Updated
Pharmacy School Requirements: Courses, GPA and PCAT
Most PharmD programs require at least two years of college prerequisites (general and organic chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, calculus, statistics and English), a PharmCAS application, two or three letters of recommendation and an interview. The PCAT was retired on January 10, 2024, so no admissions test is required. Some schools set a minimum GPA, and each school sets its own exact rules.
This page takes each requirement from the source that sets it: PharmCAS and AACP for courses, tests, dates and letters, Pearson for the PCAT, and 10 pharmacy schools' own admissions pages and PharmCAS directory entries for what they actually ask. Every number links to its source, all checked October 28, 2026.
What prerequisite courses do pharmacy schools require?
PharmCAS says “The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program requires at least 2-years of specific undergraduate college study followed by 4-academic years (or 3-calendar years) of professional pharmacy study.” In practice, “The majority of students enter a pharmacy program with 3 or more years of college experience.” And “The classes required for admission into a pharmacy program vary significantly from one degree program to the next.” AACP's admissions guide lists the usual set: “A list of common college course prerequisites is below: - General Chemistry I & II - Organic Chemistry I & II - Biology I & II - Anatomy and Physiology (or A&P I & II) - Microbiology - Physics - Calculus - English Composition - Communication or Public Speaking - Psychology or Sociology - Statistics”
Some schools add more. Kentucky asks for a business course and 70 semester hours, Michigan adds genetics, and Ohio State requires a finished bachelor's degree. Your major is up to you, since “You are not required to major in “pre-pharmacy” in college to be eligible for admission to pharmacy degree programs.” Old coursework can be a problem: “Admissions offices may require that your science and math college coursework be less than 5-10 years old, depending on the institutional policy.” The school table below lists each school's courses.
Is the PCAT still required?
No. PharmCAS says “The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT®) was retired on January 10, 2024.” AACP adds “No PCAT testing dates will be offered during the 2024–2025 admissions cycle or beyond.” Pearson, which ran the test, says “effective December 2, 2024, Official Transcripts and Personal Score Reports are no longer available.”
If you took it before, “Applicants can self-report their previously taken PCAT scores in the Standardized Tests section.” But AACP's admissions guide now says “There is no standardized admissions exam to get into pharmacy school.” Nine of the 10 schools below say in their PharmCAS entries that they don't consider any standardized test, and USC says “The PharmD program does not require PCAT or GRE.” Utah says an old score won't help or hurt your application. Applicants whose first language isn't English may still need the TOEFL or IELTS.
What GPA do you need for pharmacy school?
PharmCAS warns that “the minimum GPA may be quite low as compared to the average GPA of applicants offered admission.” So treat a published minimum as the line to clear, not the target.
USC adds “If you did not achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA but demonstrate the ability to be successful in the program, you may still be considered for admission.” Many schools read more than one number. UW-Madison, for example, also reviews GPA trends and math and science grades, so a strong last year of science courses helps.
When do you apply through PharmCAS, and what does it cost?
All 10 schools on this page take PharmCAS, AACP's shared application for PharmD programs. For the 2026-2027 cycle (fall 2027 entry), the application opened on July 9, 2026 and the cycle closes on June 30, 2027. Each school picks its own deadline from a PharmCAS list that runs from November 2, 2026 to June 1, 2027. “All PharmCAS deadlines expire at 11:59 pm Hawaii Time (HT).” “The deadline indicates when materials must arrive at PharmCAS (and not the program).”
Many schools review on a rolling basis, including Ohio State, Minnesota, UW-Madison and Utah, so earlier is better. PharmCAS says “Participating PharmCAS programs encourage applicants to submit applications at least two weeks before their school application deadlines”, and “PharmCAS processing may take up to 10 business days, once all required materials are received.”
The fee for 2026-2027 is $180 for one program, $240 for two and $720 for ten, then $60 for each program after that. “A limited number of PharmCAS application fee waivers are available to financially disadvantaged applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.” This cycle, though, PharmCAS now says “All available fee waivers have been awarded to eligible applicants. Some programs may offer coupon codes to help offset application fees.”
