Building on the 2025 National Academies Pharmacy Workshop: Clarifying Foundational and Specialization Competencies in...

To synthesize available literature and guidance on competency expectations in PharmD education and to propose a practical framework that distinguishes foundational competencies required of all graduates from competencies best developed through structured specialization pathways.

Pharmacy practice is expanding across clinical, scientific, regulatory, public health, and technology-enabled roles, increasing pressure on PharmD curricula that are already densely packed. Reports and studies indicate that while foundational competencies are broadly endorsed, students' readiness to apply them in complex settings is variable. Programs can protect core clinical preparation while enabling intentional depth by using scalable, opt-in models such as longitudinal tracks, embedded capstones, and cross-sector partnerships, supported by advising and mentored practice.

Clarifying what must be achieved by all graduates versus what should be pursued through structured specialization can help mitigate curricular overload pressures, strengthen professional identity formation, and support a practice-ready and adaptable workforce. Thoughtful pathway design grounded in equity, accreditation requirements, and outcomes evaluation offers a feasible route to align PharmD training with the profession's evolving needs.