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The Doctor of Pharmacy degree (often abbreviated Pharm.D. or PharmD) is required to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). The NAPLEX is one component of the licensure process required to practice as a pharmacist. The Pharm.D. is a professional degree similar to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). As a doctorate, it represents the increasing responsibility pharmacists have in health care systems and the high trust Americans have in pharmacists. After earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and passing licensure examinations, College of Pharmacy graduates can practice pharmacy anywhere in the country.
Three to four years of undergraduate pre-professional (prerequisite) coursework, followed by four academic years in the professional program. Most students need four years to complete their prerequisite courses. Thus, it usually takes eight years of college study to earn a Pharm.D. and become a pharmacist.
While your previous coursework has likely helped you fulfill many of the program prerequisites, you should still expect to spend a full four years in pharmacy school.
The Doctor of Pharmacy program is for people who want to work as pharmacists. The Ph.D. program is intended for people interested in careers in research.
The College of Pharmacy offers a dual Pharm.D./Ph.D. degree program for students with a strong interest in research who also want to practice as pharmacists. Contact us as pharmacy@oregonstate.edu for more details!
OSU does not offer a pharmacy technician program. Several Oregon colleges have pharmacy technician programs, including Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore.; Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Ore.; and Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Ore.
Yes. You are welcome to visit OSU’s campus. Information on scheduling a campus visit is available from OSU’s Visitor Center.
Yes. The OSU College of Pharmacy will review only complete, on-time applications submitted via PharmCAS. Applicants must also submit a supplemental application.
Yes, but instead of a separate application, you will complete the supplemental requirements in PharmCAS.
No. OSU does not require the PCAT. PCAT scores are not considered in the evaluation of applications.
Definitely, as long as you will be able to complete all the prerequisite courses by next June. Pharm.D. students come from a wide range of undergraduate majors.
Yes.
Yes. Residents of Nevada and Alaska may be eligible to participate in the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Please note that the WICHE program has its own application process and deadline. Call 303-541-0214 or go to wiche.edu/psep for more information.
It is recommended that applicants have a minimum science GPA of 2.75 to be competitive. Science GPA is calculated by PharmCAS based on applicants' performance in undergraduate science courses and will not be recalculated by the College of Pharmacy.
The average pre-pharmacy science GPA of applicants who have been admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program in recent years is approximately a 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale).
Applications for Fall admission will be available on PharmCAS two summers before you would start the program in July.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of times an applicant can apply to Oregon State's Pharm.D. program. Applicants who are denied admission should consider meeting with our Admissions & Recruitment Manager, Melissa Lee (melissa.lee@oregonstate.edu), to discuss the possibility of reapplying.
OSU normally receives 300-400 Pharm.D. applications each year.
Approximately 150-200 applicants are invited to interview each year. Interview selection is made based on several factors: prerequisite science GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement and the OSU supplemental essay.
About 90 seats are available in each entering class.
No. A bachelor’s degree is not required for admission to the Pharm.D. program. However, the College of Pharmacy strongly recommends completing a bachelor's degree before beginning the Pharm.D. program. Applicants who have earned bachelor's degrees (or who are about to earn bachelor's degrees) receive preference in our admissions process. Approximately 99% of students admitted in recent years earned their bachelor’s degree before entering the Pharm.D. program.
First Aid/CPR certification is not required at the time of application. However, all admitted applicants must have current First Aid and Health Care Provider CPR certification prior to their first day of class in the Pharm.D. program. Entering Pharm.D. students will have the option of taking First Aid and CPR certification courses during their orientation program in September.
This is the tentative timeline for the Doctor of Pharmacy admissions process in 2023-2024:
|
July 14, 2023 |
Fall 2024 applications available on PharmCAS. |
|
Nov. 1, 2023 |
Fall 2023 Priority Consideration application deadline. Deadline for scholarship and Portland-based cohort eligibility. |
|
Oct. 2023 - June 2024 |
Applications are screened and reviewed. Interviews are conducted throughout this timeframe and offers of admission are made on a rolling basis. |
| Dec. 15, 2023 - Feb. 15, 2024 | Fall Academic Update window open. |
| June 3, 2024 | Final application deadline. |
|
May/June 2024 |
Final decisions are made and communicated to applicants |
|
April 15, 2024 - June 28, 2024 (approx.) |
Spring Academic Update window. |
|
Mid-September 2024 |
Orientation for newly admitted Pharm.D. students |
| Late September 2024 |
Fall term begins |
Yes, we make offers of admission throughout the application cycle. While our final deadline is June 3, applicants should apply earlier to maximize their chances of admission.
