Pharmaceutical engineers design and operate research facilities and manufacturing plants that produce drugs. They are responsible for producing a safe product while adhering to regulations and ensuring the safety of workers. An undergraduate degree in chemical or mechanical engineering is typically the minimum requirement to become a pharmaceutical engineer. Experienced pharmaceutical engineers are able to work in a variety of fields including research and development, production, management, sales and education.

The first step to become a pharmaceutical engineer typically is to enroll in an engineering program at a college or university, as employers often give more consideration to candidates who have a background in chemical or mechanical engineering. Once you have completed a bachelor's degree in engineering, you may increase your chances of getting a job by going on to earn a master's degree in pharmaceutical engineering. Candidates with a master's degree in pharmaceutical engineering may have a better chance at landing interviews with potential employers.

Master's programs typically accept students who have an outstanding undergraduate record. Usually, a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in chemical or mechanical engineering is required, along with high scores on admissions tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the US. Students graduating from other science majors may also be considered if they complete the standard pre-requisite courses required for the pharmaceutical engineering program. These courses cover topics such as differential equations; business math and statistics; thermodynamics; chemical kinetics; and heat transfer and mass transfer.

The Master of Science program in pharmaceutical engineering provides in-depth training for those who want to become a pharmaceutical engineer. To become an expert in a specialized field within pharmaceutical engineering, specific education and training are required. Some areas of study include pharmaceutical processing and manufacturing; validation and regulation; reaction engineering; drug metabolism, delivery and discovery; and instrumental analysis.

Master's programs generally have two tracks: drug substance manufacturing and drug product manufacturing. The drug substance manufacturing track focuses on the chemical reactions and separation processes used to manufacture the active ingredients of a drug. The drug product manufacturing track focuses on the processes required to produce the final drug product. To successfully complete a master's program and become a pharmaceutical engineer, 30 completed credit hours with a high cumulative GPA are typically required.

A good education may get you an interview, but a certification of competency from the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) may help improve your chances of getting a job offer. The ISPE awards the Certified Pharmaceutical Industry Professional (CPIP) certification to individuals who demonstrate technical knowledge, leadership skills, professionalism, innovation and vision. All these characteristics are necessary to become a pharmaceutical engineer.