American University in Byblos, Lebanon) that was accredited by ACPE in June 2002.  This program continues to be accredited using the same policies, procedures, and standards as for all other PharmD programs accredited by ACPE.

As a foreign graduate from an ACPE-certified school of pharmacy, can I bypass NABP’s FPGEC regulations?

Certification or provisional Certification does NOT bypass the requirements set forth by NABP for foreign graduates. For further clarifications, please direct your questions to the NABP. Phone: +1 847 391 4406; E-mail: custserv@nabp.net; Website: https://nabp.pharmacy/.

Does ACPE accredit providers of continuing education (CE) and CE programs in countries other than the USA?

ACPE does offer accreditation for providers of continuing pharmacy education that are based outside the USA. ACPE does not accredit individual CE activities; however, through some of its accredited providers (under what is referred to as a “co-sponsorship agreement”), ACPE accreditation has been granted for meetings and conference symposia in other countries.

Are pharmacy degree programs in Canada accredited by ACPE?

ACPE does not accredit the degree programs of faculties of pharmacy in Canada. This is done by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), www.ccapp-accredit.ca. ACPE works very closely with its Canadian counterpart agency. When CCAPP developed its current standards for baccalaureate pharmacy degree programs in Canada, the standards were based on ACPE’s PharmD Standards.

In which international activities is ACPE involved, and why?

On a regular basis, ACPE receives requests for assistance from countries wishing to develop or enhance their own systems for the quality assurance of pharmacy education – both for degree programs and for continuing pharmacy education. ACPE provides support and guidance in the international arena in the following areas:
  • Professional degree program certification
  • Consultation
  • Workshops and training programs

ACPE is also engaged in numerous international activities, programs, and initiatives. See ISP Collaborations.

ACPE is committed to promoting information exchange among organizations and agencies involved in the quality assurance of pharmacy education. Over the past several years, members of the ACPE staff have been active in the International Forum for Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education, an initiative of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Members of staff from ACPE have participated in several meetings of the Forum.

ACPE’s mission is to assure and advance pharmacy education. While its primary focus and the majority of its activity and effort will always be in the USA, ACPE believes that to fulfill its mission, it also should be involved beyond its borders. ACPE acknowledges that it can contribute to and learn from experiences and initiatives in other countries. ACPE also recognizes the benefits derived from monitoring and influencing global trends and developments within the profession of pharmacy, within education generally, and in the specific areas of quality assurance and quality improvement of pharmacy education.

Is ACPE accreditation of professional degree programs recognized in other countries?

The International Forum for Quality Assurance in Pharmacy Education is an informal network of individuals and organizations involved in, or interested in, the quality assurance of pharmacy education. It operates under the auspices of the Education Initiatives of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP-Ed), and it has convened thirteen meetings at annual congresses of FIP (2001-2013).

The objectives of the Forum are:

  • To promote excellence in education for the profession of pharmacy
  • To provide an international forum for information exchange, collaboration, and cooperation in the area of quality assurance of pharmacy education, both in terms of entry-to-practice degree programs, as well as post-qualification continuing pharmacy education and continuing professional development
  • To facilitate and promote communication between individuals, agencies, associations, and other bodies actively involved or interested in quality assurance of pharmacy education, with a view to:
    • The establishment of systems of quality assurance in countries where no such formal systems exist, and
    • The continuous quality improvement of existing systems of quality assurance.
The Forum now operates as a Community of Practice (CoP) of FIP’s Pharmacy Education Taskforce.

Can other countries adopt ACPE standards?

ACPE accreditation standards are copyrighted. Anyone wishing to adopt or adapt ACPE standards should contact ACPE, as ACPE would be interested to hear of such an initiative and may be willing to provide assistance. However, it must be stressed that ACPE standards are developed with USA systems of education and healthcare delivery in mind. The outcome competencies, upon which the standards are based, reflect the desired level and scope of practice for pharmacists in the USA, with patient-centered care as the underlying philosophy of practice. Therefore, the standards may not translate directly into standards that would be suitable in their entirety in other countries.

The system of accreditation used in the USA may also be different from quality assurance approaches elsewhere. ACPE is an independent, autonomous agency, and in many other countries, quality assurance is the responsibility of a governmental, professional, or regulatory body. The framework and most or all of the “core principles” contained in the standards should, however, be applicable in most environments and, if modified to meet local needs and circumstances, the ACPE standards may be able to serve as a basis for the development of country-specific standards.

ACPE’s ISP has developed the International Quality Criteria and offers Certification of Professional Degree Programs in Pharmacy outside of the USA and territories.

Do ISP activities draw resources away from core ACPE activities in the United States?

No. The feasibility, viability, and impact of establishing the ISP was carefully and thoroughly studied by the ACPE Board of Directors. The ISP has been designed and established as a self-sustaining program that does not draw resources from other core ACPE activities. The ACPE Board is committed to ensuring that the ISP contributes meaningfully to advancing ACPE’s mission both within the United States and internationally.

How do I engage ACPE to learn more about International Services Program and services?

To learn more about ISP and the range of services it offers, please contact:

Michael J. Rouse, BPharm (Hons), MPS
mrouse@acpe-accredit.org

Silvi Kastrati
skastrati@acpe-accredit.org

What do ACPE services cost?

Due to the diversity of services offered, the specific needs of clients, and the variability of direct expenses related to the provision of services in different geographic locations, fees for services vary on a case-by-case basis. Potential clients requesting services from the ISP will be requested to provide a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) that describes the services needed and required deliverables; a contract will then be negotiated, including the fees and other terms. For certain services, however, a standard fee will apply. For the current Fee Schedule, please click here.

How can I become involved as a volunteer for the International Services Program of ACPE?

ISP utilizes the expertise and capacity of volunteers in the provision of international services. ISP has established a database of people interested and qualified to provide such services. Please contact Silvi Kastrati at skastrati@acpe-accredit.org for more information or to apply for consideration as a member of the ISP volunteer team.

What is the primary purpose of Certification?

The primary purpose of Certification is to assist colleges and schools of pharmacy to improve the quality of their degree program. Through a structured, validated, peer-reviewed, and standards-based process, certification provides a comprehensive evaluation of the degree program and the college/school of pharmacy. Certification can be used to differentiate between degree programs that have demonstrated compliance with internationally-recognized standards and a commitment to continuous quality improvement and those that have not demonstrated such compliance and commitment to CQI.

Do other foreign entities and organizations recognize APCE’s international certification?

It is not clear to ACPE if/how other entities/organizations will recognize its international certification, and individuals should contact the entity/organization in question to seek clarification.

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