The UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), officially recognizing its status as a fully qualified professional degree program for aspiring pharmacists.
When evaluating a program, ACPE examines standards related to educational outcomes, structures, and processes, including personal and professional development; a school’s vision, mission, goals, and strategic plan; curriculum design; interprofessional education; experiential education; and more.
To qualify for full accreditation, a program must continually meet the ACPE standards during the course of its establishment, from the enrollment of the inaugural class to the final considerations for approval culminating in the graduation of its first cohort.
The UC Irvine PharmD program was established in 2020 alongside the founding of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and creation of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, which joined the foundational Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Initial ACPE approval was obtained in June 2020, and the inaugural class enrolled in September 2021 and graduated from the four-year program in May 2025.
“Achieving full accreditation recognizes the tenacious effort and commitment of our program’s founding students, staff, preceptors, and faculty, all of whom were necessary to forge an ideal balance of academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to patient care that will empower graduates to shape the future of healthcare,” said Founding Dean Jan Hirsch.
