International Accreditation Activities

How Has ACPE Recognized Canadian Accreditation Actions?

What is ACPE’s Memorandum of Understanding with CCAPP?

What Specific Activities Are Going On With Accreditation of non-USA-based programs?

How Has ACPE Recognized Canadian Accreditation Actions?

At its June 2002 meeting, the ACPE Board recognized the accreditation decisions (pdf, 32 KB / word, 1.2 MB) of the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), with respect to professional programs leading to the baccalaureate degree in pharmacy taken subsequent to the establishment of CCAPP in 1993 through June 30, 2004. The ACPE standards for the baccalaureate in pharmacy (BS) degree programs expire on June 30, 2004.

It should be noted that this action does not equate to accreditation of the Canadian degree programs by ACPE, as ACPE did not conduct program evaluations itself. The decision was taken after assessing that CCAPP’s policies and procedures were similar to ACPE’s, and that the CCAPP baccalaureate standards met or exceeded ACPE’s baccalaureate standards. A summarized listing (pdf, 92 KB / word, 1.3 MB) of their accreditation decisions has been provided by CCAPP to ACPE and, as a service to our constituents, it is published with CCAPP’s permission. For further details of programs accredited by CCAPP, please refer to the CCAPP Directory (copies available on request from ACPE) or contact CCAPP on telephone (306) 966-6388 or fax (306) 966-6377.

The impact of ACPE’s action will differ from state to state, and this is likely to be determined by the exact wording of legislation (pharmacy practice act and/or regulations) regarding "foreign graduates", including Canadian graduates. Several states have not yet determined what, if any, impact ACPE’s action will have on licensure requirements for pharmacists in the state. As the situation regarding this issue is dynamic, ACPE suggests that up-to-date information be obtained directly from the relevant state board of pharmacy.

What is ACPE’s Memorandum of Understanding with CCAPP?

ACPE and its counterpart agency in Canada, the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), have enjoyed a close working relationship for many years. To signify their mutual commitment to further collaboration, in October 2002 ACPE and CCAPP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (pdf, 180 KB).

What Specific Activities Are Going On With Accreditation of non-USA-based programs?

ACPE has received several inquiries from non-US-based universities and schools of pharmacy. To date, only one of these has resulted in an application for accreditation, and in June 2002 the Pharm.D. program of the Lebanese American University, (LAU) Byblos, Lebanon was accredited by ACPE.

The LAU program was accredited using the same standards, policies and procedures as are used with US-based programs. ACPE does not have separate "international standards" and has no plans at this time to introduce such a set of standards.

With ACPE’s baccalaureate (BS) standards in the process of being phased out (by June 2004), ACPE effectively maintains only one set of standards – those for the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. These standards were developed with US systems of health and education in mind. The outcome competencies, upon which ACPE standards are based, reflect the desired level and scope of practice for pharmacists in the USA, with Pharmaceutical Care as the underlying philosophy of practice. The standards may, therefore, not "translate" directly into standards that would be suitable in their entirety in other countries. While ACPE welcomes inquiries, and is open to receiving and considering applications from other non-US-based pharmacy degree programs, ACPE does not anticipate receiving many applications for accreditation from universities and schools of pharmacy outside the US.

Currently ACPE only offers accreditation for degree programs; no other form of quality assessment or "standard" is accommodated in ACPE policies and procedures. Alternatives to accreditation have been raised as a possibility for the future, but have not yet been considered in any detail by the Council.