International Application Process

How to apply ...

students on laptop
“One thing I liked about ACP is the diversity: Meeting and interacting with students from different backgrounds prepared me to face the challenges that come with the massive diversity of patient population we face on a daily basis.” – Dr. Brian Ngawana, Class of 2020

International Application Process

Applicants who plan to apply for admission to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy are required to submit an application through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). PharmCAS is a web-based application service which applicants use to submit their application, supplemental application, arbitration agreement, official transcripts or transcript evaluations, English Language Proficiency score, and letters of recommendation. The Appalachian College of Pharmacy does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, gender, or sexual orientation.

Application Deadlines for Fall 2024

The deadlines to submit completed PharmCAS and supplemental applications are as follows:

Priority Consideration Applicants: January 4, 2024
Regular Applicants: June 3, 2024

Step 1: Complete and submit the PharmCAS application.

  • Supplemental Application
  • Arbitration Agreement
  • Photograph
  • Official transcripts or transcript evaluations
  • Evidence of English Language Proficiency
  • Letters of Recommendation

Step 2:  Submit to your ACP counselor, citizenship and financial documentation.

Step 3: Monitor your PharmCAS account to ensure the application process proceeds timely and that transcripts and letters of recommendation have been submitted.

Application to the Doctor of Pharmacy program is highly competitive.  Priority is given to candidates who complete their application early.

Advanced Standing Policy

Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) may grant advanced standing by awarding transfer credit to a student who has earned a bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree in pharmacy.

ACP will evaluate transfer courses for equivalence and transfer credit will be awarded for coursework meeting the following criteria:

  1. Courses were taken at an accredited college or university
  2. Transfer credits must be the lesser of the following:
    • Credits originally earned for the course.
    • Credits available in the ACP course listed.
  3. For a transfer course to be deemed equivalent to an ACP course, the course must be in the same field with similar topics and the course must have had similar learning outcomes.

ACP may award credit by examination for courses designated by the College.

ACP may award Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). The College may examine an incoming student’s professional certifications, continuing education (CE) courses, research, military training, and workplace training and award Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

The State Counsel of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV):

  • A student shall complete a minimum of 30% of course work at the institution in order to be granted a degree from that institution.
  • An institution that awards life or work experience credit shall have its related transfer policy approved by the council. No more than 30% of the credit in a student’s degree program may be awarded for life or work experience.

Prerequisite Academic Requirements

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

  • Complete a minimum of 72 semester credit hours of prerequisite study. Courses completed in the United States must be from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Achieve a recommended cumulative grade point average of 2.5/4.0 or its equivalent. ***Experience and other evidence may be considered.
  • 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 interview.

Prerequisites Completed Outside the United States

Applicants who have completed any of the core prerequisites from a non-U.S. institution must submit transcript evaluations from either World Educational Services, Josef Silny & Associates, or AACRAO International Education Services.

Note:

Transcript evaluations from World Education Services (WES) should be submitted to PharmCAS along with your PharmCAS application and not to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy.

World Education Services (WES)
Bowling Green Station P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Phone: (212) 966-6311
Fax: (212) 739-6100
http://www.wes.org

Transcript evaluations from Joseph Silney and Associates and AACRAO International Education Services will not be accepted by PharmCAS and should be submitted directly to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy.

Joseph Silny and Associates
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: (305) 273-1616
Fax: (305) 273-1338
http://www.jsilny.com

AACRAO International Education Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 296-3359
Fax: (202) 822-3940
aacrao.org

Prerequisite Courses

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

Prerequisite CoursesPrerequisite Courses
General Biology I and II with labs8.0 Sem. Hrs.*
College Chemistry I and II with labs8.0 Sem. Hrs.*
Organic Chemistry I and II with labs8.0 Sem. Hrs.*
College Physics I with lab4.0 Sem. Hrs.
College Physics II or Advanced Biological Science with lab4.0 Sem. Hrs.**
Human Anatomy3.0 Sem. Hrs.
Human Physiology3.0 Sem. Hrs.
General Microbiology3.0 Sem. Hrs.
English Composition I and II6.0 Sem. Hrs.***
College Mathematics6.0 Sem. Hrs.****
Electives19.0 Sem. Hrs.*****
Total72.0 Sem. Hrs.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

Applicants are required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. One of the following can be used as certification of English proficiency:

  • Diploma or degree from an English speaking school – a degree or diploma from an accepted accredited college or university in which the primary language of instruction for the entire institution is English.
  • You have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
  • You have taken English composition prerequisites from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, and have earned a “B” or better.
  • The TOEFL – The recommended minimum scores for admissions are:
    • Internet-based test score of 79 or higher
    • The date of taking the TOEFL should not be more than 24 months prior to the date of enrollment.
    • The TOEFL score should be included in your PharmCAS application and not submitted to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy.
  • The IELTS – The recommended minimum scores for admissions are:
    • Internet-based test score of 6.5 or higher
    • The date of taking the IELTS should not be more than 24 months prior to the date of enrollment.
    • The IELTS score should be included in your PharmCAS application and not submitted to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy.

Letters of Recommendation

Appalachian College of Pharmacy requires two letters of recommendation. One letter should be written by a science professor or pharmacist and the other is at your discretion. Note: ACP does not accept letters of recommendations from friends, family members, clergy, or politicians.

Please follow the PharmCAS instructions for submitting letters of recommendation.

Interview

Once an applicant’s file is evaluated, the Office of Admissions will select candidates that meet the College’s admissions criteria and may invite those applicants for an interview. Candidates will be interviewed by a student panel and a faculty/preceptor panel. During the interview, the panels will assess the candidate’s oral communication skills, motivation, accomplishments, professionalism, compassion, and cooperation skills. The interview may be conducted in person or via video conferencing.

Financial Documentation

Official documents (photocopies are acceptable) certifying that the student will have sufficient funding to attend the Appalachian College of Pharmacy for one academic year are required. This evidence will be used to issue the student an immigration document (I-20) which will be required to obtain the F-1 student visa at a US embassy or consulate.

Citizenship Documentation

Official documents (photocopies are acceptable) certifying the students country of citizenship.  This evidence will be used to issue the student an immigration document (I-20) which will be required to obtain the F-1 student visa at a US embassy or consulate.