California Edition 2014-2015 > Addenda and Errata > Doctor of Pharmacy Program Information Addendum > Doctor of Pharmacy Accreditation and Approvals Addendum

Doctor of Pharmacy Accreditation and Approvals Addendum

Institutional Accreditation

West Coast University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission, a regional accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). WASC is located at 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001, www.wascsenior.org. WCU was approved for a structural change by WASC to administer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in January 2013.

Programmatic Accreditation

For updated information on accreditation for the Doctor of Pharmacy program, please see the Doctor of Pharmacy Accreditation section.

West Coast University School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted Precandidate      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.

Precandidate Status

Granting of Precandidate status brings no rights or privileges of accreditation as associated with either candidate status or fully accredited status. Precandidate 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 accreditation status. Since Precandidate status does not create any rights of accreditation under the 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.

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 Accreditation 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 school to admit its first class.

Candidate status is awarded to a Doctor of Pharmacy program that is currently recognized by ACPE with Precandidate status and has students enrolled but has not yet had a graduating class.

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 an 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 Precandidate status during the June 18-22, 2014  meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors based upon an on-site evaluation conducted April 29 – May 1, 2014, and discussion with University and College/School officials. Following the enrollment of the inaugural class of students in fall 2014, an on-site evaluation will be scheduled during academic year 2014-2015 for purposes of gathering additional information to be considered in the Board’s consideration of advancement to Candidate status. Based upon this evaluation, should the Board feel that Candidate status cannot be conferred, the School could respond to the Board’s concerns and reapply prior to the graduation of the first class. If Candidate status is not granted even after reapplication, graduates may not be eligible for licensure as pharmacists. If Candidate status is granted and the program continues to develop as planned, Accreditation status of the Doctor of Pharmacy program would 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.

For updates and additional information please see the Doctor of Pharmacy website.