Accreditation
The University of Findlay’s School of Pharmacy was given approval from the Ohio Board of Regents and the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is currently seeking approval from the Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). The following is ACPE’s disclosure statement about our candidate status with them:
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-U.S. sites. For a Doctor of Pharmacy program offered by a new College or School of Pharmacy, ACPE accreditation generally involves three steps: pre-candidate status, candidate status, and full accreditation. Pre-candidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program, which is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Pre-candidate 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 college or 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 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 University of Findlay, School of Pharmacy, was awarded candidate accreditation status during the June 20-23, 2007, meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors, based upon an on-site evaluation conducted April 18-20, 2007. An on-site evaluation will be scheduled during academic year 2008-2009 for purposes of gathering additional information to be considered in the board’s consideration of continuing candidate accreditation status. Based upon this evaluation, should the board feel that candidate status couldn’t be continued the school could respond to the board’s concerns and reapply prior to the graduation of the first class. If candidate status is not continued, even after reapplication, graduates may not be eligible for licensure as pharmacists. If candidate status is continued and the program continues to develop as planned, full accreditation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program would be considered by the board following the graduation of students from the program.
If a student has a concern about ACPE, The University of Findlay’s status with them, or a complaint concerning ACPE standards, there are several routes to carry that forward. The student could contact his or her adviser or the dean of the School of Pharmacy. Another contact is the Pharmacy Student Affairs Committee in the School of Pharmacy. There is a student representative on that committee and it is charged with treating important information confidentially. Also, the student may contact ACPE directly. The organization’s phone number is 312-664-3575, and its Web site is
http://www.acpe-accredit.org/complaints/default.asp.
Competency Requirements
All students at The University of Findlay must demonstrate competency in computer use and/or speech, reading and writing.
Pharmacy Requirements
Pharmacy students must also be eligible for an Ohio Pharmacy intern license, complete specific immunizations, clear a criminal background check, demonstrate the absence of infectious tuberculosis and hold a current American Heart Association Health Care Providers CPR certification when enrolled in pharmacy (PHAR) specific courses. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0, with no grade less than “C,” is also required.
License Requirements
In order to be eligible for licensure as an intern in Ohio the student must be enrolled in the first professional year (typically, third year at The University of Findlay), be of good moral character, and apply to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
To be eligible for licensure as a pharmacist in Ohio, the student must have graduated from a School or College of Pharmacy approved by the Board of Pharmacy, complete 1,500 hours of internship experience, and successfully pass the NAPLEX and MPJE licensure examinations after graduation.
For more details on these licensure requirements the student should contact the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy directly. The board’s phone number is 614-466-4143 and its Web site is http://pharmacy.ohio.gov/. For students desiring licensure in other states, the Board of Pharmacy in that state should be contacted directly.
General Entry Requirements
For High School Students
The overwhelming majority of students will be admitted to the School of Pharmacy from high school based on strong academic performance. If academic and professional standards are met, the student should expect to continue in pharmacy until graduation. Minimum qualifications to receive an application for the School of Pharmacy include:
- Four years of English
- Four years of mathematics
- Four years of science
- A combination of six years of social sciences and foreign language
- ACT of 23 in each section or new SAT of 1590
- High school GPA of 3.3 (with strenth in math, science, honors, AP and college courses)
For Transfer Students and Degree Holders
Transfer students and students who already have a college degree will be admitted to fill vacancies in the first, second and third years. Minimum standards to receive an application to the School of Pharmacy include a 3.0 accumulative GPA with no grade below a “C” (a “C-” is not acceptable). If the applicant has attended more than one institution, an overall GPA will be calculated using quality points and quality hours from each institution.
Degree Requirements
Students receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree are required to complete the following courses: three hours of general education courses from humanities, social science, foreign language/culture, and fine arts; HPE 100; ENGL 106 or 107, 272; MATH 123, 141 and 142; one course from CSCI 150, 190, COMM 110 or 211 (or competency exam); PHIL 221; BIOL 152, 152L, 300, 300L, 302, 310, 310L, 322, 322L, 323, 323L, 412, 412L; CHEM 130, 130L, 131, 131L, 310, 310L, 311, 311L, 400; NSCI 323; PHYS 260; PHAR 350, 351, 361, 362, 362L, 370, 460, 463, 466, 470, 473, 476, 491, 492, 550, 553, 560, 563, 566, 590, 591, 592, 599; and 36 hours from PHAR 700-848 (repeated up to three times), 851, 861 and 871. In addition, Doctor of Pharmacy students are required to take an additional 16 semester hours of adviser-approved course work.
