Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy School Prerequisites

Applicants who have earned an undergraduate or graduate/professional degree from a recognized school or college of pharmacy outside of the United States may obtain a license to practice pharmacy in the United States in one of the following ways:

1. Achieve the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEE) Certification sponsored by the U.S. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and meet the licensing requirements of the state in which you wish to practice as a pharmacist. This includes taking the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and may also include post-graduate intern hours.
2. Earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy and meet state requirements for licensure.

Wisconsin’s requirements for licensure as a pharmacist can be found on the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services website. 

Application Requirements
International (F1 visa, J1 visa, or international degree) students interested in applying to the Medical College of Wisconsin Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program must satisfy the standard admission requirements. International coursework may partially or fully satisfy the pre-pharmacy course requirements as determined by the MCW Pharmacy School.

In addition to the standard admission requirements, international applicants must:

1. Submit a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation from the World Education Service (WES) to PharmCAS.
2. Complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit their official score to PharmCAS. MCW accepts only Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) test scores. Scores are considered valid only if earned within two years of the intended first term at MCW. (For example, no earlier than July 1, two years prior.) The recommended minimum score is 90.
3. Complete the PharmD application process through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). There is no separate MCW supplemental application; MCW’s questions are incorporated into the PharmCAS application. On the PharmCAS application, enter your name as it appears on your passport. If the name on your academic record is different from that on your passport, enter the name from your academic record in the “Alternate Name” section. All international applicants must provide a permanent, physical mailing address (that is not a post office box) in their home country.

Students who hold a pharmacy degree from a recognized school of pharmacy outside of the U.S. and are admitted to the PharmD program at MCW will be placed into the first year of the program and may be considered for advanced standing.

English as a Foreign Language
The ability to communicate effectively in English — to read, write and speak the language fluently — is vital to your success as an MCW student. MCW PharmD applicants are therefore expected to demonstrate their proficiency in English as part of the application process by submitting TOEFL scores.

International applicants are exempt from submitting English-proficiency scores via the TOEFL under the following circumstances:

1. The applicant holds a bachelor’s degree or higher completed in its entirety in the United States or another majority English-speaking country. The degree should be earned at a regionally accredited university located in the United States or at an officially recognized university in another country where English is both the language of instruction and an officially recognized language of the country. Please note that the entire program needs to have been completed in the qualifying country. Note: Dual-degree holders who completed part of their degree in the U.S. do not qualify for this waiver. Individuals who studied abroad in the U.S. do not qualify for this waiver.
2. The applicant’s native language is English. This applies to native English speakers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), where English is both an official language of the country and the language of instruction.

MCW does not waive the English-proficiency requirement based on any other consideration such as work experience, English as a Second Language (ESL) enrollment, etc. It also cannot be waived for undergraduate programs taught in English in non-English speaking countries or for graduate degrees earned in the U.S. or other qualifying countries.

Documentation of Financial Support
All applicants who are not U.S. Citizens must be prepared to submit a Certification of Finances form and provide supporting documentation for the total cost of attendance to the MCW Financial Aid Office after being admitted to the MCW PharmD program. This information is not required to complete the application but needs to be submitted and approved by April 30th of the matriculation year.

Applicants and admitted students with questions should inquire directly with the MCW Financial Aid Office.

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The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Pharmacy School recognizes that there are individuals who desire a career in pharmacy who have arrived at that decision outside of the traditional undergraduate pre-pharmacy pathway. Individuals with work experience in health care and related fields such as business management/ownership, information technology, and education may find that a career as a pharmacist is especially rewarding.

All applicants are required to satisfy the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program admission requirements. On a case-by-case basis, following review of professional experience and coursework, the MCW Pharmacy School may extend alternative application and prerequisite course requirements to individuals who satisfy the following criteria:

1. Complete a baccalaureate degree in the United States or Canada no fewer than three years prior to desired year of entry into the PharmD program with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
2. Complete no fewer than 40 hours of experience as an employee or volunteer in a health care setting.

Individuals who may satisfy the criteria above are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Affairs and request to speak with an enrollment coordinator to review their specific situation.

If you are currently enrolled in a pharmacy degree program at another institution, the MCW Pharmacy School may accept your request to transfer under extenuating circumstances and depending on seat availability. Consideration will only be given to students who are currently in good standing at an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy. If you have been placed on probation for any reason, temporarily or permanently suspended, required to repeat courses or involved in any adverse action as a result of code of conduct violations or academic dishonesty, you are not eligible. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs to arrange for a transcript review and to review all of MCW Pharmacy School’s admission policies.

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