Accreditation Status

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 accreditation status, Candidate accreditation status, and Full accreditation status. Precandidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Precandidate accreditation 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 school to admit its first class. Candidate accreditation status is awarded to a Doctor of Pharmacy program that has students enrolled but has not yet had a graduating class. Full 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 accreditation 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 College of Notre Dame of Maryland, School of Pharmacy was awarded Candidate accreditation status during the June 23-27, 2010, meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors based upon an on-site evaluation conducted April 27-29, 2010. If the program continues to develop as planned, Full accreditation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program will be considered by the Board following the graduation of students from the program.

Precandidate Status
Granting of Precandidate accreditation status brings no rights or privilages of accreditation as associated with either Candidate accreditation status or Full accreditation status. Precandidate accrediation status indicates only that planning has taken into account ACPE standards and guidelines and suggests reasonable assurance of moving to the next step, that of Candidate status. Since Precandidate accreditation status does not create any rights of accreditation under ACPE standards, it is the opinion of ACPE that graduates of programs of Colleges or Schools of pharmacy that bear Precandidate status do not meet the educational requirements for licensure.

Candidate Status
With respect to clarification of the meaning of Candidate accredidation status, graduates of a program so designated would, in the opinion of ACPE, have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program. The Candidate accreditation 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 examiniation or reciprocity reside with the respective state boards of pharmacy in accordance with their state statuses and administrative rules. Should Candidate accreditation status be awarded to a program, ACPE would, however, make its position known and make reccomendations consistent with that position.

Preaccreditation. A newly instituted Doctor of Pharmacy program of a College or School of Pharmacy may be granted one of two preaccreditation statuses, depending upon its stage of development. In the instance of a newly founded College of School of Pharmacy, the program generally progresses through both statuses. The standards are the same as those employed for accreditation status, however, preaccreditation involves, in large measure, planning in accord with standards and provisions of reasonable assurances for a quality outcome.

Precandidate. A new program that has no students enrolled but has a Dean may be granted Precandidate accreditation status. The granting of Precandidate status indicates that a College or School's planning for the Doctor of Pharmacy program has taken into account ACPE standards and guidelines and suggests reasonable assurances of moving to the next step, that of Candidate status. Granting of Precandidate status brings no rights or privileges of accreditation. Full public disclosure by the College or School of Pharmacy of the terms and conditions of this accreditation status is required.

Candidate. A new program that has students enrolled but has not had a graduating class may be granted Candidate status. The granting of Candidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Reasonable assurances are expected to be provided that the program may become accredited as programmatic experiences are gained, generally, by the time the first class has graduated. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges as graduates of an accredited program.

Upon granting preaccreditation status (Precandidate or Candidate) to a program, or in the event of voluntary withdrawal from preaccreditation, or upon a decision to let preaccreditation lapse, written notification of such action shall be made to the U.S. Secretay of Education, the appropriate state licensing or authorizing agency, the appropriate regional and/or other accrediting agencies, and the public within 30 days. Public notification includes presentation on the ACPE web site.