What are the Requirements to Become a Pharmacist?
- Written By: K T Solis
- Edited By: Bronwyn Harris
- Last Modified Date: 04 April 2013
-
Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
In order to become a pharmacist, a person needs to graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy. She must also complete an internship by working with a licensed pharmacist. After she passes a state exam called the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), she can then obtain a pharmacist license.
Most aspiring pharmacists hold a bachelor's degree or have completed at least three years of college before applying to a pharmacy program. Pharmacy schools are accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. The majority of pharmacy colleges require that students who apply must have completed two years of pre-pharmacy college courses. Other requirements to enter a program include passing the Pharmacy College Admissions test (PCAT), a completed application form, and an interview conducted by the pharmacy school.
A Doctor of Pharmacy degree is a four-year professional degree that permits graduates to become pharmacists after receiving a license. This four year degree is in addition to two years in pre-pharmacy coursework. After earning the professional degree, a pharmacist can go on to pursue careers in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical health policy and management.
Pharmacists earn high salaries but often have to work on nights, weekends, and holidays. They distribute prescription drugs to patients and counsel patients on dosage, side effects, and purposes of the medicines that are distributed. A pharmacist usually works in a retail setting, hospital, nursing home, mental health facility, or clinic. Many pharmacists talk with patients about various health topics including exercise, diet, and stress management. They may even complete insurance forms for patients as part of their pharmaceutical duties.
Pharmacists keep detailed records on all of their patients in order to make sure the medicines dispensed do not cause harmful interactions with medication the patient is already taking. Although the pharmacist is primarily responsible for the accuracy of prescriptions, she also receives assistance from pharmacy technicians and pharmacy aides. Pharmacists supervise their staff as the technicians and aides fill prescriptions or perform basic administrative duties.
Anyone who wants to become a pharmacist must be prepared to stand throughout most of the workday. The average pharmacist works about 40 hours a week, but some may work more than 50 hours on a weekly basis. Consultant pharmacists may travel to nursing homes in order to monitor patients' drug therapy.
A license is required to become a pharmacist in all 50 states of the U.S. It is also required in Washington D.C. and all U.S. territories. Since the decisions a pharmacist makes can seriously affect the lives of patients, a pharmacist must be detail-oriented and precise. Those who wish to become a pharmacist must possess a sincere desire to help others as the job involves working with patients on a daily basis.
Related Videos
Discuss this Article
|
anon328546
Post 47 |
I would contact the pharmacy board in whichever state you want to work or study in. They will go over your transcripts and tell you the requirements. You can also look up the state requirements online. |
|
anon319853
Post 46 |
My daughter is in the 11th grade and wants to be a pharmacist in the future. What subjects should she take in 11th and 12 grade? |
|
anon277196
Post 45 |
I am a Pharmacy graduate from India. I completed four years of degree coursed in India. I checked online about FPGEE. I saw that to give that exam you must have completed a five-year degree and I have just a four year degree. I want to become a pharmacist in USA. Someone please help me. What should I do? Is there any alternative way? |
|
phuctra
Post 44 |
I completed my B.pharmacy in India and have a friend who has finished his M.Pharm in India. What is the procedure to work as a pharmacist in the USA? |
|
anon241818
Post 41 |
I want to be a pharmacist but am average when it comes to biology but I am strong at chemistry and mathematics.
