Post-B.S. Pharmacy Programs

Pharm.D. Degree Programs for Practitioners

Pharmacists who previously earned a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in pharmacy can choose to pursue a Pharm.D. degree.  

The future of pharmacists' success lies in their abilities to manage their patients' drug therapies. They must have the knowledge and skills to do so. Colleges and schools of pharmacy have developed programs to assist practitioners in acquiring these skills. These educational offerings are similar to those offered to full-time student pharmacists: they are rigorous, educationally sound, based on achieving predefined practice competencies, and associated with assessments of learning. Because these programs are offered to practitioner students outside the traditional pharmaceutical education locale, they are called non-traditional educational programs. Generally, these programs provide education through distance learning techniques, such as videotaped lectures, interactive computer or satellite television.

AACP and pharmacy school faculty are exploring ways to make non-traditional education even more non-traditional. For example, educational experiences in which practitioners learn in their own practices, from their own patients are being used by several schools. Other schools are trying computerized, educational linkages between practitioner students and pharmacy school faculty.

To learn more, the Post-BS Pharm.D. Programs page provides information on colleges and schools of pharmacy currently offering non-traditional Pharm.D. programs. Contact schools directly for more information on these post-B.S. pharmacy programs.

Non-U.S. Students

Pharmacy Degree in the United States

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 bachelor's (B.S.) of pharmacy degree is no longer offered in the U.S.

Pharmacy Admissions

The pharmacy admission process is competitive for all applicants. The classes required for admission vary by pharmacy school.  The majority of U.S. pharmacy degree programs require all applicants to apply through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). Visit the PharmCAS Directory to determine whether a pharmacy school considers non-U.S. citizens for admission and to view admission requirements.and Pharmacy School Admission Requirements (PSAR) publication.

Admission Restrictions for Non-U.S. Applicants

Some U.S. pharmacy institutions do not consider international (non-U.S.) applicants for admission. International 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 PharmCAS Directory or the website for each U.S. pharmacy school to determine if international (foreign) applicants are eligible for admission.

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 and may require pre-pharmacy courses be completed in a U.S. accredited university.

TOEFL

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. The TOEFL Study Guide is a helpful resource to assist foreign applicants to prepare. Additional information can be found on the PharmCAS Standardized Tests page.

Foreign Transcript Evaluation

World Education Services, Inc
P.O. Box 5087 Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
212-966-6311
info@wes.org

Non-U.S. Pharmacy Graduates

Pharmacy Practice in the U.S.

Foreign-trained pharmacists must complete one of two options before they can practice pharmacy in the U.S.

1. Complete the FPGEC certification process: This pathway is only available to foreign-educated pharmacists who have previously completed the equivalent of a 5-year pharmacy degree program and earned an unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in their home country. Once foreign-educated pharmacists have successfully completed the FPGEC certification process, they are eligible to complete other U.S. state licensure requirements. Visit the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website to learn more about the FPGEC certification process.
2. Graduate from an ACPE-accredited entry-level (traditional) Pharm.D. program: Foreign-educated pharmacists who are ineligible for the FPGEC certification process for any reason and wish to practice in the U.S. must complete the entire entry-level (traditional) Pharm.D. program at an ACPE-accredited institution, including all introductory (IPEE) and advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) requirements. Visit the PharmCAS School Directory to view all programs. Each program will determine whether a foreign-trained pharmacist is eligible for advanced standing status. If yes, only a limited number of didactic (classroom-based) courses in the entry-level Pharm.D. program may be waived. Graduates of Pharm.D. programs accredited by ACPE are eligible to take NAPLEX and complete other U.S. state licensure requirements.

Foreign-educated pharmacists who complete either option #1 or #2 may also need to complete additional U.S. immigration requirements before they are eligible work and live in the US.

Questions regarding FPGEC and licensure for graduates of foreign pharmacy programs should be directed to NABP.

Post-B.S. Pharm.D. Programs for Current Pharmacists Licensed in the U.S.

Pharmacists who previously earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy in the United States (U.S.) or abroad may pursue a nontraditional post-baccalaureate (post-B.S./post-Bacc) Pharm.D. degree offered by colleges and schools of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Nontraditional post-B.S. programs are ONLY available to pharmacists who currently hold a pharmacy license in the U.S. and have: 

1. Completed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC®) certification process and other state licensure requirements, OR
2. Graduated from an ACPE-accredited Bachelor of Pharmacy degree program before June 30, 2004.

Questions regarding FPGEC and licensure for graduates of foreign pharmacy programs should be directed to NABP.

