Pharmacy is a doctoral health profession in which licensed professionals provide information about medication to consumers and professionals. As "medication experts," pharmacists are concerned with safeguarding the public's health in matters relating to medication distribution and use and disease state management.

Today's pharmacists play a vital role in improving patient care through the medicine and information they provide.

Requirements for admission to pharmacy school vary among the different programs. It is critical for the prospective applicant to check the specific requirements for each program he/she intends to apply to. The pre-requisite coursework will take three years to complete.

Pre-requisites for applying to a typical pharmacy program:

  • BIOL 211/211L & BIOL 213/213L for Biology majors entering Fall 2010 and later, or all non-Biology majors (non-BIOL majors will need special permission to enroll in these courses; Procedure for non-BIOL majors to register for BIOL courses);
  • Biology majors entering prior to Fall 2010 must take BIOL 151/151L & BIOL 201/201L
  • CHEM 121/121L - 122/122/L (this course should be completed as soon as possible)
  • CHEM 321/321L - 322/322L
  • PHYS 151/151L - 152/152L
  • BIOL 314/314/L - 315/315/L
  • BIOL 301/301L
  • BIOL 414
  • MATH 125
  • MATH 140
  • COMM 201

The following courses are recommended, but not required:

  • BIOL 307
  • BIOL 313 or BIOL 412
  • BIOL 411

Applicants are expected to have had some experience in pharmacy settings, and should be able to provide strong letters of recommendation from teachers, pharmacist(s), and others who can attest to the applicant’s character and attributes.

You will have to take the PCAT - Pharmacy College Admissions Test *

* VCU recommends that applicants take the PCAT in October (or earlier) of the year preceding intended enrollment in the School of Pharmacy.

Applications are generally submitted in early Fall (early decision) or early Spring preceding intended matriculation.

Most Pharmacy Schools use the centralized application service (CAS) - PharmCAS.