What happens if a new school closes its doors?

[Transformer]

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If a new school were to close its doors after you completed first, second, and third year, then does this mean you have to re-apply or transfer into another pharmacy program and start all over?

In addition, if you completed the entire pharmacy program and graduated; yet, most of your classmates fail the NAPLEX and your school doesn't get accredited then does this mean you get treated just like a foreign graduate intern and have to work certain amount of hours (depending on state laws) and retake the NAPLEX again? (or is contingent on the retakes of your classmates and the re-accreditation of your school?)

If anyone knows the answer, or knows where to find the answer, please share your thoughts. thanks

 

[HurricaneKatt]

Did this happen to you?!?!?! 😱 I'm sorry!!!!

 

[SCCpharm]

If a school closed, then yes, you would have to apply to pharmacy schools again and most likely start as a p1.

If you graduated from an unaccredited school, then I don't think they would allow you to sit on the NAPLEX exam.

 

[confettiflyer]

This has only happened once in the history of ACPE. Search for "HICP" or "Hawaii College of Pharmacy" for that whole story (there's an extensive thread on it--not to be confused with the 100% legit University of Hawaii at Hilo School of Pharmacy run by the state of Hawaii).

Since that scandal, ACPE has stepped up requirements for the first step, pre-accreditation. DO NOT attend any school without either pre-accreditation, candidate, or full accreditation status.

One of these requirements for all new schools is called a "rescue" or "bail out" plan, which details exactly what will happen to the students should the school fail in any way, shape, or form. This may include awarding some intermediate degree, refunding part of your tuition, etc... However, if a school files for bankruptcy, standard bankruptcy laws prevail and you become an unsecured creditor. Because of this, NEW and STAND ALONE schools are at highest risk. Imagine if, say, UCSD failed...they wouldn't be able to file for bankruptcy as they're tied to the UC system, which is then tied to the State of California.

Anyway, you would not be able to sit for NAPLEX and you would not be licensed in any state within the US should, for whatever reason, you make it to 4th year and the program fails. This probably won't happen, ACPE monitors new schools closely each year to make sure they're on track.

But to answer your question....if you make it 4 years through a pharmacy school that ultimately shuts its doors and goes bankrupt, it'll be as though those 4 years never happened. No degree, no being considered as an foreign graduate, nothing... and you'd be out $$$ in tuition.

But this is an extreme case, so if you're applying to a new program, do some research and see if things make sense.

 

[Transformer]

Thank you for the above explanations.

So if the school closes and goes bankrupt, then students are not allowed to take the NAPLEX. (gotcha)

Just to confirm, let's say the school doesn't close, and remains under candidate status or probation status, would students still be allowed to take the NAPLEX?

 

[confettiflyer]

Thank you for the above explanations.

So if the school closes and goes bankrupt, then students are not allowed to take the NAPLEX. (gotcha)

Just to confirm, let's say the school doesn't close, and remains under candidate status or probation status, would students still be allowed to take the NAPLEX?

To expand on the whole school goes bankrupt = no NAPLEX. If the school closes and it goes bankrupt, either your "degree" is worthless or you never got a degree in the first place. No degree, no NAPLEX.

Candidate status = pretty much considered full accreditation. A school can't be fully accredited until its first class sits for NAPLEX. From my understanding, this is almost an afterthought (going from candidate to full accred.)

Probation = an accredited school gets in trouble. From my limited understanding of probation...it's just a formal way of ACPE telling the program that it has problems that need to be solved. In the interim, it's business as usual for the students, unless school admins are so inept that they actually get their accred. pulled. Haven't seen that one yet.

 

[lwang81]

If a new school were to close its doors after you completed first, second, and third year, then does this mean you have to re-apply or transfer into another pharmacy program and start all over?

In addition, if you completed the entire pharmacy program and graduated; yet, most of your classmates fail the NAPLEX and your school doesn't get accredited then does this mean you get treated just like a foreign graduate intern and have to work certain amount of hours (depending on state laws) and retake the NAPLEX again? (or is contingent on the retakes of your classmates and the re-accreditation of your school?)

If anyone knows the answer, or knows where to find the answer, please share your thoughts. thanks

unless it changed since the last time i checked, if your school loses it's candidate status (it should be at least candidate status to admit students), you lose everything. if however the school keeps it's candidate status long enough for you to take the NAPLEX, but loses it after, you are in the clear as long as you pass the NAPLEX. students who take the exam while the school is on candidate status have the same rights as those who take it with schools that have accreditation

 

[CYNTO]

unless it changed since the last time i checked, if your school loses it's candidate status (it should be at least candidate status to admit students), you lose everything. if however the school keeps it's candidate status long enough for you to take the NAPLEX, but loses it after, you are in the clear as long as you pass the NAPLEX. students who take the exam while the school is on candidate status have the same rights as those who take it with schools that have accreditation

that is very true

 

[confettiflyer]

unless it changed since the last time i checked, if your school loses it's candidate status (it should be at least candidate status to admit students), you lose everything. if however the school keeps it's candidate status long enough for you to take the NAPLEX, but loses it after, you are in the clear as long as you pass the NAPLEX. students who take the exam while the school is on candidate status have the same rights as those who take it with schools that have accreditation

Agreed. If UCSF shut down tomorrow, it doesn't suddenly invalidate everyone's degrees that graduated before.

 

[kemo202]

I am not sure about this case..but if I am going to apply to a college of pharmacy I will need to check on the college reputation before i apply..

 

[confettiflyer]

I am not sure about this case..but if I am going to apply to a college of pharmacy I will need to check on the college reputation before i apply..

Reputation and accreditation are two separate and very different distinctions.

 

[cjf]

What are your guys' opinions on California Northstate Pharmacy school in Rancho Cordova, Ca?

 

[ChuckPalumbo]

what do you call a pharmacist who graduated from an unaccreddited university? a ***** with 150,000 in debt

 

[confettiflyer]

what do you call a pharmacist who graduated from an unaccreddited university? a ***** with 150,000 in debt

lol, wrong. he/she wouldn't even be a pharmacist.

 

[confettiflyer]

What are your guys' opinions on California Northstate Pharmacy school in Rancho Cordova, Ca?

There is a very very long and very protracted "discussion" on this school...a quick search should bring it up. Enjoy my comments 😉

PS they got pre-accreditation....but i mean, check out their faculty