It is important to understand the accreditation process as governed by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).  Complete information is available at the ACPE website (www.acpe-accredit.org).  A short explanation of this process is as follows:

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 involves three steps: Precandidate status, Candidate status, and Full accreditation. Precandidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program, which 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 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 East Tennessee State University College of Pharmacy was awarded precandidate accreditation status during the January 10-13, 2007 meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors, based upon an on-site evaluation conducted October 24-25, 2006, and discussion with University and College officials. Following the enrollment of the inaugural class of students in January 2007, an on-site evaluation will be scheduled during academic year 2007-2008 for purposes of gathering additional information to be considered in the Board’s consideration of advancement to Candidate accreditation status. Based upon this evaluation, should the Board feel that Candidate status cannot be conferred, the College 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, full accreditation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program would be considered by the Board following the graduation of students from the program.

updated February 22, 2007