A person who wants to work as an ambulatory care pharmacist must possess a combination of education, training, and a desire to help people. To work as an ambulatory care pharmacist, you must have a doctoral degree in pharmacy. Ambulatory care pharmacists provide services to people who do not have access to transportation in a variety of settings, so flexibility is required to work as an ambulatory care pharmacist. A strong desire to learn science and mathematics is also required.
To be admitted to pharmacy graduate school, you must have a bachelor’s degree in pre-pharmacy or a related field. Majors in the sciences, mathematics, and humanities are available, but you must first complete certain prerequisites, such as science and mathematics classes. An individual can apply to pharmacy school after receiving an undergraduate degree by sending in paperwork that typically includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and an application fee.
Following acceptance, pharmacy school typically takes four years to complete and includes both classroom and hands-on learning. An individual can begin working directly for a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital after completing the four-year doctoral degree in pharmacy, or work as a post-graduate intern at a facility that specializes in ambulatory care. This type of internship gives you the experience and training you need to work independently in the field.
Individuals who want to work as an ambulatory care pharmacist must have excellent interpersonal skills. Consultations and preventive care are part of the job, which means talking with people in the community on a regular basis. Good listening and communicating skills are essential for getting the most information from patients.
Ambulatory care pharmacists work in a variety of settings, so it’s important to be adaptable when it comes to where they work. Ambulatory care pharmacists can work in almost any location, but this type of service is frequently provided in underserved and economically challenged areas. To become an ambulatory care pharmacist, you must have a strong desire to assist those with limited resources.
Those interested in becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist should have a strong background in math and science. Throughout their careers, pharmacists work with ratios and chemistry. Pharmacy school would be extremely difficult to complete without a general understanding of these subjects, so this is something to think about for those who want to start this journey.