The 2026-2027 PharmCAS timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| At least two years of college | Finish the prerequisite courses. Most students start pharmacy school after three or more years of college. |
| July 9, 2026 | The 2026-2027 PharmCAS application opens. |
| November 2, 2026 | The first final deadline date PharmCAS offers programs. Some schools set an earlier priority date. |
| Up to 10 business days after your materials arrive | PharmCAS processes your application. |
| June 1, 2027 | The last final deadline date PharmCAS offers programs. |
| June 30, 2027 | The PharmCAS cycle closes at 11:59 pm Hawaii Time. |
Deadlines at six schools for fall 2027
Do you need pharmacy experience or shadowing hours?
Usually not a set number of hours. PharmCAS says “Pharmacy colleges encourage or require applicants to have volunteer or paid experience working with patients in a pharmacy or health-related setting (hospital, nursing home, etc.).” Seven of the 10 schools below list observation hours as recommended but not required in their PharmCAS entries, and Minnesota, USC and UW-Madison don't require them. Utah counts more than a pharmacy job: “Pharmacy experience also includes shadowing or interviewing practicing pharmacists.” Maryland notes “Work experience is not required for admission.” Shadowing a pharmacist or working as a pharmacy technician gives you real examples for your essay and interview.
How many letters of recommendation do pharmacy schools want?
“PharmCAS will accept up to four (4) evaluations per applicant.” On the school side, “Many Pharm.D. programs require 1-4 evaluations (also known as “letters of reference” or “letters of recommendation”) as part of the pharmacy admissions process.” Also, “Pharm.D. programs may require you to submit letters from particular evaluators, such as a pharmacist, professor, or academic advisor.”
Ohio State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and USC ask for three. Pittsburgh wants at least two from faculty who taught you in a class, and USC says “One letter must be from a science professor with whom you took a class and/or did research.” Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, UW-Madison and Maryland ask for two. Florida says “Two letters are required from separate references. The committee prefers letters from a pharmacist and a science professor.” UW-Madison says “One of the two letters must be from a college-level instructor (professor, lecturer, teaching assistant). A letter from a science instructor is preferred.” Utah “requires a minimum of two letters of recommendations and will accept up to a total of four letters.”
What is the pharmacy school interview like?
Each of the 10 schools below lists an interview in its admissions process. PharmCAS says “The interview format varies by Pharm.D. program.” “Pharmacy colleges may require you to speak with a single faculty member, a student, a pharmacist, a panel of interviewers, or participate in an orientation program.” Some add writing, too: “Your written communication skills may be measured with an on-campus essay exercise.” Pittsburgh, for example, has a writing assessment for invited applicants. At the 10 schools:
Whatever the format, PharmCAS says “you should be prepared to discuss why you have chosen to pursue a career in the pharmacy profession and how you perceive the role of the pharmacist in healthcare.” Try that one out loud now:
For more questions, read our pharmacy school interview questions and the why pharmacy answer guide, then practice pharmacy school interviews out loud with Confetto. Our school by school guides cover each program's interview day.
Requirements at 10 pharmacy schools
Our summary of what each school publishes on its own admissions pages and in the PharmCAS directory entry it fills in, read October 28, 2026. Open a school for its prerequisites, test policy, GPA and interview, with links to both. Requirements change every cycle, so confirm on the school's page before you apply. All 10 are ACPE accredited programs, and “Students must graduate from an ACPE accredited program to be eligible to practice pharmacy in the U.S.”
Ohio State College of Pharmacy (Ohio)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry with labs, precalculus, statistics, microbiology with lab, biochemistry and human physiology. A bachelor's degree in any subject before you start.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- 2.7 cumulative minimum. Competitive applicants average 3.4 to 3.5 cumulative and 3.3 science.
- Interview:
- A 40-minute individual interview. You choose in person or virtual.
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (Michigan)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology I and II, general chemistry, organic chemistry I and II with lab, biochemistry, genetics, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, physics, calculus, statistics, English composition, humanities and social science. They don't need to be done when you apply.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- No minimum listed. A C or above in prerequisites.
- Interview:
- Two or more interviewers plus another format. In person or virtual.
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (Minnesota)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology with lab, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, calculus, statistics, general and organic chemistry I and II (one lab each required), composition and two social science or humanities courses. A bachelor's degree is preferred.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered. No minimum exam scores.
- GPA:
- No minimum GPA.
- Interview:
- Two one-on-one situational interviews. In person or virtual.
University of Florida College of Pharmacy (Florida)
- Prerequisites:
- General chemistry, organic chemistry, biology and anatomy and physiology with labs, plus biochemistry, microbiology, calculus and statistics. At least an associate degree.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- No minimum GPA for admission. The preferred minimum science GPA to apply is 2.5.
