Are you looking for information on how to become a pharmacist? We’ve researched the latest requirements and education needed and simplified the information to make it easy for you to understand. Continue reading to learn more about how to become a pharmacist.
Skills Needed
A pharmacist is a doctor who is knowledgeable on prescription and over-the-counter drugs. He/She may dispense medications, oversee the accuracy of prescriptions being filled, advise patients about prescriptions they may be taking, order pharmacy supplies, keep files and records about medications and patients and oversee pharmacy staff. In order to become a pharmacist, you will need to be able to do all of these things as well as have knowledge of math, science, and be able to work well with people.
Education Needed
In order to become a pharmacist, you will need many years of formal education as well as the skills listed above. An advanced degree is required to become a pharmacist, which usually takes about six years to complete. During your formal education, you will learn the composition of drugs chemical and physical properties of drugs, how drugs are manufactures and used, regulations regarding prescription drugs, and how health care systems are organized. A large portion of classes will deal with organic chemistry and biology.
To become a pharmacist, you will need to begin by taking 2-3 years of pre-requisite classes. Your course load during this time should focus on math and science. Contact the pharmacy school you’d like to attend to find out their specific requirements on pre-requisite classes. If you already have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, your pre-requisite requirements may already be met. Many pharmacy schools offer a pre-pharmacy program if you have no previous college credit.
After you’ve completed your pre-requisite classes, you will attend an accredited college of pharmacy. Before applying, you will take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test, or PCAT. You can apply for multiple schools through PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Services) at www.pharmcas.org. After applying, you will most likely need to interview with specific schools as part of the application process. The ACPE, or Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, oversees pharmacy colleges. To find an accredited school in your state, visit www.uspharmd.com/school or www.acpe-accredit.org. Once you enter a college of pharmacy, you will spend the next four years working toward a PharmD degree. You might also work toward a PhD, depending on the type of pharmacist you intend to be and program you go through.
Licensure and Exams
To become a pharmacist, a license is required from an accredited school of pharmacy. You will also need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam, also called the NAPLEX. Excluding Arkansas, California, and U.S. Territories, all states require a person to take a Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests knowledge of laws and regulations regarding pharmacies and prescription drugs in addition to the NAPLEX.
Other Information
As a pharmacist, you might also want to specialize in a specific area of drug therapy, such as oncology or psychiatry. A typical pharmacist works 40-48 hours/week and earns between $70,000 and $130,000 per year. Pharmacist was rated as #23 in Best Jobs for the 21st Century, by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin. For more information on how to become a pharmacist, check out our other posts.