Pharmacy school accredition

[futurpharmacis]

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Hi everone,

Could anyone tell me would all US or Canadian pharmacy schools get accredited?

 

[RxMang]

hi everone,

could anyone tell me would all us or canadian pharmacy schools get accredited?

lol what???

 

[delano2000]

lol what???

Lol. Such a weird question.

PS. I guess if they met all the terms and requirements of ACPE then they would be accredited.

 

[HmoobRX]

Can't answer the OP's question but I would like to know how do you find out about new schools that are opening (i.e. next fall 2011)?

It seems like every year they keep opening new schools but by the time I hear about them they've already accepted like 1 or 2 classes already. I checked at the ACPE website and didn't find this information anywhere.

 

[PharmOl]

Hi everone,

Could anyone tell me would all US or Canadian pharmacy schools get accredited?

They would if they could.

 

[297point1]

Can't answer the OP's question but I would like to know how do you find out about new schools that are opening (i.e. next fall 2011)?

It seems like every year they keep opening new schools but by the time I hear about them they've already accepted like 1 or 2 classes already. I checked at the ACPE website and didn't find this information anywhere.

On deck for 2011:
Midway College
Roosevelt University
Rosalind Franklin University
St. Joseph College (trying again- did not open in 2010)
Tri-State Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Kansas-Wichita
University of South Florida
Western New England College

Most of these schools have been discussed elsewhere on the forum.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

I think what the OP is asking is whether all pharmacy schools end up becoming fully accredited or are there any that actually lose accreditation...

 

[rxlea]

I think what the OP is asking is whether all pharmacy schools end up becoming fully accredited or are there any that actually lose accreditation...

Not all schools become accredited but most do. There was the epic saga of HICP. Some schools have been put on probation. You can actually look up a school's history of accreditation on the ACPE site. A couple of schools were denied pre candidate status recently.

 

[delano2000]

On deck for 2011:
Midway College
Roosevelt University
Rosalind Franklin University
St. Joseph College (trying again- did not open in 2010)
Tri-State Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Kansas-Wichita
University of South Florida
Western New England College

Most of these schools have been discussed elsewhere on the forum.

Pardon my french, but damn!

 

[delano2000]

Not all schools become accredited but most do. There was the epic saga of HICP. Some schools have been put on probation. You can actually look up a school's history of accreditation on the ACPE site. A couple of schools were denied pre candidate status recently.

I think ACPE needs to do this more often. There are way too many schools out there right now.

 

[Elisaveth]

I've always wondered if federal student loans are disbursed to pharm schools that haven't been fully accredited. I'm assuming they do. I might trot over to the UMES site to see, but it seems scary proposition to attend a school that isn't fully accredited, since it seems networking is becoming more important.

Unless it's UH-Hilo, in which case I'd be worried about the sulfur dioxide in the air, but would suck it up for the chance to live in Hawaii, even if the glut of pharmacists there would force me to have to leave after 4 years. Sigh. Maybe that would lead to depression.

 

[rxlea]

I've always wondered if federal student loans are disbursed to pharm schools that haven't been fully accredited. I'm assuming they do. I might trot over to the UMES site to see, but it seems scary proposition to attend a school that isn't fully accredited, since it seems networking is becoming more important.

Unless it's UH-Hilo, in which case I'd be worried about the sulfur dioxide in the air, but would suck it up for the chance to live in Hawaii, even if the glut of pharmacists there would force me to have to leave after 4 years. Sigh. Maybe that would lead to depression.

Only to schools that have been granted pre-candidate status. I believe that non-accredited schools require you to secure private loans.

 

[Elisaveth]

I think ACPE needs to do this more often. There are way too many schools out there right now.

Honestly. Hopefully pharmacy won't get into the nursing school situation. I look at my recent alum magazine and there were like 12 people in only 3 classes writing in to say they were either in nursing school or doing pre-reqs for nursing school (my school didn't offer a nursing major or pre-nursing guidance --- just pre-law or pre-med). Scads of others are working on their MPHs. Even more are getting MSWs. The majority are still either going to law school or doing MBAs. I went to a lib arts college, so these are all us dithering types that eventually got serious about having a careerpath that interested us. And it might just be groupthink, but a ton (I'm thinking of all the ones that didn't write in and generally just don't) appear to be going into nursing. And a ton seem to be going to Caribbean medical schools.

No mentions of pharmacy schools or dental school or podiatry or optometry schools, yet.

 

[Corolla11]

Why aren't there massive numbers of new med schools opening? The demand is equally as great if not greater.

 

[Elisaveth]

Why aren't there massive numbers of new med schools opening? The demand is equally as great if not greater.

I think there are some new med schools opening. I think Hofstra is opening one. I think there's one in PA that's opening or opened last year, but I'm not certain. I'm guessing (and I don't know) that the demand is generally served by Caribbean schools. Foreign med students/docs can still take their licensing exams and do/redo residencies here, so there's that. Also, I think (not certain) that the demand is for GPs, and that can be (potentially) served by NPs.

Mostly, I'm guessing. I assume that the AMA is probably stricter than ACPE, but someone with knowledge rather than guesses would probably be best at answering this question.

 

[Elisaveth]

Actually, I have a new question: Is there anyway to petition the ACPE against the opening of new pharmacy schools? Or at least express concern?

