Doctor of Pharmacy

Vaccination, Certification & Licensure Requirements

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences > Doctor of Pharmacy > Experiential Education > Vaccination, Certification & Licensure Requirements

WSU Health Sciences requires specific vaccinations as part of the program to be able to engage in patient care activities, including required clinical rotations. The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences utilizes CastleBranch to track the vaccination, certification and licensure requirements for the Doctor of Pharmacy program so all students can safely engage in patient care activities.

Please reach out to the Office of Experiential Services with any questions about the PharmD requirements listed below.

Verifying & Tracking Requirements

Incoming students will receive instructions on how to register with CastleBranch (where the documentation will be uploaded) prior to their first fall semester in the program. Instructions to create a CastleBranch account, as well as notifications about upcoming requirements, are sent via email.

Below you will find a description of each vaccination, certification and licensure requirement, as well as what documentation will be acceptable. Additional annual paperwork, not listed here, will also be tracked through CastleBranch. That paperwork and applicable deadlines will be listed in students’ CastleBranch accounts.

How it Works

  • First, you upload documentation of required items to your CastleBranch account for verification.
  • Then, CastleBranch will review documentation and validate or decline the documentation.
  • If it’s declined, you will be informed why so you can resolve the issue and resubmit.

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Vaccinations, Certification & Licensure Due Dates*

*These are initial due dates, the first year of your pharmacy education. Please see below for full details and any applicable renewals.

Vaccinations & Immunity Tests

Vaccination documentation can take time to find, so get started verifying your vaccinations early. Please be aware when starting an immunization series that some series take months to complete.

Documentation Must Include

  • Student’s name
  • Date administered or date of results
  • Facility/lab name and/or provider name

Acceptable Documentation for Vaccination and Immunity Tests (Titers) Includes:

  • State immunization records
  • Pharmacy documentation
  • Immunization summary (must include the date and facility name OR physician signature, OR facility stamp)
  • Military documentation
  • Lab report with facility name
  • Titer lab results must include numerical lab results indicating immunity status

Quick Tip

If you are not sure where to find your vaccination history, a good place to start is with your primary care provider or a local/state immunization registry. Keep in mind that many of these are childhood vaccinations that you likely have completed already and will need to contact your current or childhood Primary Care Provider for your records.

More Tips for Finding Your Vaccination Records

HepB Titer

Due September 15 of first fall term.

Titer results for Hepatitis B are also required to prove immunity to HepB. Results must show students are immune for this requirement to be complete.

If you have not had the HepB vaccine series, you will need to complete it then wait at least 1 month before getting a titer. Most individuals get the HepB vaccination series in childhood to build immunity. If you need to start the HepB series before getting a titer, or have a negative/equivocal titer result, notify Experiential Services so we are aware and can work with you on the timeline.

Required Documentation:

Positive antibody to HepB surface antibody (Anti-HBs) titer indicating immunity (lab report or physician verification of results required). Titer results must include numerical results indicating immunity. Negative or equivocal results will require further action. Non-responders will be required to submit a doctor’s note verifying this.

Acceptable Titer Type:
  • Anti-HBs (surface antibody) titer
Unacceptable Titer Types:
  • HepB surface antigen (HBsAg)
  • Antibody to HepB core antigen (Anti-HBc)
  • IgM Antibody subclass of anti-HBc (IgM anti-HBc)
  • Heptatis B “e” antigen (HBeAg)

MMR

Due October 1 of first fall term.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccination is a 2-dose series of live MMR, received on or after the first birthday, separated by 28 days of more. In lieu of the vaccination documentation, students may show proof of immunity with a titer.

Required Documentation

Submit either 2 vaccinations OR Positive antibody titer indicating immunity (lab report or physician verification of results required).

Note: If submitting titer results it must also include the numerical lab result indicating immunity.

Tdap

Due October 1 of first fall term.

This vaccination is for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap).

Required Documentation

Submit ONE of the following:

  • A Tdap vaccine administered within the past 10 years
  • A Tdap vaccine administered (within student’s lifetime) AND then a Td booster administered within the past 10 years.

COVID-19

Due October 1 of first fall term.

There are several acceptable COVID-19 vaccinations available, including 2-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna) options and one 1-dose option (J & J Janssen Biotech). The Pfizer 2-dose series requires at least 21 days apart between doses, and the Moderna 2-dose series requires at least 28 days between doses.

Required Documentation

Submit documentation of each vaccine dose, the date given, vaccine manufacturer, student name and lot number for approval.

