This article will examine the List of Accredited Pharmacy Schools that don’t require PCAT. The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), as we all know, is a test that helps pharmacy schools identify applicants who are eligible for admission.
Most students can’t afford the expensive fees attached to this test, while others have tried but had a bad score. The best thing for these students is to look for pharmacy schools that do not require the PCAT as an admission requirement.
This is why you are here. If you are in a hurry, you can skip to the list but don’t forget to read the important parts of this article. Let’s go!
Do pharmacy schools require PCAT?
For pharmacy education in the US, you need to submit your PCAT scores. However, this does not apply to all schools.
The rejection of PCAT by some pharmacy schools and colleges has reduced the quality of pharmacists they produce. Can you imagine institutions admitting a student with a 2.5 GPA to study pharmacy?
What do you expect a below-average student admitted to pharmacy school to do when he/she is faced with tough exams like the NAPLEX, the KAPS exam, etc.?
I can’t blame the students, but these schools think all about the money they would make from tuition fees. Even non-profit public pharmacy schools profit from student loans annually. That’s just my opinion on this matter. Let’s get to the main reason why you are here.
Is the PCAT no longer required?
PCAT is still required in some institutions, even though top schools like the University of California no longer require it to study pharmacy. These schools require a good PCAT score before you can be accepted: the average PCAT score is 400.
According to a study, some pharmacy schools in the United States stopped using the PCAT as part of their admission requirements between 2018 and 2024.
Why did this happen? They wanted to increase the number of applications by reducing the admission barriers (which PCAT is among) and using other methods in making their admission decisions.
Some institutions complained about the country’s excessive registration costs for the PCAT. It may have been a good idea, but it reduces the quality of graduates they produce.
Sections of the Pharmacy College Admission Test
The test consists of the following sections containing 192 MCQs.
- Writing: Write one essay in 30 minutes.
- Biology: Answer 48 questions in 45 minutes. The questions cover 50% general biology, 30% human anatomy, and 20% microbiology.
- Chemical Processes: Answer 48 questions in 45 minutes.
- Critical Reading: Answer 48 questions in 50 minutes. The questions consist of 40% analysis, 30% comprehension, and 30% evaluation.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Answer 48 questions in 50 minutes. The questions include general math, algebra, probability & statistics, and precalculus.
List of Pharmacy schools that don’t require PCAT
To earn your Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) at any of the schools below, you don’t need to take the PCAT. They are not considered or used by the schools’ admission offices.
- Butler University, Indianapolis
- Campbell University
- Chicago State University
- University of New England
- Wilkes University
- California North State University
- Northeastern University
- Oregon State University
- Florida A&M University
- Pacific University Oregon
- Ohio Northern University
- The University of Arizona
- Touro University California
- Cedarville University
- The University of Rhode Island
- Belmont University
- East Tennessee State University
- Washington State University
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Nova Southeastern University
- Western University of Health Sciences
- Temple University
- Idaho State University
- Lebanese American University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Ferris State University
- West Coast University
- Notre Dame Maryland University
- University of Washington
- Keck Grdauate Institute
- The University of Texas Tyler
- Loma Linda University
- University of Connecticut
- St John’s University
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Lipscomb University
- The University of Findlay
- Purdue University
- University of the Pacific
- Southern University Savannah
- The University of New Mexico
- William Carey University
- The University of Tennessee
- University of Kentucky
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List of pharmacy schools where PCAT is optional
The schools below are those that consider PCAT to be optional when it comes to admission into pharmacy school. If you have your Pharmacy College Admission Test, you can submit it; if you don’t, it doesn’t matter.
- Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, New York
- American University of Health Sciences
- Auburn University
- Appalachian College of Pharmacy
- Concordia University Wisconsin
- Creighton University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Drake University
- High Point University
- Harding University
- LECOM
- Manchester University
- Marshall B Ketchum University
- Med University South Carolina
- Mercer University
- Midwestern University
- NEOMED University
- Regis Uv
- Roosevelt University
- Roseman University of Health Sciences
- Samford University
- Shenandoah University
- South Dakota State University
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- St. John Fisher College, NY
- Sullivan University
- Texas A&M University
- The Ohio State University
- The University of Iowa
- The University of Kansas
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University at Buffalo
- Union University
- University of Florida
- University of Houston
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- University of Michigan
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Saint Joseph
- University of the Sci Philadelphia
- University of Wyoming
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- West Virginia University
- Wingate University
Frequently Asked Questions
MCAT is harder than PCAT; MCAT questions are more advanced and tougher. If you score well on the MCAT, there’s a high chance you will do better on the PCAT. The difference in these tests is that the MCAT is required for medical school while the PCAT is required for admission into pharmacy school.
PCAT is not part of the admission requirements of pharmacy schools in Canada. The most important thing is your GPA which must be at least 70% or 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, while schools like the University of Montreal require a minimum GPA of 3.2
Of California’s 14 accredited pharmacy schools, 13 do not require PCAT for Admission. Chapman University School of Pharmacy is the only pharmacy school in California that requires a PCAT (a minimum score of 50).
Some pharmacy schools may not use the PCAT as a criterion for admission, but they have other ways of ensuring they only admit students of good academic standing.
I am sure you now know those pharmacy schools that don’t need PCAT. Kindly share this article with your friends and colleagues.