Because I can see that the nursing school situation seems pretty out of control, from what I've read on the allnurses.com forum and heard from friends. In addition to my alum magazine, all I seem to be seeing are ads that say there's a nursing shortage and there's some new nursing program cropping up and encouraging people to enroll. It's like when schools were going crazy installing bachelor's and master's programs in Homeland Security after 9/11.

 

[rxlea]

Actually, I have a new question: Is there anyway to petition the ACPE against the opening of new pharmacy schools? Or at least express concern?

Because I can see that the nursing school situation seems pretty out of control, from what I've read on the allnurses.com forum and heard from friends. In addition to my alum magazine, all I seem to be seeing are ads that say there's a nursing shortage and there's some new nursing program cropping up and encouraging people to enroll. It's like when schools were going crazy installing bachelor's and master's programs in Homeland Security after 9/11.

even if you do write to them, they won't care. They will only care if there is a "movement" of sorts...but even then, who knows.

 

[Elisaveth]

even if you do write to them, they won't care. They will only care if there is a "movement" of sorts...but even then, who knows.

Hmmmm. Perhaps a movement should be organized? I need to investigate the ACPE closely.

 

[delano2000]

I think 100 schools were more than enough.

 

[charfdorn]

Actually, I have a new question: Is there anyway to petition the ACPE against the opening of new pharmacy schools? Or at least express concern?

Because I can see that the nursing school situation seems pretty out of control, from what I've read on the allnurses.com forum and heard from friends. In addition to my alum magazine, all I seem to be seeing are ads that say there's a nursing shortage and there's some new nursing program cropping up and encouraging people to enroll. It's like when schools were going crazy installing bachelor's and master's programs in Homeland Security after 9/11.

ACPE does not exist to regulate the number of pharmacy schools. Their job is to make sure that the minimum standards of pharmacy education are met. There will probably never be a new school freeze. That's just not how it works.

 

[charfdorn]

I've always wondered if federal student loans are disbursed to pharm schools that haven't been fully accredited. I'm assuming they do. I might trot over to the UMES site to see, but it seems scary proposition to attend a school that isn't fully accredited, since it seems networking is becoming more important.

Unless it's UH-Hilo, in which case I'd be worried about the sulfur dioxide in the air, but would suck it up for the chance to live in Hawaii, even if the glut of pharmacists there would force me to have to leave after 4 years. Sigh. Maybe that would lead to depression.

Loans are awarded based on the accredidation status of the school, not the pharmacy school. So as long as it's an established, accredited institution of higher learning, it doesn't matter what their ACPE status is.

 

[Elisaveth]

I'm actually sitting in front of an Insty Med prescription vending machine at the dr's office. I guess new schools are the least of our problems. Yikes.

 

[futurpharmacis]

How likely is that new Pharmacy Schools will get full accredition status?


I am afraid that I might only get into the pre-candidate, non-accredited pharmacy schools and then by the time I graduate, the school goes on probation or something like that. Then I may never be a pharmacist.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Why aren't there massive numbers of new med schools opening? The demand is equally as great if not greater.

From what I have heard, opening a med school in the US is much much harder. It takes many more years of planning, work and much more funding.

 

[charfdorn]

How likely is that new Pharmacy Schools will get full accredition status?


I am afraid that I might only get into the pre-candidate, non-accredited pharmacy schools and then by the time I graduate, the school goes on probation or something like that. Then I may never be a pharmacist.

Fairly likely. In only one instance has a school attempted to gain accreditation and failed. I would base your decision with pre-candidate and candidate schools on the reputation of the university as a whole. Are they well known for something else? Does the institution grant valid, valuable degrees other fields? Is it regionally accredited? If so, you're probably fine. Also look at how much money they are investing in their program. It costs a lot of money to build facilities, hire faculty, and enroll four classes, and it isn't worth it if you end up closing down after four years or less.

 

[Prepharm1214]

I'm actually sitting in front of an Insty Med prescription vending machine at the dr's office. I guess new schools are the least of our problems. Yikes.

You don't need 6+ years of school to put pills and a label on a bottle. Yes retail is fairly based on the finished product but you are paid for your knowledge and law requirements of a pharmacist needing to be in house at dispensing. If a computer could could do counseling and had interpersonal skills yes we might be in trouble..

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Hmmmm. Perhaps a movement should be organized? I need to investigate the ACPE closely.

In all fairness and legality, the ACPE just can't decide one bright morning that they won't allow any more pharmacy schools to open. The only possible thing would be to raise the bar much much higher than it currently is (and in the process, tell currently accredited schools to shape up or close down).

 

[Elisaveth]

You don't need 6+ years of school to put pills and a label on a bottle. Yes retail is fairly based on the finished product but you are paid for your knowledge and law requirements of a pharmacist needing to be in house at dispensing. If a computer could could do counseling and had interpersonal skills yes we might be in trouble..

Yeah, I was just thinking about that. It was sort of just a comment made in jest. I was impressed to see that the Rite Aid pharmacy near me actually has a pharmacist that specializes in diabetes management and takes appointments at the store on Tuesdays and Thursdays to do counseling work. And InstyMeds appears to have a helpline with pharmacists on the other end.