PCAT Test

The Pharmacy College Admission Test, or PCAT, is the preferred admission test to Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programs by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). It is generally required as adjunct to admission to colleges of pharmacy in the United States, plus some in Canada. The test measures general academic ability but it also has a heavy emphasis on specific scientific knowledge. Typically a potential candidate would take the PCAT toward the end of their second year of college because, although pharmacy program requirements vary by school, most require at least 2 years of undergraduate school followed by either 4 academic or 3 calendar years of pharmacy study.

The PCAT is administered as a paper test about 3 times a year at a variety of centers in the U. S. and Canada. The test is about 4 ½ hours long with breaks on a Saturday morning; however, if there is a large group of applicants your test could be in the afternoon or on Sunday.

PCAT Practice Tests

PCAT Test Information

PCAT Test Study Guide

PCAT Exam Flashcards

Candidates are notified online about acceptance, including printing out a Final Admissions Ticket to the test site 10 days prior to the test. You need to bring No. 2 pencils and two forms of ID to the PCAT, including one form of identification with a signature and picture on it. You may request a No Score option at that time, but you will not receive your scores if this option is selected. Scores and transcripts are sent by mail about 4 to 5 weeks after test completion. Official Transcripts contain all scores from the last 5 years.

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