Students graduating with the Doctor of Pharmacy degree are eligible upon licensure to become pharmacists without restrictions on their practice. Therefore, earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree requires mastery and demonstrated ability to apply a coherent body of knowledge and skills. The following paragraphs describe the professional and technical standards that students must possess, to be coupled with the successful completion of all academic requirements, to produce a qualified entry level practitioner. The College reserves the right not to admit any applicant who, upon completion of the interactive process, cannot meet the Professional and Technical Standards set forth below. Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of any disability or disabilities prior to admission, and reasonable accommodation for disability, if appropriate, will be provided.
Attitudinal, Behavioral, Interpersonal and Emotional Attributes
Pharmacy applicants and students must show the potential to communicate with and provide care, in a nonjudgmental way, for persons whose race, culture, sexual orientation or spiritual beliefs differ from their own. Applicants or students must show sufficient and stable emotional health to fully utilize their intellectual capability, to exercise good judgment, to complete their patient care responsibilities in a timely manner and to relate to patients, families and colleagues with courtesy, compassion, maturity and respect. The applicants or students must possess the ability to modify their behavior in response to constructive criticism.
Intellectual Skills
The applicants or students must possess an array of academic skills that allows them to master the large body of knowledge required of practitioners. Academic abilities, including factual recall, measurement, calculation and cognitive function, must be of a high level. Reasoning, analysis and synthesis abilities must be sophisticated. Ability to learn in a wide variety of academic formats is necessary. The applicants or students must demonstrate the ability to be independent learners.
Communication
The ability to communicate with patients, families and colleagues is essential. Clear communication in spoken (includes presentations to groups) and in written formats is required. Applicants and students must be able to communicate quickly, efficiently and effectively in English. Superior aptitude in electronic communication and interaction with information systems are necessary.
Motor Skills
Applicants and students must demonstrate coordination of muscle movement sufficient for the preparation of all forms of pharmaceuticals and the provision of all types of pharmaceutical care including medication administration (e.g., subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or administration of first aid). Applicants and students must be able to withstand the physical stresses imposed by the typical daily routine of the practitioner in a variety of settings.
Observation
Requires the functional use of visual, auditory and somatic senses. The applicants or students must be able to combine the abilities of observation and evaluation in classes, laboratories and practice settings, including performing basic physical assessments (e.g., the determination of blood glucose or cholesterol or blood pressure, use of a stethoscope). The ability to observe and evaluate the distinguishing characteristics of pre-manufactured as well as of extemporaneously compounded medications is essential.