Admissions Information

The 2023 application cycle opens July 13, 2023.

(It takes 4-6 weeks for PharmCAS to verify all of your submitted application materials. It is highly recommended that non-U.S. citizens apply well in advance of these deadlines to allow the preparation of immigration documents.) PLEASE APPLY EARLY!

Consideration for admission:

• Complete the pharmacy prerequisites prior to matriculation.
  • • Option to Claim the General Education Prerequisites Exemption: If you have (or will complete in May) a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, you may claim an exemption from the General Education Prerequisites. If you claim the General Education Prerequisites exemption, then only your Math and Science prerequisite coursework will be included in the GPA calculation.
    • (IMPORTANT – Claiming the General Education Prerequisites Exemption is optional. If you choose to claim the General Education Prerequisites Exemption, you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher in your Math & Science coursework to be considered for an interview.)
• Achieve a minimum 2.5 grade point average on prerequisite coursework is required to be considered for admission review and interview consideration. If a course has been failed or repeated, all attempts are used in the calculation of the grade point average. However, the Admissions Committee will consider upward grade trends.
• PCAT is not required for the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
• Three letters of recommendation are required and must be from a person who can comment on the applicant’s academic, volunteer, and/or employment experiences and attributes. Letters of recommendation from friends and family members will not be accepted; if submitted, such a letter will delay your application’s processing. Letters of Recommendation should be submitted directly from the recommender to the PharmCAS portal.
• Apply for admission via PharmCAS www.pharmcas.org.
• Submit the HSC College of Pharmacy Processing Fee.

(Please note: Application materials including official transcripts and evaluations, letters of recommendation, fee payments, official test scores and any other required items must be received no later than 2 weeks or 15 days after the posted deadline. For example, an application that closes on the 1st all items will be due by the 15th, an application that closes on the 15th all items will be due on the 1st.)

Disclosure and Technical Standards:

Disclosure – PharmD Graduates and Licensure

1. To practice pharmacy, a person who graduates with a PharmD degree must also pass pharmacy licensing board examinations of the state(s) in which they want to practice and become a registered pharmacist.
2. All pharmacy licensure boards recognize the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from an Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College of Pharmacy as fulfilling the academic requirements for pharmacist licensure. The ACPE maintains national accreditation standards for Colleges of Pharmacy.   The University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy is an ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy.
3. All pharmacy licensure boards recognize the North American Pharmacy Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) as a standardized licensure exam for pharmacist licensure.  Additionally, each state may have different licensure requirements including a state specific pharmacy law exam (refer to each state’s board of pharmacy website for state specific information).  Forty-nine pharmacy licensure boards require passing the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) as component of licensure.  Arkansas, California, Idaho, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not utilize the MPJE for their law examination.

Health and Technical Standards

PharmCAS Application

Step ONE: Complete and submit the PharmCAS online application.

Before completing the application, please read PharmCAS instructions in their entirety.
All PharmCAS application questions should be addressed to PharmCAS at www.pharmcas.org

The PharmCAS application will ask for the following:

• • • • Biographical information
      • Personal data
      • Institutions attended
      • Official US transcript(s)
      • Coursework
      • Extracurricular activities* (post high school)
      • Volunteer Experience* (post high school)
      • Work experience
      • Letters of recommendation (three required)
      • PharmCAS application fee

PCAT scores are no longer required for admission to the UNT System College of Pharmacy program.

(All items are submitted directly to PharmCAS. Do not mail any of these items to the HSC College of Pharmacy.)

Processing Fee

Step TWO: Turn in the Processing Fee

The processing Fee is $50. You may pay the fee online at this link.

Interview Selection

Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual admissions interview via Zoom video conferencing. Please note that not everyone who applies for admission is invited to interview.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or you experience technical difficulties, please contact the Admissions Office at: admissions@unthsc.edu

Regular Admissions Fall 2024 (Cycle 24)

*Dates provided by PharmCAS
**Mandatory For Incoming Students

Tuition and Fees for the College of Pharmacy:

We’ve awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and awards.

HSC College of Pharmacy is among the most affordable tuition rates in Texas.

