Accreditation

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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:  Pre-candidate status, Candidate status, and Full accreditation. Pre-candidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program, which is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period.  Pre-candidate 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 College or 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 designed as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program, generally including eligibility for licensure. ACPE conveys its decision 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. 

In order to enroll students beginning in the fall semester 2010, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy has applied for Pre-candidate accreditation status for its Doctor of Pharmacy program.  An on-site evaluation will occur during fall 2009.  The ACPE Board of Directors will meet in January 2010 to consider the School’s application.  The School will be notified of the Board’s decision as soon as feasible following the meeting.  Should the Board feel that Pre-candidate accreditation status cannot be conferred at that time; the School could respond to the Board’s concerns and reapply.  Should the School enroll and begin instruction of its inaugural class without first achieving Pre-candidate accreditation status or fail to advance to Candidate accreditation status before graduation of its first class, the program will be ineligible for accreditation by ACPE until after graduation of its first class.  It is unlikely that graduates of an unaccredited Doctor of Pharmacy program will meet licensing requirements in any U.S. jurisdiction.