What is PCAB Accreditation?
The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) was established in 2007 by eight leading pharmacy organizations, including the American Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. It's now administered by ACHC (Accreditation Commission for Health Care).
PCAB accreditation is voluntary—no pharmacy is required to obtain it. This makes it a powerful differentiator: pharmacies that pursue PCAB accreditation are actively choosing to meet standards that go far beyond minimum legal requirements.
PCAB-Accredited Pharmacies Must:
- Comply with USP <795> standards for non-sterile compounding
- Comply with USP <797> standards for sterile compounding (like injectable GLP-1s)
- Comply with USP <800> for hazardous drug handling
- Source ingredients only from FDA-registered facilities
- Undergo on-site inspections by expert compounding pharmacist surveyors
- Maintain continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs
- Perform adequate potency and sterility testing
Why PCAB Matters for GLP-1 Medications
Injectable GLP-1 medications like compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are sterile preparations. This means they require the highest level of quality control to ensure they're free from contamination and contain the correct potency.
The Risks of Poor Compounding
- • Contamination leading to infections
- • Incorrect potency (5-20x dosing errors documented)
- • Sterility failures in injectable products
- • Inconsistent formulation between batches
- • 1,150+ adverse events reported for compounded GLP-1s
PCAB Standards Ensure
- • Environmental monitoring every 6+ months
- • Personnel training verification
- • Facility design standards
- • Third-party quality audits
- • Ingredient sourcing from FDA-registered facilities
While all compounding pharmacies must meet their state Board of Pharmacy requirements, PCAB accreditation represents a higher tier of quality assurance that significantly reduces the statistical probability of errors.
PCAB vs. State Licensure: What's the Difference?
| Aspect | State Licensure | PCAB Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Required? | Yes—mandatory to operate | No—voluntary pursuit of excellence |
| Standards | Varies by state | National USP standards |
| Inspections | State-conducted, variable frequency | Third-party expert surveyors, annual verification |
| Focus | Minimum legal compliance | Best practices, continuous improvement |
| Coverage | Thousands of pharmacies | Only ~68 pharmacies nationwide |
PCAB-Accredited Pharmacies in the GLP-1 Space
Several compounding pharmacies that work with GLP-1 telehealth providers hold PCAB accreditation:
Empower Pharmacy
Houston, TX — One of the largest PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacies
Town & Country Compounding
NJ/NY/PA/CT — Also holds ACHC and NABP accreditation
Harbor Compounding
California — Focus on sterile compounding
Olympia Pharmaceuticals
Orlando, FL — 503B outsourcing facility
Hallandale Pharmacy
Florida — Partners with multiple telehealth providers
Compounding Pharmacy of America
National service with PCAB sterile accreditation
When choosing a telehealth provider for compounded GLP-1s, ask which pharmacy they partner with and verify that pharmacy's accreditation status directly.
How to Verify PCAB Accreditation
Step-by-Step Verification
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1
Ask your provider which compounding pharmacy they use
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2
Visit the ACHC verification tool: achc.org/find-organizations
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3
Search by pharmacy name and verify they hold current PCAB accreditation
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4
Check accreditation type: For injectable GLP-1s, look for "Sterile Pharmacy Compounding" (CFST)
Warning: Some pharmacies display outdated PCAB seals or claim accreditation they don't hold. Always cross-reference with the official ACHC directory to confirm current status.
PCAB vs. LegitScript: Different Certifications
You'll often see both PCAB and LegitScript mentioned in the compounding space. They measure different things:
PCAB Accreditation
Focus: Physical compounding operations and product quality
- • Verifies sterile compounding processes
- • On-site inspections by pharmacist experts
- • USP compliance verification
- • Administered by nonprofit consortium
LegitScript Certification
Focus: Online/digital compliance and business legitimacy
- • Required for Google/Meta healthcare ads
- • Required by Visa/Mastercard for payment processing
- • Verifies licensure and legal compliance
- • Documentation review (not physical inspection)
The Ideal: For compounded GLP-1 medications, look for providers whose pharmacy has BOTH certifications—PCAB for physical compounding quality and LegitScript for legitimate online operations.
What PCAB Accreditation Doesn't Guarantee
PCAB accreditation is the highest standard, but it has limitations:
- Not FDA approval: Compounded medications, regardless of pharmacy accreditation, are not FDA-approved
- Not batch-specific: PCAB doesn't guarantee any specific batch of medication is defect-free
- Not cGMP: PCAB standards are based on USP guidelines, not the stricter cGMP requirements for 503B facilities
- Snapshot in time: Accreditation reflects compliance at time of survey; ongoing quality requires annual verification
That said, PCAB accreditation significantly reduces risk. These pharmacies have voluntarily submitted to the most rigorous third-party quality review available for compounding operations.
Key Takeaways
- 1. PCAB is the gold standard for compounding pharmacy quality—only ~68 pharmacies nationwide hold this designation
- 2. For injectable GLP-1 medications, PCAB's sterile compounding (USP <797>) standards are critical
- 3. Always verify accreditation at achc.org/find-organizations—don't trust website seals alone
- 4. Look for providers using BOTH PCAB-accredited pharmacies AND LegitScript certification for online operations
- 5. PCAB doesn't make compounded medications FDA-approved, but it significantly reduces quality risks
Compare Pharmacy Quality Across Providers
Our comparison includes pharmacy accreditations, certifications, and safety ratings for all major telehealth providers.
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