The SIUE School of Pharmacy is seeking accreditation for its Doctor of Pharmacy through the Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). ACPE is the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmaceutical education. SIUE is following the process outlined in the paragraphs below as provided by ACPE. Further information regarding the accreditation process may be found at ACPE.
The 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 generally 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 as those who graduate from a fully accredited program. ACPE conveys its decision to the various boards of pharmacy and makes recommendation 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 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) approved SIUE's application for "Candidate" status on June 23, 2006 and authorized the following statement.
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60660, 312/644-3575, 800/533-3606; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education defines candidate status as follows:
Candidate: A new program that has students enrolled but has not had a graduating class may be granted Candidate status. The granting of Candidate status denotes a developmental program, which is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Reasonable assurances are expected to be provided that the program may become accredited as programmatic experiences are gained, generally, by the time the first class has graduated. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges as graduates of an accredited program.
Full accreditation of the doctor of Pharmacy program would be considered by the board following the graduation of students from the program in 2009.