The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is a four-year professional degree program that will prepare you for a variety of careers in the dynamic profession of pharmacy. From hospitals to pharmaceutical companies, we'll prepare you to work in a variety of healthcare settings as a medication expert who makes a difference in the lives of patients.

Admissions Requirements

New students enter the program in the Fall. Candidates must submit their applications to PharmCAS by June 1, 2025, to create a PharmCAS account/application if they do not have one already. Candidates will need a PharmCAS application to be considered for admission. All application materials, including the application fee, must be received by the deadline. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants to the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy are expected to conduct themselves within legal and ethical standards of behavior during the admission process. It is our goal to admit students with a high level of professionalism or professional potential.

You are responsible for properly completing your application, sending your supporting documentation and fees to PharmCAS and the School of Pharmacy on time, AND regularly checking the status of your file online by logging onto your PharmCAS web application. The admissions committee reserves the right to review each application on a case-by-case basis.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Coursework

Please visit the Skaggs School of Pharmacy website to review required Pre Pharmacy Coursework.

Applicants to the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy must complete all prerequisites with a grade of C or higher (C- or below is not acceptable) at a college or university that is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges or one of its regional affiliates. Applicants must complete all prerequisites by the end of the spring term prior to their first fall term in the School of Pharmacy. Science and Calculus prerequisite course work must have been completed within the last 10 years of the semester in which the applicant intends to enroll. We can offer prerequisites extensions into the summer semester in certain circumstances. Please contact us at SOP.OSSAPPS@cuanschutz.edu for more information. In many cases, applicants can be admitted while they are completing the course work in the spring semester but the number of courses in progress may affect the decision of the admissions committee should there not be sufficient course work to evaluate.​

Transcripts

All transcripts must be submitted to PharmCAS regardless of the age or transferability of courses. The admissions committee considers all coursework completed and derives a cumulative GPA from all colleges and universities attended. Failure to reveal all transcripts will result in disqualification. Once admitted, official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities (including other University of Colorado campuses) attended must be submitted directly to the School of Pharmacy. All transcripts must be sent electronically through PharmCAS using the Academic Update process. Any transcripts sent after the deadline in April will also be required to be submitted electronically to the Admissions Team.

Application

Application to the Doctor of Pharmacy program is available through the Pharmacy College Application Service or PharmCAS, a centralized application service to apply to multiple degree programs offered by schools and college of pharmacy. PharmCAS is designed for first-year professional PharmD degree programs.​​

GPA

The average GPA of our admitted students is typically around 3.4. Competition is typically the strongest among out-of-state applicants.​​

Recommendations

Two recommendation forms are required as part of the PharmCAS application. Letters submitted in lieu of completing the form will not be accepted. The applicant should seek recommendations attesting to his/her academic performance (academic recommendation) or on the applicant's professional skills and potential for success in a rigorous professional degree program (professional recommendation).​​​

Interview

Interview Options

Qualified applicants will have the option to complete an On-Site or Virtual Interview, and if eligible, receive an offer of admission. Interviews start the beginning of Fall.

When a candidate meets the threshold to be invited for an interview, the school's admissions team will contact the candidate directly with a summary of available interview dates.​​​

Other Requirements

English Proficiency

Excellent oral and written English communication skills are necessary prerequisites for admission to the school, success in the program and competent practice in the field of pharmacy. Applicants who meet one or more of the criteria in the review process will be required to take an evaluation of your English language proficiency. This will be completed via an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc) as part of the application process. The purpose of this computerized OPIc is to assess and rate a speaker’s level of oral proficiency in English. Please be aware that for your application to continue through the admissions process, an OPIc is required. Aspects of this evaluation include pronunciation, grammar usage, and coherent discourse.

