Pharmacy Accreditation Disclosure
The Doctor of Pharmacy's accreditation status has changed to candidate status, effective June 28, 2015.
Programmatic Accreditation
West Coast University School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60503, 312/644-3575; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.
Candidate Status
With respect to clarification of the meaning of Candidate status, graduates of a program so designed would, in the opinion of ACPE, have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program. The Candidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans within a defined time period. It should be underscored, however, that decisions concerning eligibility for licensure by examination or reciprocity reside with the respective state boards of pharmacy in accordance with their state statutes and administrative rules. Should Candidate status be awarded to a program, ACPE would, however, make its position known and make recommendations consistent with that position.
Accreditation Disclosure Statement
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites. For a Doctor of Pharmacy program offered by a new College or School of Pharmacy, ACPE accreditation generally involves three steps: Precandidate status, Candidate status, and Accredited status.
Precandidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Precandidate status is awarded to a new program of a College or School of Pharmacy that has not yet enrolled students in the professional program and authorizes the program to admit its first class.
Candidate status is awarded to a Doctor of Pharmacy program that has students enrolled but has not yet had a graduating class. The granting of Candidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accordance with stated plans by the time the first class has graduated. Granting of Candidate status brings rights and privileges of Full accreditation.
Accreditation status is awarded to a program that has met all ACPE standards for accreditation and has graduated its first class. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program. ACPE conveys its decisions to the various boards of pharmacy and makes recommendations in accord with its decisions. It should be noted, however, that decisions concerning eligibility for licensure by examination or reciprocity reside with the respective state boards of pharmacy in accordance with their state statutes and administrative rules.
The Doctor of Pharmacy program of the West Coast University School of Pharmacy was awarded Candidate accreditation status during the June 25-27, 2015, meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors based upon an on-site evaluation conducted April 28-30, 2015, and discussion with University and School officials. If the program continues to develop as planned, accreditation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program will be considered by the Board following the graduation of students from the program.
PLEASE NOTE THAT LICENSURE TO PRACTICE AS A PHARMACIST IS REQUIRED IN EVERY STATE. HOWEVER, THE EXAM AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS VARY BY STATE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESEARCH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE IN WHICH YOU PLAN TO PRACTICE.