- Interview:
- Two or more interviewers. An online option is offered.
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (Kentucky)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology, microbiology, general and organic chemistry with labs, anatomy, physiology, statistics, calculus, a business course, English I and II and public speaking. 70 semester hours before you start.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- 2.5 minimum overall and prerequisite GPA.
- Interview:
- MMI plus another format. Online only case by case.
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy (Pennsylvania)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry I and II with labs, calculus, statistics, English composition I and II, plus humanities, social science and elective hours. No bachelor's degree required.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- 3.0 minimum overall and prerequisite GPA. A 3.0 science GPA is competitive.
- Interview:
- A 30-minute interview with two faculty members on Zoom, plus a writing assessment.
USC Mann School of Pharmacy (California)
- Prerequisites:
- Biology I and II, general and organic chemistry I and II with labs, human physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, calculus and a communication course. Bachelor's degree required.
- PCAT and tests:
- PCAT and GRE not required.
- GPA:
- 3.0 minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA. Admitted students average about 3.4. Below 3.0 may still be considered.
- Interview:
- A 20-minute traditional interview with a faculty member or alumnus and a current student, plus a scenario-based assessment.
University of Utah College of Pharmacy (Utah)
- Prerequisites:
- General and organic chemistry I and II with labs, human anatomy, physiology, calculus I, physics I, microbiology, statistics, and writing or public speaking. No bachelor's degree required.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered. PCAT not required since 2021-2022.
- GPA:
- 2.75 overall and 2.8 prerequisite minimums.
- Interview:
- Two or more interviewers, on site. Online only case by case.
UW-Madison School of Pharmacy (Wisconsin)
- Prerequisites:
- Calculus, statistics, general chemistry with labs, organic chemistry I and II plus a lab, biology, microbiology, physiology, physics, English composition and electives. 72 credits, no bachelor's degree required.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- No minimum. The last entering class averaged 3.6.
- Interview:
- A closed-file interview, on campus or virtual.
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (Maryland)
- Prerequisites:
- English composition, statistics, biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry with labs, microbiology with lab, calculus, physics with lab, anatomy and physiology I and II, public speaking, humanities and social sciences. 60 credits, no bachelor's degree required.
- PCAT and tests:
- None considered.
- GPA:
- 2.75 minimum overall GPA and 2.75 minimum science GPA. A 3.0 prerequisite GPA is recommended.
- Interview:
- Two interviews, one with a current student and one with a faculty member. An online option is offered.
Sources: PharmCAS Pre-Pharmacy Prep, PharmCAS Standardized Tests, PharmCAS Deadlines, PharmCAS Fees, PharmCAS Evaluations, the PharmCAS Applicant Help Center, AACP on the PCAT, AACP Pharmacy Is Right for Me, Pearson's PCAT announcement, ACPE and the school pages linked above. Quotes are exact. The table summaries are ours. All checked October 28, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What classes do you need for pharmacy school?
It varies by school. AACP lists general chemistry, organic chemistry and biology (two semesters each), anatomy and physiology, microbiology, physics, calculus, English composition, communication or public speaking, psychology or sociology and statistics as common prerequisites.
Is the PCAT still required for pharmacy school?
No. The PCAT was retired on January 10, 2024, and AACP says no test dates will be offered from the 2024-2025 cycle on. You can still self-report an old score in PharmCAS.
What GPA do you need for pharmacy school?
Each school sets its own bar. Of the 10 schools above, minimum overall GPAs run from 2.5 at Kentucky to 3.0 at Pittsburgh and USC. Florida, Minnesota and UW-Madison set no overall minimum, and Michigan lists none. UW-Madison's last class averaged 3.6.
Do you need a bachelor's degree to get into pharmacy school?
Usually not. PharmCAS says PharmD programs need at least two years of specific college study. Ohio State and USC require a bachelor's degree, while Michigan, Pittsburgh, Utah, UW-Madison and Maryland do not.
How many letters of recommendation do pharmacy schools want?
Two or three at the 10 schools above. PharmCAS accepts up to four. Ohio State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and USC ask for three, and Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, UW-Madison and Maryland ask for two.
Do pharmacy schools require shadowing?
Usually not. Seven of the 10 schools above list pharmacy observation hours as recommended but not required in their PharmCAS entries, and Minnesota, USC and UW-Madison don't require them. Pharmacy or patient care experience still helps.