The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program in the United States requires at least 2-years of specific pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework followed by 4-academic years (or 3-calendar years) of professional study. The B.S. of pharmacy degree is no longer offered in the U.S. The pharmacy admission process is highly competitive for all applicants.
Some U.S. pharmacy institutions do not consider international (non-U.S.) applicants for admission. Some U.S. pharmacy institutions give admission preference to applicants who live in the same state as the school. For these schools, international and out-of-state (non-resident) applicants may compete for a limited number of positions or may be ineligible for admission, depending on institutional and state policies. Private pharmacy institutions generally offer non-U.S. citizens a greater number of positions within the program as compared to state-supported, public institutions. Foreign citizens should visit the web site for each U.S. pharmacy school to determine if international (foreign) applicants are eligible for admission.
The majority of U.S. pharmacy degree programs require all applicants to apply through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). The PharmCAS web site indicates whether the pharmacy school considers non-US citizens for admission.
The classes required for admission vary by pharmacy school. To obtain admission requirement information, visit the web site for each Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program. School specific information is also available in the AACP annual publication, "Pharmacy School Admission Requirements" (PSAR). The on-line version of the PSAR is available for free on the AACP web site.
If the U.S. institution considers non-U.S. citizens for admission, the applicant must meet the same minimum entry requirements as American students, including course prerequisites and standardized tests. Applicants who completed pre-pharmacy study outside the U.S. will be required to submit original foreign transcripts or a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation report, depending on school policy. Some pharmacy schools do not accept pre-pharmacy courses taken at a foreign institution.
If an applicant's primary language is not English, the pharmacy school may require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Spoken English (TSE), or another English language proficiency test as part of the admissions process. Non-U.S. citizens may be required to complete the pre-pharmacy courses in a U.S. accredited university.
World Education Services, IncP.O. Box 5087 Bowling Green StationNew York, NY 10274-5087212-966-6311info@wes.orgJosef Silny & Associates, IncInternational Educational Consultants7101 SW 102 AvenueMiami, FL 33173305-273-1616Fax: 305-273-1338 / Translation Fax: 305-273-1984www.jsilny.cominfo@jsilny.com
Educational Credential Evaluators, IncP.O. Box 514070Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470414-289-3400eval@ece.org
International Education Research Foundation, IncP.O. Box 3665Culver City, CA 90231-3665310-258-9451
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)Foreign Education Credential ServicesOne Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520Washington, DC 20036202-296-3359oies@aacrao.org
Educational PerspectivesP.O. Box 618056Chicago, IL 60661-8056312-421-9300info@educational-perspectives.orgBack to top
Foreign pharmacy graduates that wish to practice in the U.S. must complete the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Certification (FPGEC®). FPGEC provides a means of documenting the educational equivalency of a candidate's foreign pharmacy education. Questions regarding equivalency exams (FPGEC®) and licensure for graduates of foreign pharmacy programs should be directed to:
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy 1600 Feehanville Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056 847-391-4406
Many states have additional testing requirements, and you should contact the Board of Pharmacy in the state that you will be practicing to learn more. The NABP web site provides contact information for each state board.
If you have already completed a degree in pharmacy at a foreign institution and wish to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) in the U.S., you may wish to consider post-B.S. of pharmacy degree programs. The following colleges and schools of pharmacy consider foreign pharmacy graduates for admission into a post-B.S. of pharmacy (non-traditional) Pharm.D. degree program. A U.S. or Canadian pharmacy license may be required for admission. For specific admission information about these programs, please contact these colleges and schools directly:
International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF)Back to top