WSR 26-15-108 (26-15)

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Accreditation of schools or colleges of pharmacy. The pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-945-155, 246-945-162, and 246-945-163; and adding a new section in chapter 246-945 WAC, if necessary, to codify the commission's recognized accreditation body for schools or colleges of pharmacy.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.64.080 (1)(c) establishes that the commission has the authority to accredit schools or colleges of pharmacy. The commission previously determined that the Accreditation Standards and Key Elements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree published by Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) meet the accreditation standards for schools or colleges of pharmacy. In order to convey this, the commission published the policy statement Accreditation of Schools or Colleges of Pharmacy, which was initially published in 2006, reaffirmed in 2020, and most recently updated in June 2025. This policy statement states that the commission recognizes schools or colleges of pharmacy that are accredited by the ACPE and that meet ACPE's Accreditation Standards and Key Elements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree.

At the February 5, 2026, meeting, the commission determined that this long-standing policy statement would be better addressed in rule. WAC 246-945-155 Pharmacy interns—Registration requirements, 246-945-162 Pharmacist license qualifications, and 246-945-163 Certification of internship hours, mention "commission accredited school or college of pharmacy." To codify the policy statement, the commission is considering amending these sections of WAC, or potentially adding a new section, to convey that schools or colleges of pharmacy must be accredited by ACPE to be considered accredited by the commission.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Haleigh Mauldin, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-890-0720, TTY 711, email PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The commission will conduct a series of rules workshops. Rule-making notices will be delivered via email. To receive notices, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then click again on "Pharmacy Commission Newsletter." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions or facilities listed to receive information related to that specific topic.