Colleges and schools of pharmacy offer the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program in various lengths and structures. Students in all programs begin the professional phase of the Pharm.D. curriculum after they have successfully completed all pre-pharmacy coursework. Pre-pharmacy course requirements also vary by institution. See the descriptions below. More comparisons of Pharm.D. Programs can be found here.

Pre-Pharmacy Coursework

0 (Zero) years of pre-pharmacy coursework (i.e., Direct Admissions or 0-6 program):

Students are admitted directly from high school and may advance to the professional phase of the program via an expedited process if they successfully complete all of the program’s pre-pharmacy, admissions, and interview requirements. Most seats in the Pharm.D. program are filled with students admitted via the Direct or “0-6 program” route.

2 (Two) Year Pre-Pharmacy Structure:

Program structure requires a minimum of 2 years of pre-pharmacy study.

3 (Three) Year Pre-Pharmacy Structure:

Program structure requires a minimum of 3 years of pre-pharmacy study.

4 (Four) Year Pre-Pharmacy Structure:

Program structure requires a minimum of 4 years of pre-pharmacy study.

Bachelor’s Degree:

Program structure requires a bachelor’s degree as part of the pre-pharmacy study.

Early Assurance:

Students are admitted directly from high school and may advance to the professional phase of the program via an expedited process if they successfully complete all of the program’s pre-pharmacy, admissions, and interview requirements. Typically, half or fewer seats in the Pharm.D. program are filled via the Early Assurance route.

Professional Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Structure

3 (Three) Year Pharm.D. (i.e., Accelerated):

The professional curriculum is scheduled year-round over three years, so students may complete the Pharm.D. degree within a shorter timeframe.

3.5 (Three and a Half) Year Pharm.D.:

The professional curriculum is scheduled year-round over three and a half years, so students may complete the Pharm.D. degree within a shorter timeframe.

4 (Four) Year Pharm.D.:

The professional curriculum is scheduled over four academic years with breaks for summer and winter.

Direct Admissions 6 (Six) Year Pharm.D.:

Students are admitted directly from high school and may advance to the professional phase of the program via an expedited process if they successfully complete all of the program’s pre-pharmacy, admissions, and interview requirements. Most seats in the Pharm.D. program are filled with students admitted via the Direct or “0-6 program” route.

Extended 6 (Six) Year Pharm.D.:

The professional curriculum is scheduled over six academic years to allow more flexibility for students who may need to work or have other responsibilities.

Student Organizations

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)
AMCP Student Chapters

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
ACCP Student Membership

American Pharmacists Assocation (APhA)
Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP)

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
ASCP Student Membership and Mentoring Service

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
ASHP Pharmacy Student Forum

International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF)
International Advocacy Organization for Pharmacy

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
NCPA Student Membership

Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)
Educational Service Association of Pharmacy Students

Pharmacy Fraternities and Sororities

• Alpha Zeta Omega
• Lambda Kappa Sigma
• Kappa Epsilon
• Kappa Psi
• Phi Delta Chi
• Phi Lambda Sigma
• Rho Chi
• Rho Pi Phi

North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination 

To be eligible to practice as a pharmacist in the United States, individuals must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from a college or school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and pass the NAPLEX, or North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, in addition to other state-specific licensure requirements.

The NAPLEX is developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) for use by the state boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of competence to practice pharmacy. It is a computer-adaptive test that provides the most precise measurement of your knowledge and ability in pharmacy. By using the NAPLEX, the state boards provide a valid and objective examination that tests competence in important aspects of the practice of pharmacy. The NAPLEX also assists the state boards of pharmacy in fulfilling one aspect of their responsibility to safeguard the public health and welfare.

Preparing for the NAPLEX

To help you prepare for the challenge of the NAPLEX, NABP has produced a NAPLEX Candidate's Review Guide. The Guide provides useful information about the computer-adaptive format of the NAPLEX and contains the NAPLEX Competency Statements that serve as the foundation, or blueprint, for the examination. Practice tutorials are provided as well as a large sample of questions that reflect the type of questions which appear on the test. The Guide is particularly helpful in that the sample questions are displayed in the same format as the questions appear on the actual examination. Use of the Guide will help you prepare for the computer-adaptive NAPLEX. Working through the sample questions and tutorials will help you gain confidence as your time for testing approaches.

Pharmacy practice and science faculty interested in pursuing research or scholarship projects that advance practice or curricular transformation are encouraged to attend this series of virtual sessions coupled with an in-person workshop. The series will bring together pharmacy faculty and implementation experts to increase individual competencies in implementation science and understanding of necessary institutional capacity for successful implementation.