What Is a Good PCAT Score?

The Short Answer: There Is No Current PCAT Score

If you are asking what a good PCAT score is, the most important fact comes first: the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) was retired on January 10, 2024, and is no longer administered. The final testing window ran in early January 2024, and no PCAT dates have been offered since. There is no longer a score to earn, and US PharmD programs do not require one.

If you have landed here from an older guide telling you to register for the PCAT, disregard it. The pharmacy admissions landscape has changed, and your energy belongs elsewhere.

Why the PCAT Was Discontinued

The retirement was the end of a long decline rather than a sudden decision. Over the previous decade, pharmacy applications fell sharply, and a growing share of programs dropped the PCAT requirement and moved toward holistic review. With fewer schools requiring the test and fewer students sitting it, demand thinned to the point that the test was no longer viable. By the time it was retired, the PCAT was already optional or unused at most programs.

How to Read a Legacy PCAT Score (Historical Context)

For reference only — these scores are no longer requested — the PCAT used a 200–600 composite scale with a national average near 400, and section scores in Biology, Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. A composite above the 90th percentile (roughly 500+) was once competitive everywhere, while a score below the 40th percentile narrowed a school list. If you took the PCAT before retirement, assume programs will neither require nor consider it, and verify on each school's current admissions page.

What Pharmacy Schools Evaluate Now

With no admissions test, the rest of the file carries more weight. Programs focus on:

Cumulative and science (BCP) GPA: the strongest academic signal, with science grades often screened first because the curriculum is science-heavy.
Completed prerequisites: the specific coursework each program requires, with recent, strong grades mattering most.
Pharmacy or healthcare experience: hours that show you understand the profession you are entering.
Letters and interview: a recommendation from a pharmacist who knows your work, a focused personal statement, and the interview.

Our match algorithm reflects this shift: with the PCAT gone, GPA now carries the quantitative assessment. For specifics, see GPA and pharmacy school admissions and our overview of pharmacy school acceptance rates by GPA.

See where your GPA is actually competitive.

AdmitBase compares your GPA to enrolled students at US PharmD programs — so you know your real chances before you apply.

Get Started Free →

What to Do Instead of Studying for the PCAT

The hours you would have spent on test prep are better spent where they now count: lifting your science GPA, completing prerequisites with strong grades, accumulating meaningful pharmacy experience, and securing a strong letter. Then apply early in the PharmCAS cycle — because admissions are rolling, a complete early application competes against a smaller pool. The PCAT is gone; a focused, experience-rich application is what gets you in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the PCAT still required for pharmacy school?

No. The PCAT was retired on January 10, 2024 and is no longer offered. No US PharmD program requires it for current cycles, because the test is no longer administered. Admissions are now based on GPA, prerequisites, experience, letters, and interviews.

Why was the PCAT discontinued?

Pearson retired the PCAT due to declining use. Over the prior decade, a growing share of pharmacy programs dropped the requirement and applicant numbers fell, leaving too little demand to sustain the test. The pharmacy field had already shifted toward holistic, test-optional review.

What do pharmacy schools use now instead of the PCAT?

Cumulative and science (BCP) GPA, completed prerequisite coursework, pharmacy or healthcare experience hours, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and an interview. With no test to differentiate applicants, GPA and experience carry more weight than before.

I took the PCAT before it was retired — does my score still count?

Generally no. Programs have moved to test-free admissions, so an old PCAT score is typically neither required nor considered. Check each school's current admissions page, but assume your application will be evaluated without it.