Content, costs, and characteristics of United States prepharmacy curricula

Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine pharmacy prerequisites and estimate the costs prospective students may incur to complete those requirements. Methods: Prepharmacy requirements for doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs in the United States (US) (n = 137) were sourced from school websites in 2018. Credit hour costs for community colleges, public four-year institutions, and private four-year institutions were collected. Chi-square and independent t-tests compared group differences. Results: Schools required 66.12 +/- 8.15 prerequisite credit hours (range 41 to 91 hours). All schools required one course in general chemistry and organic chemistry. A higher proportion of schools in 2018 required anatomy/physiology and statistics when compared to 2009. Estimated costs to complete prerequisites ranged from US $16,359 at a community college to US $187,800 for a bachelor's degree at a private institution. Conclusions: Trends in healthcare and education make it timely for schools to reconsider prerequisites. Renewed consideration should be given to identifying what is core to the profession and the minimum competencies students must demonstrate for entry into PharmD programs.