Pharmacy Program Accredited for On-Campus and New Distance Education Track

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) had its accreditation status continued for the maximum eight years by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The DKICP PharmD program, which was founded in 2007 and graduated its first class in 2011, is compliant in all 25 pharmacy education standards. “The successful accreditation outcome reflects the hard work and commitment of the faculty, staff and students in the DKICP. It validates the promise and quality of the innovations in the pharmacy program here in Hawaii,” says Dr. Rae Matsumoto, dean of the college.

In addition to the existing PharmD track which is offered on campus, the ACPE approved the launch of a new distance education track (PharmD-XO) featuring an extended online format with immersion experiences intended for working adults and/or those who are caregivers of loved ones which will begin in Spring 2026. The admissions criteria, contemporary curriculum, and graduation requirements are the same for both PharmD paths.

UH Hilo’s regional accreditor, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), also approved the new distance education PharmD track as an addition to the already accredited PharmD program. WASC commended the DKICP for the new distance track, and recognized that it serves students who cannot attend the traditional program on campus, and also pharmacy employers who want to retain valued employees while they pursue professional advancement by earning their PharmD degrees.

Applications are being accepted for both PharmD tracks, the traditional (PharmD) and extended online (PharmD-XO). Please email pharmacy@hawaii.edu for details and to schedule a time to talk with Jayden, our Admissions specialist.