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Requirements for Admission

Academic Requirements for Admission

To be eligible for admission to the doctor of pharmacy program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete a minimum of 72 semester credit hours of pre-pharmacy study in an accredited college or university in the United States.
2. Achieve a recommended cumulative grade point average of 2.5/4.0 or its equivalent in order to have their applications considered for admission.
3. Have a grade of "C" (or its equivalent) or better in all prerequisite courses.

All applicants meeting the minimum criteria will have their files evaluated. Because a large number of candidates apply for admission each year, only the most qualified applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview.

Applicants who have completed any of the core prerequisites from non-U.S.-accredited institutions must submit transcript evaluations from either World Educational Services or Josef Silny & Associates. Applicants submitting coursework from non-English speaking foreign schools who have not earned a "B" or better in the English Composition and Speech prerequisites must achieve a score of at least 90 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), and must submit these scores with their applications.

Applicants may not exclude any part of their college-level educational history. An applicant who fails to report all institutions attended will forfeit his/her eligibility for admission to ACP or will be dismissed. Records and documents submitted for admission to ACP will not be returned.

Applicants must complete the following coursework to be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program. All prerequisites must be completed before students matriculate into ACP. (In addition, it is recommended that all prerequisite coursework be completed within five calendar years of the time of application to the program.) 

¹Two semesters or three quarters.
²The mathematics component must include a minimum of 3 semester hours of calculus. 
³The 3 hours of college statistics is required in addition to the mathematics requirement. 
⁴In order to fulfill the Electives requirement the successful applicant must complete at least one course in social/behavioral sciences (3 semester credits) such as psychology or sociology, one course in the humanities/fine arts (3 semester credits) such as literature, art or music and at least one course in mathematics/sciences (3 semester credits) such as economics.  Humanities courses are content-based courses rather than skilled-based courses such as English Composition or a foreign language course.  Skill-based courses will not fulfill the Humanities requirements. The remaining 4 semester credits can be fulfilled by the successful completion of any of the three categories described above.

Citizenship Requirements

All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or have Permanent Resident status with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to apply to ACP. Documentation of status will be required. Applicants with foreign transcripts must follow the instructions above.

Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) 

The PCAT is a standardized test designed to measure general ability and scientific knowledge in six areas: verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, biology, chemistry, quantitative ability, and writing. The PCAT is developed and administered by Pearson Education, Inc., which offers the exam multiple times per year. For information about PCAT test dates, registration process and deadlines, contact Pearson Education, Inc. at 800-622-3231, or at www.pcatweb.info.

Prospective students must submit at least one set of PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) scores at the time of application. Students should request that PCAT scores be sent directly to PharmCAS using Code 104 and NOT to ACP. We recommend the September PCAT test date. During the rolling admissions cycle, candidates who have scores reported early and have a complete file will receive strongest consideration. 

ACP considers the candidate's composite percentile score in the admission process and considers only the highest score if more than one test result is submitted. The recommended composite score to receive serious consideration is the 50th percentile. A candidate may sit for the PCAT examination no more than five (5) times.  After the fifth examination, a candidate is required to submit a written request to Pearson for an additional testing session and provide appropriate documentation.

Virginia State Board of Pharmacy Intern Licensure

The ACP doctor of pharmacy program requires that students become licensed as intern pharmacists with the Virginia State Board of Pharmacy (VSBP). Applicants who have any of the following conditions should check with VSBP to determine if they are eligible for a pharmacy intern license:

• Diagnosis or treatment in the last five years for a mental illness or a physical condition that would impair your ability to perform any of the essential functions of your license, including alcohol or substance abuse;
• Misdemeanor or felony charges, arrests, or convictions;
• Previous administrative action, whether completed or pending;
• Suspension, revocation, surrender, or other discipline against the license, including any action that was not made public.

Health Insurance

Students are required to have health insurance while attending ACP or on rotations. The cost of health insurance will vary according to age, gender, and other factors. Two local insurance providers are listed below. Note that ACP does not endorse these providers and the contact information is provided only as a service to students.