You must complete all the prerequisites by the start of Fall term of the year in which you would enter the program. Therefore, you can apply while still having some prerequisites in progress. Generally, most students apply during the fall as they complete their final year of prerequisite coursework.
For example, if you are applying for Fall 2024 admission, the final application deadline is June 3, 2024. You will need to complete all the prerequisites by September 2024. Some prerequisites may be completed during summer. Please contact our Admissions & Recruitment Manager, Melissa Lee (melissa.lee@oregonstate.edu), to discuss completing the prerequisites during the summer before you start the program.
Yes. Prerequisites can be completed at any accredited college or university.
Upper-division level coursework is strongly encouraged for several prerequisites. Whether you are attending Oregon State University or another institution, it is important to plan your program of study with an academic advisor at your institution and our Admissions & Recruitment Manager, Melissa Lee (melissa.lee@oregonstate.edu).
Courses completed outside the U.S. may or may not fulfill OSU’s Pharm.D. prerequisites. The answer varies depending on the course content, the date completed, and the country in which the course was taken. It is extremely rare for foreign credits to fulfill all the Pharm.D. prerequisites, and it is strongly recommended that applicants in this situation plan to complete the upper-division prerequisites (organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology) at a U.S. university.
For specific information about foreign credits for Pharm.D. prerequisites, applicants can submit a request for transcript evaluation to pharmacy@oregonstate.edu.
We encourage prospective students to submit a request for a transcript evaluation to determine how your coursework applies to the Pharm.D. prerequisites.
Instructions for requesting a transcript evaluation:
Submit copies of your transcripts via e-mail to pharmacy@oregonstate.edu, fax 541-737-3999 attn: Transcript Evaluation or mail (Transcript Evaluation; 203 Pharmacy Building; Corvallis, OR 97331). Unofficial transcript copies are sufficient for the informal evaluation. Include your full name and e-mail address so results can be communicated to you. Make sure your unofficial transcripts include the name of your college or university, the name and number of each course you took, and the grade you received in each course. It is also helpful if you include a link to your college or university's course catalog.
Allow 4-6 weeks to receive the results of your evaluation. Results will be sent by e-mail to the address you provided. Transcripts will not be returned.
As a general rule, upper-division science coursework should be no more than seven years old at the time of application. However, each situation is reviewed on an individual basis. Please contact the College of Pharmacy (541-737-3424) for more information.
No, you should take them for a letter grade.
Prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum of C- grade on a 4.0 scale. Any prerequisite course that is a D+ or below must be retaken.
You must submit at least two recommendation letters with your Pharm.D. application. A maximum of four letters will be accepted. Letters must be submitted directly to PharmCAS and received by the application deadline. Visit pharmcas.org for details. Letters submitted directly to OSU will not be accepted.
People who know you well and can comment on the qualities that will make you a successful pharmacist. Professors, employers, and practicing pharmacists are good sources of recommendations.
Family members or friends should not write letters of recommendation for you.
Yes. Interviews are conducted via Zoom.
A combination of faculty members, students, and alumni participate in the interview process.
Professional attire.
You can expect to be asked questions designed to gauge your communication abilities, leadership, integrity, intellectual curiosity, and motivation. You will also be asked to produce a writing sample that will be conducted during the interview.
The College of Pharmacy awards more than $150,000 in scholarships each year. These scholarships are usually only available to Pharm.D. students after successful completion of the first year. A limited number of scholarships may be available for incoming Pharm.D. students but an application is not necessary or required.
Many Doctor of Pharmacy students receive federal financial aid through Oregon State University. Information on financial aid (grants, loans and scholarships) available through Oregon State University can be found at https://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/.