Due to the rigorous communicative demands of the PharmD program, the minimum English oral proficiency admission standard is “advanced low” according to the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Guidelines for Speaking. Applicants rated at an oral proficiency level below “advanced low” via the OPIc are disqualified from the pool of applicants considered for admission.​​​​

Confirmation Deposit

Approximately two weeks after receiving a letter of acceptance, applicants must submit a $200 initial confirmation deposit to hold their position in the entering class. By March 1, an additional $200 confirmation deposit will be required. (After March 1, the total admission deposit will be $400). This deposit will be credited after the first semester of matriculation.​​​

Criminal Background Check

Each admitted student must submit to a national background check on upon initial, conditional acceptance to pharmacy school. The rationale for performing criminal background checks on accepted pharmacy school applicants is based on a number of issues, including 1) the need to enhance the safety and well-being of patients and, in so doing, to bolster the public's continuing trust in the pharmacy profession, 2) to ascertain the ability of accepted applicants to complete their pharmacy education (students are required to maintain a State of Colorado pharmacy intern license while participating in the pharmacy curriculum which includes direct patient care activities) and to eventually become licensed pharmacists.

In support of this recommendation, AACP has initiated a PharmCAS-facilitated national background check service, through which Certiphi Screening, Inc. (a Vertical Screen® Company) will procure a national background report on applicants at the point of acceptance. AACP has initiated this service in order to recognize the desire of pharmacy schools to procure appropriate national criminal history reports and to prevent applicants from paying additional fees at each pharmacy school to which they are accepted.​​​

Drug Testing

All matriculated students are also required to undergo drug testing and you will receive further information regarding this requirement after you are enrolled in the program.

Correspondence Methods During the Admissions Cycle

The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to choose to correspond with our applicants via e-mail, phone or by U.S. Postal Services. It is incumbent upon the applicant to ensure a current email, phone and postal address are currently on file. The School of Pharmacy cannot be held accountable if the candidate does not receive or respond to application or admission related correspondence.

E-mail messages generated by the School of Pharmacy and related services may be sent simultaneously to multiple applicants. To avoid missing important e-mails, turn the "Spam" or "junk" email filters off during the application cycle or periodically check your Spam/junk e-mail file for the School of Pharmacy related messages.​​​​​

PCAT not Required

The PCAT is not required. If the PCAT (or MCAT) is submitted, it will be considered supplementary information only.​​

International Applicants and Applicants with Previous Degrees

Please visit the Skaggs School of Pharmacy website for more information on Foreign Transcripts, International Applicants, and Applicants with previous degrees.

Computer requirements for PharmD students

Degree Requirements

The minimum professional GPA required of all pharmacy students for graduation is 2.0 (C) based upon all didactic coursework in the program. A passing grade is required for all advanced pharmacy practice experiences in the P4 year. 

Choose 4 credits from the following elective courses. These are normally taken in the P2 year or P3 fall semester.  Please note that actual offering may vary; contact the program to verify specific courses and registration restrictions.

PharmD Graduation Information

 Graduation Requirements

• Be a registered as a pharmacy intern in good standing
• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 based on all didactic coursework
• Pass all core courses.  Complete a minimum of 8 elective credit hours, in 4 different courses, of which 2 credit hours must be "P3 only" electives offered in P3 Spring Semester.
• Complete all IPPEs and APPEs with a grade of C or better
• Complete all Co-Curriculum requirements
• Complete the APhA pharmacy based immunization certificate program
• Maintain good professional conduct, meeting the technical standards of the program
• Owe no outstanding fees

Graduation Ceremony Information

The commencement ceremony that includes all schools is held in the quadrangle at the Anschutz Medical Campus. A separate, smaller convocation ceremony for CU Pharmacy graduates and their families follows in the Library Commons. Information regarding cap and gown rentals, ordering of announcements, and schedules will be distributed during the spring as the graduation date approaches.

Applying for the NAPLEX

Preparing to register and sit for the NAPLEX
Before you get started, download the NAPLEX/MPJE Registration Bulletin. It contains everything you need to know about the exam, such as:

• The registration process
• Testing appointment instructions
• What you'll see on the exams
• How to get your score report

Be sure to download the Registration Bulletin only from this website to get the most accurate, updated information about the NAPLEX. NABP is aware of some websites that are posting fake, outdated, or incorrect registration bulletins.