Varicella

Due October 1 of first fall term.

The varicella vaccine is more commonly known as the chicken pox vaccination. This is a 2-dose series, doses separated by 4-8 weeks. In lieu of the vaccination documentation students may show proof of immunity with a titer.

Required Documentation

Submit either 2 vaccinations OR Positive antibody titer indicating immunity (lab report or physician verification of results required).

Note: If submitting titer results it must also include the numerical lab result indicating immunity.

Flu

Due October 1 of first fall term.

Influenza (Flu): This is required starting the fall of your first term, and annually thereafter.

There is no cost for your flu vaccination if you use your student Health Fee at specified partner.
Yakima Coverage
Spokane Coverage

Required Documentation

Submit documentation of a flu vaccine administered during the current flu season (August-March) for that year. The documentation must include the name of the facility where it was administered.

TB

Due second semester (spring) of first year, and annually thereafter. Do not complete any earlier.

Tuberculosis (TB) testing to ensure students do not have active or latent TB. Students will receive more information about this during the first year of the program from Experiential Services.

There is no cost for your TB testing if you use your student Health Fee at specified partner.
Yakima Coverage
Spokane Coverage

Required Documentation

  • Initially, submit either IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON or T-Spot) OR 2-Step skin test (requires 4 appointments).
  • Annually thereafter, submit either IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON or T-Spot) OR 1-Step skin test (requires 2 appointments).

Certifications & Licensing

*These items must be renewed annually without any lapse.
**Costs listed are subject to change.

Students will receive more information on how to register through CastleBranch for OSHA and HIPAA trainings from Experiential Services in August.

CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support

Due October 1 of first fall term. Renewed* two years thereafter.

American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS), for healthcare providers, CPR certification is required.

It is strongly recommended to complete this prior to coming to campus. However, there are training facilities near the Spokane campus. The Yakima campus typically arranges a training that students can sign up for within the first few weeks of classes.

Note: there is a fee required.

Required Documentation

The front AND back of the card must be submitted at the same time and the “Holder’s Signature” line on the back of the card must be signed.

Note: Only an American Heart Association BLS CPR (for healthcare providers) card will be accepted. Courses from other organizations that state they meet AHA guidelines do not meet the requirement.

Washington Intern License

Due September 15 of first fall term, valid for 2 years and renewed* on student’s birthday.

Students receive notification from the Office of Student Services regarding when they can apply for this. At a minimum, the application requires personal information and a fingerprinting/background check.

Learn about current requirements or apply

Note: there is a fee required.

Required Documentation

Submit either a scanned copy of current WA Pharmacy Intern License OR a screenshot of license verification from the state website.

Documentation must include student’s name, license number and date of expiration.

eLearning OSHA & HIPAA Training

Due September 15 of first fall term and annually thereafter.
Annual eLearning modules are required. This will include Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training. This training includes modules for bloodborne pathogens, exposure plans, patient and workplace safety, mitigating workplace injury and more.

Note: Only the training provided through CastleBranch will be acceptable annually. Wait for instructions from Experiential Services.

Required Documentation

Once the training is completed students must upload all of the Certificates of Completion to their CastleBranch trackers.

Professional Liability Insurance

Due September 15 of first fall term and annually* thereafter.
Annual Cost: $15**

Professional liability insurance, or malpractice insurance, is negotiated by WSU for Health Sciences students each year. Students can choose to find alternate coverage, but it must meet certain thresholds. If alternate coverage is chosen please inquire with Experiential Services before purchase.

Information on how to purchase Professional Liability Insurance will be available within CastleBranch.

Required Documentation

Payment receipt or certificate of insurance is required that includes the students name, date of purchase, and for external insurance policies the limits of coverage. Students will upload this to CastleBranch.

National Background Check

All students are required to have a national background check as part of the PharmCAS application process. It is also required annually* each spring while in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

An annual national background check is required for admissions into the Doctor of Pharmacy program; as well as annually thereafter.

  • PharmCAS admissions background check (via Certiphi): $72.70**
  • First-fourth year spring background checks are required via CastleBranch: costs are included in college fees

Students will receive more information from Experiential Services about how to purchase this each spring through CastleBranch (CB).

Required Documentation

  • PharmCAS Admissions Background Check: Only the background check initiated through PharmCAS and run through Certiphi is acceptable.
  • WSU Required Annual Background Check: Only the CastleBranch background check is acceptable.