Additional information about financial aid opportunities for pharmacy students is available through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy online.
Information about aid available to Doctor of Pharmacy students.
Information regarding Oregon residency requirements can be obtained from the OSU Office of Admissions at 1-800-291-4192.
https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/residency
Approximately 65% to 70% percent are considered Oregon residents for tuition purposes.
Recent entering classes have been 35% to 40% male and 60% to 65% female.
The average age of students when they begin the program is 24 to 26. Many begin immediately after their undergraduate studies, but there are also many students who start the program later in their careers and are student parents.
Quite well! Our students consistently perform at or above the national average. Read more about the success of our students.
The College of Pharmacy will consider applications from students currently enrolled in another Doctor of Pharmacy program who wish to transfer to OSU. Students may only transfer at the beginning of the fall term and must meet with our Admissions & Recruitment Manager, Melissa Lee (melissa.lee@oregonstate.edu), prior to applying.
Transfer applicants must submit the following materials to the Office of Student Services by March 1:
Applications will not be considered from students who are not in good standing or ineligible to continue in their current program.
Applicants’ materials will be reviewed by the Office of Student Services. If an applicant is deemed to be a potentially acceptable candidate, an interview will be scheduled. The Office of Student Services will forward a recommendation regarding admission, and professional year of entry, to the College Admissions Committee for consideration, following completion of the interview and review of the applicant's supporting materials.
Transfer students admitted to the professional program by the Admissions committee will be asked to provide detailed documentation of all coursework and experiences already completed. The Director of Student Services and Executive Associate Dean will consult with course coordinators and recommend an appropriate program of study to the Academic and Professional Standards (APS) Committee. The decision of APS committee regarding required coursework will be communicated to the student prior to matriculation and is final.
Yes. Like all students, international applicants to the Pharm.D. program must complete the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses to be eligible for admission. Our admissions committee strongly encourages international applicants to complete some of their prerequisite coursework in the United States. Contact Melissa Lee (melissa.lee@oregonstate.edu) for more information.
Courses completed outside the U.S. may or may not fulfill OSU’s Pharm.D. prerequisites. The answer varies depending on the course content, the date completed, and the country in which the course was taken. It is extremely rare for foreign credits to fulfill all the Pharm.D. prerequisites, and it is strongly recommended that applicants in this situation plan to complete the upper-division prerequisites (organic chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology) at a U.S. university.
For specific information about international credits for Pharm.D. prerequisites, applicants can submit a request for transcript evaluation to pharmacy @oregonstate.edu.
All applicants to the Pharm.D. program must complete the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses to be eligible for admission. While courses completed in a foreign bachelor of pharmacy program may fulfill some of the Pharm.D. prerequisites, it is extremely uncommon for the previous coursework to fulfill all requirements. It is strongly recommended that applicants in this situation enroll at a U.S. university to complete the upper-division prerequisites (organic chemistry, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy).
Applicants are instructed not to list individual foreign courses on the PharmCAS application (unless they are credits from a Study Abroad program). Applicants should send transcript evaluation reports (NOT original or copies of their foreign transcripts) to PharmCAS before the application deadline.
An official, translated copy of the transcript will be required by OSU’s Office of Admissions if the applicant is admitted to the Pharm.D. program.
Because student pharmacists work in health care settings, it's especially important that they complete immunizations to protect themselves and their patients. You can read about the College of Pharmacy's immunization requirements in the Pharm.D. Student Handbook. These requirements can generally be completed after you are admitted to the Pharm.D. program.
Yes. Because they work in health care settings, student pharmacists are exposed to more health risks than a typical university student. Furthermore, many experiential education sites require participants to have health insurance. Therefore, all Doctor of Pharmacy students are required to have high-quality health insurance. Students must either participate in OHSU's student health insurance program or request a waiver. Waivers can be requested by students who already have health insurance (such as a parent or partner's group medical insurance plan) and whose coverage meets specific criteria. Students who anticipate requesting a waiver should carefully review the detailed information and waiver criteria on the OHSU student health insurance program website.