Professional pharmacy education programs that lead to the receipt of a doctor of pharmacy degree must meet the specifications of the ACPE to become accredited, according to the ACPE Web site. This ensures that every institution adheres to a uniform standard of education, providing an equally qualified background for each student.
New School of Pharmacy programs through a university go through an accreditation process, by applying through the ACPE. The process has three levels: precandidate status, which allows for students to enroll, candidate status, which occurs after students have enrolled, and full accreditation, awarded after the program has graduated its first class and met all requirements by the ACPE.
According to the ACPE Web site, new School of Pharmacy programs must pay a fee of $26,780, as of September, 2010, to start the review process. The ACPE accepts applications in January, 18 months prior to the planned student enrollment in the program. The ACPE board members make final decisions during their board meeting in June of each year.