Download the Accredited Degree Program Teach out Policy (8 pages, PDF)
When a provider decides to no longer offer an accredited program, the program enters a period of teach out. Teach out continues until there are no longer students enrolled in the program.
This document sets out what accredited providers need to know about how to teach out an accredited program.
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) accredits pharmacy programs against the Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Programs 2020 to ensure that program graduates have the knowledge and skills to commence an internship for practise in Australia. The Pharmacy Board of Australia (PharmBA) approves programs of study. Only graduates from a program that is APC accredited and PharmBA approved at the time of their graduation are eligible to register with PharmBA.
Pharmacy programs must meet ongoing APC accreditation and PharmBA approval requirements to remain accredited. This includes reporting submissions and cyclical reaccreditation.
Providers may decide to close an accredited program to new enrolments and teach out due to a variety of reasons. A program in teach out must continue to meet all of the APC/PharmBA requirements for accreditation/approval for the duration of program delivery, including during teach out.
The APC Accreditation Committee (AC) has oversight of all accredited programs and continues to have oversight while a program is being taught out. This is to ensure that the program(s) continue to meet the accreditation standards for the duration of teach out.
Where applicable, the AC will request reporting from the provider of a program in teach out via an Accreditation Outcome Notification (AON). Satisfactory and timely responses to required reporting for the duration of program teach out are an essential part of providing reassurance to the AC that the accreditation standards continue to be met.
Descriptions of required reporting and due dates will be communicated to the education provider via an AON.
When a provider intends to no longer deliver an accredited pharmacy program, they are required to submit a Notification of Change (NoC) to APC. This is managed in accordance with our NoC process.
As part of the NoC submission for the teach out of an accredited program, the provider is required to submit a teach out and/or transition plan which outlines the future plans for both the new (if applicable) and old programs. The requirements for a teach out/transition plan depend on which of the following scenarios applies to the provider (see section 5).
Program teach out plans (including duration of teach out) must align with relevant university-wide and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) policies relating to program delivery. If the accreditation of a program in teach out is due to expire prior to all students graduating from the program, the provider is required to apply for program reaccreditation via the usual APC process.
Providers are reminded that to be eligible for registration as a pharmacist with the PharmBA, students must complete a program that is APC-accredited and PharmBA-approved at the time of their graduation.
There are two different scenarios for the teach out of a program, depending on if the education provider intends to continue to deliver an accredited pharmacy program after teach out is complete.
The different scenarios require the inclusion of different evidence in their teach out plan.
Where a program will be taught out in conjunction with new program implementation and/or current program delivery, and the education provider intends to continue to deliver an accredited pharmacy program after the teach out.
There are multiple options for the teaching-out of an accredited program when a new/current program is being delivered as outlined below. All of these options require the submission of a teach out and/or transition plan.
Transfer all current students to the new/currently accredited program. The program in teach out is closed to new enrolments and teaching ceases at the time of student transition.
Transfer current students to the new/currently accredited program. Any students who are unable to be transferred to the new/current program due to the nature of the differences between the old and new/current curricula remain in the program in teach out. The program in teach out is closed to new enrolments immediately and teaching ceases when all students have completed the program (within the accreditation period and in line with university policies for the maximum duration of program teach out).
All new students enrol only in the new/current program. Already enrolled students remain in the program in teach out. The program in teach out is closed to new enrolments immediately and teaching ceases when all students have completed the program (within the accreditation period and in line with university policies for the maximum of program teach out).
The teach out/transition plan provided to APC must include:
Where an accredited program is closed to new enrolments without a new/current program being accredited and implemented by the provider, and pharmacy education will no longer be delivered by the provider.
The teach out/transition provided to APC must include: