Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening Policy

Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy

A criminal background check and drug screen is required of all students offered admission to the FCOP. Admission to the FCOP is contingent upon results of these evaluations. When applicable, an international background check may be required. A review committee, led by the FCOP Office of Student Affairs, reviews positive results from criminal background check and/or drug screens and make a determination on a case-by-case basis.

During the Pharm.D. curriculum, background checks and drug screens will be repeated annually. Background checks and/or drug screens may be required randomly at any time during the program. The committee will review positive results from criminal background check and/or drug screens and make a determination on a case-by-case basis.

Enrolled students, as part of the obligations of being a licensed pharmacy intern/intern trainee, are required to disclose any criminal convictions and deferred adjudication community supervisions or deferred dispositions to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Matriculated students are also required to report these events and arrests that may affect licensure to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs and FCOP Office of Experiential Education within 10 calendar days (misdemeanors) and 2 calendar days (felonies) of the event. Traffic violations do not need to be reported unless related to criminal behavior, substance use, and/or alcohol use.

Admission to the FCOP may be denied and matriculated students may receive sanctions (up to and including dismissal from the program) based on the results of the criminal background checks and/or drug screen. Examples of reasons for denial, sanctions, and/or dismissal include, but are not limited to: 1) positive criminal background check would affect the ability to become licensed, 2) failure to report criminal convictions/deferred adjudication/deferred dispositions to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy or the FCOP Office of Student Affairs and Experiential Education, or 3) positive drug screen. Failure to disclose a criminal offense or failure to disclose an offense in the timeframe indicated may be considered an Honor Code Violation and/or may delay or prevent participation in the experiential curriculum.

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy provides further information on criminal background checks and substance use. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) provides information regarding felony convictions and the ability to become licenses in a specific state.