Distance Education Pathway
Four-year Online Distance Education Pathway
Earn your PharmD degree in four years through our online distance education pathway.
The LECOM School of Pharmacy Distance Education Pathway is a comprehensive, four-year, online Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program designed for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents (F1 Visa Holders are not eligible ). This program provides full access to LECOM faculty, resources, and support ensuring a high-quality educational experience.
The curriculum begins with an introduction to the pharmacy profession and foundational biomedical and pharmaceutics sciences. Students will then progress through a system-based curriculum that incorporates pharmacotherapeutics and clinical exposure starting in the first year. This framework ensures a solid preparation in clinical sciences throughout the didactic period and prepares students for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) during their fourth year. The APPE year includes six rotations, each lasting six weeks, in both community and clinical settings.
A majority of the pathway is delivered online using advanced synchronous and asynchronous technologies, allowing students to learn from home within the United States (note: studying outside the U.S. is not permitted). Students are required to attend the Erie, PA or Bradenton, FL campus for one to two weeks at the end of the second semester in the first two years to complete laboratory work, case studies, patient counseling sessions, and presentations.
Tuition and financial aid information, including application instructions, can be found under the Tuition & Financial Aid section. Please note that an additional technology fee applies for virtual proctoring services used for exams. See tuition and fees for the current amount.
Graduates of the Pharm.D. program have numerous career opportunities. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, government agencies, hospice and home health care, independent practices, long-term care facilities, consulting, managed care, medical publishing, the pharmaceutical industry, and academia. With a national shortage of pharmacists projected, job availability in these files is expected to remain strong, and starting salaries are well above the national average.
The LECOM School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and launched Distance Education Pathway in 2014. For questions about the admissions process, please contact pharmacy@lecom.edu.
Distance Education Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students
Notification of Professional Licensure
Please note that the Pharm.D. degree earned through the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Pharmacy Pathways, including the Distance Education Pathway, meets the educational requirements for obtaining a pharmacy license in all U.S. states. Earning the Pharm.D. degree is one step in the state licensure process. LECOM Pharmacy graduates are eligible to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), which must be passed to practice pharmacy in the U.S. Additionally, most states require candidates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which assesses knowledge of federal and state laws. For specific licensing requirements, candidates should consult the licensing board in the state where they plan to practice.