Pharmacy

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Pharmacy School Admissions Requirements.

To see which UCLA courses satisfy the most common course requirements, refer to the UCLA Pre-Health Requirements Worksheet, found here.

Meet with an academic advisor at UCLA for advice on course planning for pharmacy school.

Do I have to be a specific major to be able to apply to Pharmacy school?

A: NO. You are not required to select a specific major in college to be eligible for admission to a pharmacy degree program. Chemistry is a common major for pharmacy applicants because many of the course prerequisites for pharmacy are often incorporated into the standard chemistry curriculum. Student pharmacists, however, come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including majors like English, business, communications, biology, etc. If the pharmacy prerequisite courses are not required as part of your undergraduate major, you will need to complete these courses as electives. Contact your designated pharmacy programs directly to determine whether the admissions office distinguishes between classes taken at a community college versus a four-year institution.

The Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) is a centralized application service to apply to multiple PharmD programs offered by schools and colleges of pharmacy. From the PharmCAS website, students can access the School Directory. Each participating program has its own page with important deadlines, requirements, and descriptions of programs which will help you plan your application strategy. The School Directory also contains information on graduate programs in the pharmaceutical sciences.

View the PharmCAS Application Process and Checklist for guidance on planning your journey to pharmacy school.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT®) was retired on January 10, 2024. No PCAT testing dates will be offered during the 2024–2025 admissions cycle or beyond. More information can be found here.

Many pharmacy programs require 1-4 letters of recommendation (also known as “letters of evaluation” or “letters of reference”) as part of the admissions process.

Schools may require you to submit letters from particular individuals, such as a pharmacist, professor or academic advisor. If letters are required, select individuals who know you well and can speak to your maturity, dependability, dedication, compassion, communication-skills, leadership and any hands-on experience in the field. Your selected pharmacy schools may require your evaluators to use a school-specific evaluation form in lieu or in addition to the letter from the evaluator. Pharmacy schools generally require evaluators to submit and sign letters on the evaluator’s official business or university letterhead. Review the admission requirements of each pharmacy school for instructions.

PharmCAS accepts applicants’ letters of evaluation directly, however, some students choose to use an external letter service instead (such as, but not limited to, Interfolio Dossier).

For additional guidance and UCLA resources for asking for letters of recommendation, visit the Prepare to Apply section of this website.

A pharmacy school personal statement should showcase your passion for pharmacy, highlight relevant skills and experiences, and demonstrate why you’re a good fit. It should be a compelling narrative that goes beyond your GPA and test scores, offering a glimpse into your personality, motivations, and future aspirations in the field.

Tips for crafting a strong personal statement

1. Understand the Purpose:

• The personal statement is your chance to tell your unique story and connect with the admissions committee on a personal level.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the pharmacy profession and your genuine interest in pursuing it.
• Highlight your skills, experiences, and qualities that align with the demands of pharmacy school and the profession.

2. Brainstorm Key Elements:

• Why Pharmacy? Explore your motivations for choosing pharmacy. Reflect on experiences, both personal and academic, that sparked your interest.
• Specific Interests: Discuss any particular areas of pharmacy that intrigue you (e.g., drug chemistry, clinical practice, research).
• Relevant Skills and Experiences: Showcase your strengths, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and attention to detail, using specific examples.
• Personal Qualities: Emphasize qualities like empathy, responsibility, and professionalism, illustrating them with anecdotes.
• Future Goals: Discuss your aspirations in pharmacy and how the program will help you achieve them.

For guidance and UCLA resources for writing a personal statement, please visit the Prepare to Apply section of this website.

• PharmCas School Directory: http://www.pharmcas.org/school-directory/#/
• Accredited Programs by State: https://www.acpe-accredit.org/accredited-programs-by-state/

Deciding which pharmacy schools to apply to and attend is a complex and highly individualized process. Visit the Prepare to Apply section of this website for considerations that may help you with these decisions.

Pharmacy schools encourage or require applicants to have volunteer or paid experience related to pharmacy. Having work or volunteer experience in a pharmacy setting may be an important factor in the admissions process. If you don’t have work or volunteer experience related to pharmacy, contact your selected pharmacy school admission offices to determine what other experiences they might accept that will adequately demonstrate your knowledge of and commitment to the profession.

Pharmacy Related Student Organizations at UCLA:

• Pre-Pharmacy Society at UCLA: https://www.uclaprepharm.com/ ; https://www.facebook.com/uclaprepharm/

Pharmacy Technician Schools in California:

• http://www.pharmacytechs.net/states/california/

How to find pharmacists to shadow:

• UCLA ONE: https://uclaone.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com

Searching for Pharmacy related opportunities:

• Search for pharmacy-related opportunities on Handshake and other job search sites (use keywords: “pharmacy”, “drug”, “medication”)
• Visit the Gain Experience page of this website for more ideas on how to gain clinical, research, leadership, and/or community service experience that can help you clarify your goals, develop your skills, and demonstrate your commitment to healthcare.