International-Trained PharmD Program

Complete the online application or contact the DDP Office to obtain a PDF copy of the application form.

A personal statement describing the applicant’s reasons for seeking a PharmD degree and applying to the ITPD Program, specifically describing their goals and plans for expanding the practice of patient-centered pharmacy care outside the United States. Details regarding specific questions to address and formatting instructions can be found in the professional goals section of the application and on the admissions website.​

A current, updated curriculum vitae (CV) or resume describing the applicant's professional pharmacy experience and accomplishments. ​ ITPD applicants must possess a minimum of one year of pharmacy practice experience as a licensed pharmacist outside of the United States. Pharmacy practice experience must be clearly outlined on the CV/resume.

Official transcripts from the locally-approved or accredited school of pharmacy from which the applicant graduated and from any degree program(s) in which the applicant has been enrolled in since obtaining the pharmacy degree.

Applicants who receive their bachelor of pharmacy degree from outside the United States or Canada will have their transcripts evaluated through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators​ (ECE). An official copy of the transcript review must be sent from the transcript review agency to the DDP Office. Applicants must submit a Course by Course evaluation, not only the General evaluation.

Applicants must also include official transcripts from any degree program(s) enrolled since obtaining their bachelor's of pharmacy degree. If completed outside the United States or Canada, applicants must follow the transcript evaluation process through WES or ECE.​

A notarized or barrister-certified copy of the applicant's current pharmacy license or certification. If the applicant's local area does not require a pharmacy license or certification to practice as a pharmacist, written verification of qualifications to practice as a pharmacist must be provided.

As noted in the Active Pharmacist License policy, the DDP Office requires a license or official documentation of the ability to practice pharmacy in the student's respective country for ITPD students as an admissions requirement for all applicants and for current students to remain enrolled. All applicants and current students are required to inform the DDP Office of any changes in their license status, such as expiration, suspensions, restrictions, and/or the receipt of any letters of admonition. All students should provide proof of updated licensure upon licensure renewal. Failure to successfully maintain your license or notify the DDP Office of any changes to your license will lead to disciplinary sanctions up to and including to dismissal from the program.​​​​

A copy of the applicant's current, valid passport with photo. ​

Letters of Recommendation:

Three recommendations are to be submitted through the online application​. Recommendation forms will be sent electronically to recommenders listed in the online application. Contact the DDP Office with questions about this process.

Recommendations will be completed by people who know the applicant's professional, academic, and/or personal achievements or qualities well. As such, references must be from professional contacts, such as employers, supervisors, former faculty, preceptors or professional colleagues. References from clergy, family members, friends or politicians will not be accepted.

NOTE: Recommendation forms will be sent electronically to recommenders listed in the online application. Contact the DDP Office with questions about this process.

Professional Sponsorship

Applicants will need to submit a completed professional sponsor form. The professional sponsor (typically an employer), will need to attest to their support of the candidate’s pursuit of the degree program, and the applicant’s plans for expanding the practice of patient-centered pharmacy care outside the United States. The professional sponsor completing the form should be located in the applicant’s home country or the country in which they intend to practice pharmacy (outside of the U.S.). This sponsorship does not require financial sponsorship. If the professional sponsorship is also serving as a reference they must submit a letter of recommendation and a professional sponsor form.

NOTE: The Professional Sponsor will complete the ITPD Professional Sponsor Form (PDF). Completed Professional Sponsorship Forms must be emailed to the DDP Offices.

A nonrefundable application fee of $200.00 (US dollars).

Applicants are required to pass a pharmacy foundations competency exam comprised of multiple topics, provided as two separate exams. Applicants will need to pass each exam. The exams will assure baseline knowledge in coursework typically provided in the first and second years of the entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy program and likely provided in the applicant's BS in Pharmacy coursework.

Individual topics include: biochemistry, cell biology, mechanisms of disease, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology/toxicology, pharmacokinetics, drug design and drug action, immunology, and basic anatomy. The examinations will take place as a requirement prior to admission. Results of the competency exams will be valid for 2 years (or two admission cycles). Applicants will be limited to sitting for the exams twice per admission cycle. After sitting for the competency exams four times, restrictions may be placed on any subsequent registration. Read through the documents below to learn more about the exam.

Learning Objectives and Study Guide – The learning objectives and two review guides all applicants should use to prepare for the exam.

• Learning Objectives for Both Exams
• Basic Biomedical Sciences Exam Study Guide
• Pharmaceutical Sciences Exam Study Guide

FPGEE Exam - Applicants who have successfully passed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalent Exam (FPGEE) within five years of the year and term they are applying to the ITPD program, may not need to take the competency exam. Instead, applicants will work with the DDP Admission Office to acquire their official FPGEE scores.

• Obtaining Official FPGEE Exam Scores – The DDP Office will submit an official exam score request to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) at fp@nabp.pharmacy. NABP will then contact the applicant to receive approval on releasing official scores. The candidate’s information and score data will then be provided to the DDP Office via a secure email from NABP.

Score Minimums:

TOEFL iBT Score – Applicants must achieve the following minimum scores in EACH section:

Speaking: 22

Writing: 21 

IELTS Score – Applicants must achieve a minimum composite score of 6.5 and the following minimum scores in EACH section:  

Listening: 6.5

Speaking: 7.0

Writing: 6.0

TOEFL Essentials Score– Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 9. The required minimum scores on EACH of the individual components of the test are:

Listening: 9

Speaking: 9

Writing: 9

If the applicant does not achieve the above-mentioned minimum scores on either the TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, or IELTS, they will be required to take an ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) and must score an Advanced-Low or higher to meet the language admission requirement. The DDP committee may also, at our discretion, require that an applicant complete an OPI on a case-by-case basis to ascertain English-speaking skills, with the requirement that a level of Advanced-Low or higher is achieved.

Exam Score Date – Exam scores must be no older than two years from the program application deadline date. If the applicant took the exam more than two years ago, then the applicant will need to retake the exam to complete the admissions process. Case-by-case exceptions will be considered.

The interview process is designed to assess the applicant's knowledge of the profession, assessment of prior professional pharmacy experience, communication and ability to perform in a positive, professional manner when working with others. To be considered for admission, applicants must participate in a video teleconferenced admissions interview, which will consist of a verbal evaluation. The interview will occur after a review of the applicant's materials as completed and listed in the English Proficiency Testing sections. The DDP Office will contact the applicant to schedule the interview. ​​

The US government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before a formal letter of admission, or the form for obtaining a visa, will be issued. If selected for admission, students will need to submit the Request for Student I-20 for Foreign Applications form. This form is typically available for download from July to December of each year. The DDP Office or the Office of the International Student and Scholar Services will contact and assist students accepted into the ITPD Program in obtaining a student visa.​