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  4. Scientific Internships, Fellowships / Trainees and Non-U.S. Citizens
  5. FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program
  6. Information for Placed Students
  1. FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program

Information for Placed Students

FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program (PSEP)

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for participation in the FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program (PSEP), students must meet the following criteria:

  1. U.S. citizenship.
  2. Enrollment in an ACPE-accredited pharmacy school program.
  3. Eligibility to begin Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations, adhering to any requirements specified by their pharmacy school.

Due to HSPD-12 requirements for issuance of a PIV identification card, students selected for placement with certain PSEP rotation sites must be able to successfully pass a Tier 1 background investigation. These students should expect to have fingerprints taken and submitted, as well as answer questions about where they have lived, worked, gone to school, and any military history or police records. PSEP students must be U.S. citizens and have maintained residence in the United States for at least 3 of the past 5 years.

Students are strictly prohibited from releasing, publishing, or disclosing non-public information, specifically any confidential commercial or trade secret information obtained while serving as an FDA student.

For a comprehensive and detailed list of all requirements, please refer to the Manual of Policies and Procedures (MAPP) 4410.1 – FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program.

Rotation Forms

As directed by their preceptor or other FDA representative, placed students should complete and submit all required forms in a timely manner.

The following forms are required for ALL rotations:

  • Pharmacy Student Volunteer Service Agreement (SVSA)
  • Commitment to Protect Confidential and Privileged Information

The following forms may also be required for specific rotations:

Coming on Rotation at FDA

Compensation

FDA PSEP is part of the CDER Student Volunteer Service Program (SVSP). While training opportunities through SVSP are unpaid, participating in PSEP allows students to earn academic credit hours required for their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

Housing

During PSEP rotations, participants are responsible for arranging their own housing. The FDA does not offer housing or a housing stipend for students. Alumni from a participant’s pharmacy school as well as FDA preceptors may be able to help answer questions and should be contacted directly by participants looking for housing.

Parking and Transportation

The majority of in-person and hybrid rotations take place at the main FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. Parking at this location is free but may be limited.

For convenience, FDA provides a shuttle bus service between nearby Metro stations and certain FDA facilities, including transportation around the White Oak campus. In addition, various transportation options such as public buses, ridesharing, and taxis are generally accessible. For more information, please refer to our Ground Transportation webpage.

Additional FDA facilities exist in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, as well as FDA field offices located throughout the country. Free parking is not guaranteed at these other locations. A privately owned vehicle may be advantageous for rotations at these locations.

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