Earn Your PharmD Degree in Four Years Through Innovative Distance Education
For aspiring pharmacists seeking a flexible and accessible route to a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, LECOM School of Pharmacy’s Distance Education Pathway offers a comprehensive four-year online program. Designed specifically for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, this pathway eliminates the barrier of Doctor Distance, bringing a high-quality pharmacy education directly to your home. LECOM provides full access to its esteemed faculty, extensive resources, and robust support system, ensuring a rich and engaging learning experience regardless of your location within the United States.
The curriculum is meticulously structured to build a strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences. Beginning with an introduction to the pharmacy profession and core biomedical principles, the program seamlessly progresses into a system-based approach. This innovative framework integrates pharmacotherapeutics and early clinical exposure right from the first year, providing students with practical, real-world context alongside theoretical knowledge. This strategic approach ensures that graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) in their final year. The APPE year is a crucial component, featuring six intensive six-week rotations across diverse community and clinical pharmacy settings, solidifying practical skills and professional experience.
Leveraging cutting-edge synchronous and asynchronous online learning technologies, the majority of the program is delivered virtually. This allows students to study conveniently from anywhere within the United States, effectively bridging the doctor distance gap. While the program is primarily online, recognizing the importance of hands-on learning, students are required to attend brief on-campus sessions at either the Erie, PA or Bradenton, FL campus. These one to two-week residencies, scheduled at the end of the second semester in the first two years, are dedicated to essential laboratory work, in-depth case study analyses, practical patient counseling sessions, and engaging presentations.
Understanding the financial aspects of higher education, detailed tuition and financial aid information, including a streamlined application process, is readily available in the Tuition & Financial Aid section. It’s important to note a technology fee applies to cover the costs of virtual proctoring services, ensuring exam integrity in the online environment. See tuition and fees for the current amount.
Graduating from the LECOM Pharm.D. program opens doors to a wide spectrum of rewarding career paths. Pharmacists are vital healthcare professionals employed in diverse settings, from community and hospital pharmacies to government agencies, hospice care, independent practices, long-term care facilities, and beyond. Opportunities also extend into consulting, managed care, medical publishing, the pharmaceutical industry, and academia. With a projected national shortage of pharmacists, career prospects in these fields are exceptionally promising, with starting salaries significantly exceeding the national average, making the investment in your pharmacy education a sound decision to overcome any doctor distance in your career aspirations.
The LECOM School of Pharmacy holds prestigious accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), affirming the program’s commitment to excellence. The Distance Education Pathway, a pioneering initiative launched in 2014, reflects LECOM’s dedication to innovative and accessible pharmacy education. For any inquiries regarding the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
Distance Education Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students
Please click here for information regarding LECOM participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.
Notification of Professional Licensure
The Pharm.D. degree conferred by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Pharmacy Pathways, including the Distance Education Pathway, comprehensively fulfills the educational prerequisites for pharmacy licensure across all U.S. states. Earning this degree is a critical step towards state licensure, enabling graduates to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Successful completion of the NAPLEX is mandatory for practicing pharmacy in the U.S. Furthermore, most states require candidates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), evaluating their understanding of federal and state pharmacy laws. Prospective pharmacists are advised to consult the specific licensing board in their intended state of practice for detailed and up-to-date requirements.