|
|
anon187852
Post 40 |
I have completed my b.Pharm this year in india and i want to work as a pharmacist in canada. what are the regulatory requirements and tests to be qualified. |
|
sunakshi
Post 39 |
I am in 11th standard. I have taken physics, chemistry and mathematics. I am from cbse board, India. I want ta become pharmacist. So can you please guide me for my future? |
|
narranikhil
Post 37 |
I am nikhil. i completed my bachelers in pharmacy in india, and at present i am doing my ms in pharmaceutics in new york, so what is the way to become a pharmacist in canada and what exams i should take for it? |
|
anon168677
Post 35 |
I have obtained a master of pharmacy with a 2.1 from the university of Aston in the UK. I wanted to know if is possible to obtain a d pharm in the US and how long a b pharm would take to complete? And is it possible to get registered in the us with m pharm from the uk? thank you! |
|
anon154924
Post 34 |
I have b.sc in pharmacy. can I work with this degree in canada? |
|
anon153501
Post 32 |
I'm 14 and i want to become a pharmacist when i grow up. I wanted to know how long it takes to become a pharmacist. |
|
anon144942
Post 29 |
i have done my pharmacy from india so i want to become registered pharmacist here. can you please help me? what should i do? |
|
anon131351
Post 28 |
if a person has a low grade in some field of science, will he or she be able to get a pharmacy course and job? Please guide me. I'm begging you. thanks a lot! |
|
anon127479
Post 26 |
i have completed my pharmacy from India and i got u.s average credit score about 3.52 equal to diploma pharmaceutical science. and i want to become a registered pharmacist here. i am living in Chicago. what i have to do? |
|
anon123973
Post 25 |
I completed my bachelors of pharmacy from india. right now I'm doing a master's in health care in US, so how can i work as pharmacist here? |
|
anon121112
Post 24 |
I'm 12 years old and I'm thinking of becoming a pharmacist in the future. I live in the U.K. What shall i do? |
|
anon119401
Post 23 |
i would like to continue my b.pharm either in msc degree or pharmd. now i am working as licenced pharmacist in ethiopia, so show me the way. |
|
anon117477
Post 22 |
i have a friend in india. he has a bachelors in pharmacy. what is the procedure to work as a pharmacist in usa? |
|
anon115165
Post 20 |
I just finished high school and i been thinking about becoming a pharmacist I want to know if it's too hard and what classes i should be taking. please someone, answer my question. |
|
anon113493
Post 19 |
I am a 13 year old student who is in seventh grade. I have wanted to become a pharmacist for years. Can someone please help me find a good college in California? I am strong in all areas and I am a hard worker. |
|
anon112822
Post 18 |
What is the next step after b.Pharm in india? Can i continue ms or pharmd there? |
|
anon108869
Post 17 |
i completed my b.pharmacy in india and i want to become a pharmacist in the usa can you tell me what the steps are to be taken as to become a pharmacist in the usa? Please guide me. thank you. |
|
anon92233
Post 16 |
i had always a dream that one day i will be a pharmacist. i just finished high school one year ago and started college. i really don't know where to start or what class to take. could someone help me?
|
|
anon88662
Post 15 |
i have my bachelor degree in pharmacy from india and i want to be a pharmacist in the usa. What steps do i have to follow to do so? |
|
vdhola
Post 13 |
I'm now studying in b.Pharma at india. What should i have to do if i want to become a registered pharmacist in usa? |
|
anon71860
Post 11 |
Can you get a biology degree in college then move on to pharmacy school? |
|
anon67594
Post 10 |
I was wondering if someone could be a pharmacist with a previous mental health record? |
|
anon65180
Post 9 |
i want to become a pharmacist. i have a strong interest in medicine, and would enjoy doing this as a career, but i might steal all the pills what should i do? |
|
anon64128
Post 8 |
I have a friend in India. He has finished his Bachelors in pharmacy. What is the procedure to work as a Pharmacist in the USA? |
|
anon55815
Post 7 |
What classes in high school should I be taking? |
|
anon55247
Post 6 |
i want to become a pharmacist because i really want to be in the health care field , but I'm not really into actually caring for the patients so i thought that becoming a pharmacist was the next best thing. |
|
Amatel1221
Post 5 |
Hi, I just turned 20 and I recently decided that I really wanted to become a pharmacist. I love to help people and I just wanted to know if it was even possible for me to become a pharmacist. I never graduated high school but I did receive my GED once I turned 18. Science isn't my strong point but I am a really hard worker. Where should I start? I am moving to Orlando, FL and I don't really know what I should do first, how long it's going to take or what courses I should take? If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate it. Thank you. |
|
anon53033
Post 4 |
I am a fully licensed pharmacist. I have been a pharmacist for over 30 years. I am willing to take questions.
|
|
anon35430
Post 2 |
I have passed 12th exam with pcm.I want to know whether i can do b.Pharmacy |
|
rickypatel26
Post 1 |
Right now I'm studying at community college. I came into the USA like 8 months ago. I graduated from high school from India with science subjects. I'm looking forward to becoming a pharmacist. What classes should I take? I'm in Florida. Do I have to get into pharmacy school after finishing with community college? plz guide me..thank you |
