2025-2026 Academic Affairs Committee Report: Advancing Competency-Based Pharmacy Education and Academic Coaching

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic Affairs Committee (2025-2026) was charged with continuing to advance competency-based pharmacy education (CBPE) efforts. Specifically, the committee was asked to develop and pilot readiness-to-change instruments for faculty, administrators, preceptors, and learners, as well as to develop recommendations for the training and development of coaches in the context of CBPE. A national Delphi panel and stakeholder focus groups informed the development of the instruments. A scoping review focused on the training and development of coaches was completed. This report summarizes CBPE work to date and outlines practical recommendations and suggestions based on our findings and a thorough review of the published literature. Although the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is uniquely positioned to lead this conversation, offer faculty and staff development, and develop frameworks and guidance, individual institutions can make meaningful progress by assessing organizational and individual readiness, building programmatic assessment capacity, and developing effective coaches. Although agreement has not yet been fully achieved around CBPE language, concepts, or implementation, preparing the profession to adopt a coherent CBPE model capable of meeting the evolving needs of learners, practice, and society is necessary.