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.

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.

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.

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.

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 UAE college and university pharmacy programs. ACPE agreed to make available to CAA its resources pool of appropriately qualified reviewers for the evaluation and assessment of UAE pharmacy degree programs.

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.

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.

Effective July 1, 2012, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Global Alliance for Pharmacy Education (GAPE) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both organizations committed to ensuring that the core business, expertise, and experience of both parties are acknowledged and utilized to best advantage to enhance the efforts and outcomes of all parties in the global arena.

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.

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”. Later on, ACPE was asked again 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 entitled “Continuing Pharmaceutical Education: Guide to Establishing Quality Assured and Accredited Programs”.

Effective July 1, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy 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.

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.

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 the US, and the ISP will not offer accreditation of professional degree programs. There is one pharmacy program, at 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.

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/.

ACPE does offer accreditation for providers of continuing pharmacy education that are based outside the United States. 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.

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 does work 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.

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.

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.

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 U.S. 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 United States 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 the US, and the ISP will not offer accreditation of professional degree programs. There is one pharmacy program, at 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.

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/.

ACPE does offer accreditation for providers of continuing pharmacy education that are based outside the United States. 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.

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 does work 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.

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.

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.

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 U.S. 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 United States 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 UAE college and university pharmacy programs. ACPE agreed to make available to CAA its resources pool of appropriately qualified reviewers for the evaluation and assessment of UAE pharmacy degree programs.

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.

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.

Effective July 1, 2012, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Global Alliance for Pharmacy Education (GAPE) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both organizations committed to ensuring that the core business, expertise, and experience of both parties are acknowledged and utilized to best advantage to enhance the efforts and outcomes of all parties in the global arena.

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.

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”. Later on, ACPE was asked again 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 entitled “Continuing Pharmaceutical Education: Guide to Establishing Quality Assured and Accredited Programs”.

Effective July 1, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy 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.

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.