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The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Endorses
Kaplan Test Prep as its Official PCAT Prep Provider
As AACP Launches its Foundations of the Future Pharmacist Program, the
Partnership Will Expand Access to Preparing for the Pharmacy School
Admissions Exam
New York, NY (October 16, 2013) - The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the
national organization representing pharmacy education in the United States, announced
today that Kaplan Test Prep is its official test prep provider for the Pharmacy College
Admissions Test (PCAT), required for admission by over 75% of U.S. pharmacy schools. The
announcement comes in conjunction with the launch of the Kaplan Test Prep and AACP cosponsored Foundations of the Future Pharmacist Program, which seeks to make PCAT prep
more accessible to all students. As part of this program, Kaplan will significantly reduce
tuition for its PCAT prep programs (on site; online On Demand; and live, online Classroom
Anywhere), offering more tuition assistance, and giving 250 scholarships to AACP to award
at its own discretion.
A critical piece of the pharmacy school admissions process, the PCAT is scored on a scale
from 200-600 with the median being a 400. The 90th percentile is typically a 430. Many
pharmacy schools require that applicants score above a particular level on the exam in
order to be considered as a candidate for admissions.
“We applaud AACP in its efforts to enable more individuals to enter a field with promising
career opportunities, and are pleased to support this goal by providing greater access to
PCAT prep for pre-pharmacy students,” said Amjed Saffarini, Vice President of Graduate
Programs, Kaplan Test Prep.
Saffarini noted that studies of PCAT scores and pharmacy school GPA show a correlation
between success on the PCAT and success in pharmacy school. Members of AACP believe
that students who prepare for the PCAT are more likely to succeed in pharmacy school as
well.
With a low 3.1% unemployment rate (less than half the national average) and a median
annual salary of nearly $115,000, pharmacist is currently ranked as the third best job in the
United States, according to the 2013 U.S. News & World Report Best Jobs ranking -- just
behind dentist and registered nurse.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects pharmacist positions to increase 25% between
2010 and 2020, from 274,000 to 345,000. Advances in healthcare and technology, coupled
with great career opportunities, make now an ideal time to pursue pharmacy school, for
those with the interest and drive for it.
AACP CEO & EVP, Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., R.Ph., said, “AACP looks forward to working
with Kaplan to increase access to PCAT preparation for prospective students seeking careers in
pharmacy.” Dr. Maine also added, “This type of partnership assists us in meeting our strategic
goal of assisting our member institutions in attracting, motivating, developing and retaining the
highest quality and most diverse students.”
The initiative to make PCAT prep more accessible comes on the heels of a decline in the
number of exam takers. In the most recently recorded academic year (2012-2013), the
PCAT was administered 28,400 times to aspiring pharmacists , its lowest level in nearly a
decade. According to the Pharmacy Manpower Project, a shortfall of as many as 157,000
pharmacists is predicted by 2020, which, added with the projected physician shortage,
could have a sharply negative effect on patients and their access to healthcare.
About the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Founded in 1900, AACP is the national organization representing the interests of pharmacy
education. AACP is comprised of all accredited colleges and schools with pharmacy degree
programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, including more
than 6,500 faculty, 62,500 students enrolled in professional programs and 5,100
individuals pursuing graduate study. To learn more about AACP, visit www.aacp.org
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career
services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world
leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a
complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than
90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate
school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan
also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.