There are currently over 130 accredited pharmacy schools in the United States. What is an accredited pharmacy school?
An accredited pharmacy school is a PharmD Program that has sought and gained accreditation status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In addition to providing accreditation for PharmD Programs, the ACPE is also responsible for the accreditation of continuing education providers, international services programs, and pharmacy technician education.
Why is Accreditation Important
Graduating from an accredited PharmD program allows you to sit for the NAPLEX, the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. If ACPE does not accredit your college or school of pharmacy, then you would not be eligible to take the NAPLEX and, therefore, would not be considered to practice as a pharmacist in the United States.
With the creation of more and more pharmacy schools, it has never been more important to know about your school’s accreditation status when planning your pharmacy education.
Accreditation Status
The ACPE thoroughly examines pharmacy programs regularly and will issue a certain status based on whether or not a pharmacy program meets or exceeds all of the 25 standards. These standards are divided into three main sections:
educational outcomes,
structure and process to promote achievement of education outcomes and
assessment of standards and key elements
Furthermore, the ACPE defines the required elements of the didactic PharmD curriculum. The current standards, established in 2016, will be updated in 2025. Accreditation status may include full accreditation, accreditation with probation, candidate status, and pre-candidate status.
Full Accreditation vs Pre-Candidate vs Candidate Status
For programs with full accreditation status, you can confidently predict that there will be continued compliance with these standards for years to come. A pharmacy program with a pre-candidate status has no students enrolled in the pharmacy program but has met the criteria for accreditation.
Programs with this status indicate that the College of Pharmacy has planned for a PharmD program that aligns with the ACPE standards. Still, there is a risk that a pharmacy program with pre-candidate status may not be granted full accreditation.
A program with candidate status has begun enrolling students in its PharmD program but has yet to graduate a class. A candidate-status PharmD program also aligns with the ACPE standards. There is reasonable assurance that these programs will achieve full accreditation status by the time the class graduates.
The most conservative approach is to apply to and attend a pharmacy college whose PharmD program has full accreditation status. Well over 95% of PharmD programs have full accreditation status. There is a slight risk in pursuing programs with a pre-candidate or candidate status since accreditation is not guaranteed. While graduates of candidate status programs have the same rights and privileges as graduates of an accredited program, the lack of full accreditation status may cause anxiety.
Probationary Periods
In addition to these three main accreditation types, some programs may be in a probationary period.
This occurs when an accredited program fails to meet or exceed one of the 25 ACPE standards. While a pharmacy program graduate currently in a probationary period may still sit for the NAPLEX, there is a chance that the program may lose its accreditation status if attention is not paid to an unmet ACPE standard. Ultimately, your goal is to practice as a pharmacist and to do so; you need first to take and pass the NAPLEX for licensure.
To take the NAPLEX, you will need to graduate from an accredited program, so it is certainly in your best interest to do your due diligence in determining the accreditation status of the programs you are interested in to optimize your pharmacy education.
Here is a list of all accredited pharmacy programs as of February 2022:
University and Pharmacy School Name | City and State |
|---|---|
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Albany, NY |
Appalachian College of Pharmacy | Oakwood, Virginia |
Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy | Auburn, Alabama |
Belmont University College of Pharmacy | Nashville, Tennessee |
Binghamton University State University of New York School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Johnson City, New York |
Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Indianapolis, Indiana |
California Northstate University College of Pharmacy | Elk Grove, California |
Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Buies Creek, North Carolina |
Cedarville University School of Pharmacy | Cedarville, Ohio |
Chapman University School of Pharmacy | Irvine, California |
Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy | Mequon, Wisconsin |
Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions | Omaha, Nebraska |
Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Des Moines, Iowa |
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
D'Youville University School of Pharmacy | Buffalo, New York |
East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy | Johnson City, Tennessee |
Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | Florham Park, New Jersey |
Ferris State University College of Pharmacy | Big Rapids, Michigan |
Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health | Tallahassee, Florida |
Harding University College of Pharmacy | Searcy, Arkansas |
High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy | High Point, North Carolina |
Howard University College of Pharmacy | Washington, D.C. |
Husson University College of Health and Pharmacy School of Pharmacy | Bangor, Maine |
Idaho State University College of Pharmacy | Pocatello, Idaho |
Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Claremont, California |
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy | Erie, Pennsylvania |
Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy | |
Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Nashville, Tennessee |
Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy | Loma Linda, California |
Long Island University Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Brooklyn, New York |
Manchester University College of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences | North Manchester, Indiana |
Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy | Fullerton, California |
Marshall University School of Pharmacy | Huntington, West Virginia |
MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Worcester | Worcester, Massachusetts |
MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Boston | Boston, Massachusetts |
Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin |
Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | Columbia, South Carolina |
Mercer University College of Pharmacy | DeKalb County, Georgia |
Midwestern University College of Pharmacy | Downers Grove, Illinois |
North Dakota State University College of Health Professions School of Pharmacy | Fargo, North Dakota |
Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy | Rootstown, Ohio |
Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Boston, Massachusetts |
Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy | Baltimore, Maryland |
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy | Davie, Florida |
Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy | Ada, Ohio |
The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy | Columbus, Ohio |
Oregon State University College of Pharmacy | Corvallis, Oregon |