• • We offer competitive tuition and fees.
    • Download pdf:  UNTHSC College of Pharmacy Estimated Cost

Applicants are eligible to apply for financial aid

The College of Pharmacy acknowledges the exceptional efforts and achievements of its students through a variety of awards and scholarships.

We’ve awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and awards.

Learn more about scholarship and award opportunities here. 

(Early Application is Recommended)

Required Documents:

In addition to admissions requirements, international applicants must submit the following:

1. A course-by-course evaluation (original copy) by World Education Services, Inc. (WES), submitted directly to PharmCAS from WES; we require the WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).

WES will need your PharmCAS ID in order to properly route your ICAP.  If you ordered your WES ICAP before you had a PharmCAS ID, click here to learn how to proceed (select “PharmCAS” from the drop-down and scroll down to “Additional Information”).

2. Catalog course descriptions in English for the specific courses to be considered for the fulfillment of prerequisites.**

3. Document from your institution(s) showing science prerequisite courses taken are designated for science majors, in English.**

4. Syllabi may be required.**

** To be uploaded to the Program Materials Section of PharmCAS under Documents. 

If translation is required:

• • • Documents must be transmitted from the applicant’s institution via website or .edu email address to translation service and from translation service to our institution
    • Translations must be certified

English Language Proficiency Requirements:

Proficiency in English is required and will be measured by:

• • • An official TOEFL score of 80 or higher (internet-based).
    • Submit scores to PharmCAS using TOEFL PharmCAS Code 8246.  Please note that meeting minimum scores does not guarantee admission.
    • Completion of at least 74 semester credit hours at an accredited United States university or college (excludes F-1/J-1 students).

Possible Exemption from General Education Requirements:

With an international degree from an accredited institution, applicants have the option to claim an academic exemption, which means the General Education Requirements are covered by the degree; all Math and Science Requirements must still be fulfilled.

Detailed information regarding prerequisites can be found here.

For questions regarding the admissions process, please contact admissions@unthsc.edu.

For questions regarding the I-20 process, please contact international@unthsc.edu.

(NOTE:  If you have an undergraduate pharmacy degree from outside the United States, you may be able to use this degree to become licensed as a pharmacist in Texas.  Please, see “Information for Foreign Pharmacy Graduates” on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy website: https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/applicants/foreign-pharm-grad.asp.)

Pipeline Programs: Pharmacy Technician (PharmTech) to Pharmacist (PharmD)

Take your pharmacy career to the next level – Pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy at HSC!

More than half of HSC College of Pharmacy students have experience as a pharmacy technician. 

• Prerequisites: All prerequisites can be can be completed at a community college.
• Admission Requirements
• Apply Now
• Questions? Contact us at admissions@unthsc.edu

Hear what students are saying about making the transition to a PharmD.

The PATH Academy (Providing Access to HSC) offers a comprehensive pre-health and research preparation experience for college students. It focuses on molding students who embody the values of HSC through preparation and learning enrichment opportunities such as summer internships, clinical enrichment, personal and professional development sessions, and co-curricular activities.

Learn more here.

Find answers to frequently asked questions regarding:

• Prerequisites
• PharmD Program
• PharmCAS
• PharmD Transfers

Creating a Great Personal Statement

Need some help with your personal statement? Check out this article from the ADEA: Creating a Great Personal Statement

Experience Your Future: The Importance of Shadowing and Observation Hours

Shadowing and observation hours are a vital way to gain experience and contribute to your professional school application.

Find out what shadowing and observation hours are, why they matter, and how to find opportunities in your desired field:

View the recording. (48 minutes)

– Presented by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Helpful Websites

• • • PharmCAS Website: http://www.pharmcas.org/ 
    • UNT Health Science Center Financial Aid Office: www.hsc.unt.edu/students/?page_id=200307
    • PCAT Website: http://www.pcatweb.info
    • PCAT Test Prep: KaplanPCAT.com
    • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Website: http://www.aacp.org/
    • Bureau of Labor Statistics Website: http://www.bls.gov/
    • TCCNS- Common Course Website: http://www.tccns.org/
    • UNT Course Catalog Website: http://catalog.unthsc.edu
    • Texas State Board of Pharmacy: http://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/
    • Characteristics of Texas Doctoral Programs: https://www.unthsc.edu/students/characteristics-of-texas-public-doctoral-programs/