Register for the NAPLEX
Ready to register for the test? Start out by logging into your NABP e-Profile to register online for the examination. The board of pharmacy in the state for which you are seeking licensure will then determine your eligibility to take the NAPLEX based upon the information you provided in your record. Check with your board of pharmacy to make sure you meet their requirements. If you plan to seek licensure in multiple states, don’t forget to utilize the Score Transfer option.
When you log into your e-Profile, be sure to check that the name in your e-Profile matches the printed name on both the primary and secondary forms of ID that you will bring to the test center to ensure that you are not turned away on the day of the test. See the Important Test Day Information section below or the NAPLEX/MPJE Registration Bulletin for more information.

Military Discount
NABP offers one-time discounts for military members and their spouses. Active military members, reserves, and veterans will be reimbursed for 100% of the registration fee, and their spouses will be reimbursed for 50% of the fee. Reimbursement of examination registration fees apply to a single attempt on the NAPLEX. Fees for repeat attempts will not be reimbursed. To learn more, contact Customer Service.

If you are seeking licensure in Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Rhode Island, and/or Utah
NABP confirms eligibility to sit for the NAPLEX and MPJE for candidates seeking licensure in the above listed states. If you are seeking licensure for any of these jurisdictions, including via score transfers, you will need to pay an additional non-refundable processing fee of $85. This fee covers both the NAPLEX and MPJE and is valid for a one-year period starting with the date of the initial application.
If you have not passed your exam within that one-year period, you will forfeit the processing fee and will be required to submit a new processing fee if you wish to still take the exam(s).
If you are a new graduate seeking initial licensure in one of the above listed states, you must have an official transcript sent directly from your pharmacy school to NABP before beginning the NAPLEX/MPJE application process. Candidates applying for licensure in Oregon must also submit an official transcript to the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy.
Official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope bearing the school’s stamp/seal on the envelope flap. Candidates may request that their school send transcripts electronically to transcripts@nabp.pharmacy​.

Licensure and Testing
Information regarding licensure and testing can be found at the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy site. If you are applying for licensure in another state, you will need to check that specific state's board of pharmacy website for their requirements.

Diploma

Graduating students must apply for their diploma by December of their P4 year. Information will be e-mailed directly to you.

Student Learning Outcomes

MISSION
The purpose of the curriculum is to prepare graduates to be competent, ethical, contemporary and compassionate entry-level pharmacists. They will be committed to active involvement in the advancement of the pharmacy profession and dedicated to fulfilling the public trust by assuming responsibility for optimizing patient care through provision of appropriate drug therapy and by assuring the safe, effective and efficient use of drug products and drug delivery systems.

Patient Centered Care Process
 

• Patient Care: The graduate will provide patient care in cooperation with patients and other members of an inter-professional health care team based upon sound therapeutic principles and evidence-based data, taking into account relevant legal, ethical, social, cultural, economic, and professional issues, emerging technologies, and evolving biomedical, pharmaceutical, social/behavioral/administrative, and clinical sciences that may impact therapeutic outcomes. Our graduates are experts in the pharmacists' patient care process.
• Systems Management: The graduate will manage and use resources of the health care system, in cooperation with patients, other health care providers, and support personnel, to promote health; to provide, assess, and manage safe, accurate, and time-sensitive medication distribution; and to improve therapeutic outcomes. The graduate must demonstrate expertise in informatics.
• Public Health: The graduate will promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations, and other members of an inter-professional team of health care professionals.
• Professionalism and Communication Skills: The graduate will exhibit effective communication skills, professional behaviors and attitudes that promote successful patient and professional interactions. They must bring to the practice of pharmacy the necessary values, attitudes, and behaviors to discern and manage ethical and evolving issues of pharmacy practice.
• Scholarship: The graduate will exhibit intellectual curiosity by approaching problems from a scholarly perspective, applying scientific principles and methods to identify and solve problems.

Courses

Student Policies

For policy information, please visit the PharmD Student Policies page.