Pacific University School of Pharmacy | Hillsboro, Oregon |
Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy | West Palm Beach, Florida |
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia School of Pharmacy | Gwinnett County, Georgia |
Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy | Clinton, South Carolina |
Purdue University College of Pharmacy | West Lafayette, Indiana |
Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions School of Pharmacy | Denver, Colorado |
Roosevelt University College of Science, Health and Pharmacy | Schaumburg, Illinois |
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science College of Pharmacy | North Chicago, Illinois |
Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy | Henderson, Nevada |
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy | Piscataway, New Jersey |
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy | Birmingham, Alabama |
Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy | Winchester, Virginia |
South College School of Pharmacy | Knoxville, Tennessee |
South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions | Brookings, South Dakota |
South University School of Pharmacy | Savannah, Georgia |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy | Edwardsville, Illinois |
Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy | Sayre, Oklahoma |
St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy | Rochester, New York |
St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Queens, New York |
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Louisville, Kentucky |
Temple University School of Pharmacy | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Texas A & M University Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy | Kingsville, Texas |
Texas Southern University Joan M. Lafleur College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Houston, Texas |
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy | Lubbock, Texas |
Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Pharmacy | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Touro New York College of Pharmacy | |
Touro University - California College of Pharmacy | Vallejo, California |
Union University College of Pharmacy | Jackson, Tennessee |
University at Buffalo The State University of New York School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | Buffalo, New York |
University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy | Tucson, Arizona |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy | Little Rock, Arkansas |
University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | San Diego, California |
University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy | San Francisco, California |
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy | Charleston, South Carolina |
University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy | Cincinnati, Ohio |
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Aurora, Colorado |
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy | Mansfield, Connecticut |
University of Findlay College of Pharmacy | Findlay, Ohio |
University of Florida College of Pharmacy | |
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy | |
University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy | |
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis St. Louis College of Pharmacy | |
University of Houston College of Pharmacy | |
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy | |
University of Iowa College of Pharmacy | |
University of Kansas School of Pharmacy | |
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy | |
University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy | |
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy | |
University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions | |
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy | |
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | |
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy | |
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy | Kansas City, Missouri |
University of Montana College of Health Skaggs School of Pharmacy | Missoula, Montana |
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy | Omaha, Nebraska |
University of New England Westbrook College of Health Professions School of Pharmacy | |
University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
University of North Texas Health Science Center UNT System College of Pharmacy | Fort Worth, Texas |
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus School of Pharmacy | |
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy | Kingston, Rhode Island |
University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies | West Hartford, Connecticut |
University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | Columbia, South Carolina |
University of South Florida Health Taneja College of Pharmacy | Tampa, Florida |
University of Southern California School of Pharmacy | Los Angeles, California |
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy | Memphis, Tennessee |
University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy | Austin, Texas |
University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy | El Paso, Texas |
University of Texas at Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy | Tyler, Texas |
University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy | San Antonio, Texas |
University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy | Stockton, California |
University of the Sciences Philadelphia College of Pharmacy | Philadelphia, PA |
University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Toledo, Ohio |
University of Utah College of Pharmacy | Salt Lake City, Utah |
University of Washington School of Pharmacy | Seattle, Washington |
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | Madison, Wisconsin |
University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy | Laramie, Wyoming |
Virginia Commonwealth University at the Medical College of Virginia Campus School of Pharmacy | Richmond, Virginia |
Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Spokane, Washington |
Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Detroit, Michigan |
West Coast University School of Pharmacy | Irvine, California |
West Virginia University School of Pharmacy | Morgantown, West Virginia |
Western New England University College of Pharmacy | Springfield, Massachusetts |
Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy | Pomona, CA |
Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
William Carey University School of Pharmacy | Hattiesburg, MS |
Wingate University School of Pharmacy | Wingate, NC |
Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy | New Orleans, LA |
Current programs in the probationary period are listed below:
University and Pharmacy School Name | City and State |
|---|---|
Chicago State University College of Pharmacy | Chicago, Illinois |
Current programs with a candidate status are listed below:
University and Pharmacy School Name | City and State |
|---|---|
American University of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy | Washington D.C. |
Larkin University College of Pharmacy | Miami, Florida |
Current programs with a pre candidate status are listed below:
University and Pharmacy School Name | City and State |
|---|---|
University of California, Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | Irvine, California |
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