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Health Professions COVID-19 Related Links and Information
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At this time, all of our schools and colleges of optometry are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Each institution is following their state's recommendations and individual protocols regarding this threat.

LINKS:

  • OAT EXAM: All Prometric testing centers where the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Exam is given are closed in the US and Canada. Candidates may continue to schedule appointments. Prometric will be monitoring the situation closely, and will provide updates accordingly. More information can be found at https://www.ada.org/en/oat
  • OPTOMCAS: OptomCAS plans to continue to process your application without any interruption. Additional information for applicants can be found at https://help.liaisonedu.com/COVID-19
  • DEADLINES: Many optometry schools/colleges have made changes to their application requirements and deadlines in light of current circumstances. For specific details about any changes in deadlines or application requirements, please see the web page for the individual schools/colleges. For questions about decisions, delay in standardized exam scores, transcripts, etc., please contact the optometry school/college directly.

On behalf of AACP, we hope you are doing well and would like to share a few updates to assist you and your pre-pharmacy students in navigating the recent changes to PharmCAS and the pharmacy admission processes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Please contact us with questions at cas@aacp.org.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PHARMACY ADMISSIONS
AACP is currently collecting data from colleges and schools of pharmacy about the impact of COVID-19 on admission policies, including pass/fail coursework. The results will be available by mid-April. Since these policies may change over time, please reach out to pharmacy schools directly with any questions.

NEW 2019-2020 DATES FOR PharmCAS
PharmCAS has modified its 2019-2020 cycle dates to better accommodate applicants and schools during the crisis. 

  • July 1: Final regular application deadline option for schools*
  • July 1: Last day for applicants to create a new PharmCAS account
  • July 7: Document submission deadline for 2019-2020 (with the exception of PCAT scores)
  • July 10: Application and Spring Academic Update close for 2019-2020
  • September 1: Final date PharmCAS will match PCAT scores to applicants in 2019-2020

*Some schools may opt to move to a July 1, 2020 deadline for the 2019-2020 cycle. Please visit the PharmCAS School Directory in mid-April and throughout the cycle for the latest school deadlines. If your students are interested in applying to a program, but will have difficulty meeting the application deadline for any reason, they should contact the pharmacy school directly to request a deadline extension.

UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS – COMING IN MAY
By mid-May, PharmCAS will begin accepting unofficial (student-issued) transcripts from applicants in the current 2019-2020 cycle who are unable to obtain official transcripts due to campus closures and delays in the registrar's office. Applicants must NOT submit unofficial transcripts to PharmCAS at this time and are encouraged to arrange for official transcripts (electronic or paper) to be sent to PharmCAS, if available. More information will be shared, once available.

PCAT
Pearson has suspended test delivery at all U.S. and Canada-based Pearson VUE-owned test centers until at least April 16. As a result, the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) testing dates on April 2 and 3, 2020 were cancelled. If a student was planning to take the April 2020 PCAT, they are advised to contact their designated schools that require the PCAT for admission for guidance. PharmCAS will be able to match July 2020 PCAT scores to applicant files in both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 cycles, based on the applicant's account. PharmCAS applicants should continue to send official PCAT scores to School Code 104.

ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PHARMACISTS IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS
Pharmacists are on the front lines of the current pandemic. To learn more about their important roles in health care and the community, please see the Pharm4Me Blog and the Pharmacists for Healthier Lives Facebook page.

LINKS:

  • Please visit the PharmCAS COVID-19 web page for the latest information for applicants. Go to www.pharmcas.org/covid-19. 
  • PHARMACY SCHOOL VIRTUAL FAIR – 9/30
    Save the date! The annual AACP Pharmacy School Virtual Fair is scheduled on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 (10:00 am-7:00 pm EST). AACP is also exploring other digital recruitment events for the spring and summer months. Stay tuned! In the meantime, please visit the Pharm4Me events calendar for online programs offered by colleges and schools of pharmacy. https://pharmacyforme.org/events/list/

The AACPM, and the nine colleges of podiatric medicine it represents, recognize the extraordinary situation current and future students are experiencing during the COVID19 pandemic. If you have found that your previous pathway to a physician discipline has been disrupted during this extraordinary COVID19 pandemic, we wish to reassure you that your new pathway will be recognized and honored as “special circumstances beyond your control.” We are taking action to offer current and future applicants the appropriate accommodations to alleviate fears and concerns during this application cycle. We are all in this together.

The AACPM is suspending, in part, its current Traffic Rules to mitigate requirements for the following:

  • Official MCAT. The colleges have agreed to temporarily waive Item II.5 of the AACPMAS Traffic Rules for the remainder of the application cycle, which states "Schools and colleges will not take final admissions action, including a request for deposit or a matriculation agreement, prior to the receipt of an official MCAT (or DAT) standardized test score. An official score is accepted only through the AACPMAS program."

If your spring MCAT (or DAT) has been cancelled, this means the school or college now has the prerogative to modify testing requirements for you. Each school or college will provide you with their specific modifications. Additionally, the AACPM and its colleges of podiatric medicine wish to confirm the following:

  • 1. Acceptance of online and/or distance learning prerequisites: all schools and colleges will accept Spring 2020 prerequisites that are delivered via online or distance learning.
  • 2. Courses taken as Pass/No Pass: all schools and colleges will accept Spring 2020 prerequisites that are graded Pass/No Pass
  • 3. In-person Interviews: Interviews may now be conducted via video-conference technology or other acceptable means.

While the AACPM is a resource for you during the application process, we do encourage you to reach out to the schools and colleges of podiatric medicines’ offices of admissions for additional guidance on starting or completing an application. Contact information for each college can be found here: https://www.aacpm.org/colleges/.