Many students find it difficult to obtain a pharmacy degree. It necessitates a great deal of study and commitment, as well as a passion for math and science, high ethical standards, and exceptional communication abilities. The reward, on the other hand, is being a part of a profession that is respected and trusted to ensure that all patients receive optimal drug therapy.
The pharmacist has evolved from the so-called druggist, who dispensed prescriptions and also ran the soda fountain, to an important member of the healthcare team over the last 100 years. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, including retail stores, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. They are consistently rated as one of the most dependable professionals. To make a difference in patients’ lives, these healthcare providers combine a wealth of scientific knowledge with excellent interpersonal skills. To work as a pharmacist, you must first earn a pharmacist degree from a pharmacy school or college.
In 2007, there were over 100 accredited pharmacy schools in the United States, as well as programs offering a pharmacist degree in more than 60 countries around the world. Several programs are entirely accessible via the internet. In the United States, a pharmacist degree is a four-year professional degree known as a PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy. Schools of pharmacy are accredited the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
Students must complete a core group of courses before enrolling in a pharmacy school. Prerequisite requirements vary widely among pharmacy schools, but in most cases, two years of pre-pharmacy coursework at a university, community college, or technical school is required. Calculus, biology and microbiology, and anatomy and physiology are all common core courses. Courses in English, sociology, and psychology are frequently required. When entering pharmacy school, many students have completed three to four years of undergraduate college courses, and more than half have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Students interested in attending a pharmacy school in the United States can use the Pharmacy College Application Service to apply to multiple schools at once. Frequently, applications must be submitted a year or more in advance of the intended start date. Some schools require an on-campus interview, and more than half of them require the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). When considering applicants, almost all consider the applicant’s grade point average. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pharmacists in the United States is expected to grow 22% between 2006 and 2016, so many pharmacy schools are increasing enrollment.
The courses required for a pharmacist’s degree can vary greatly. Rather than enforcing a strict set of coursework, ACPE focuses on ensuring that schools of pharmacy train competent pharmacists. Pharmaceutical sciences, such as medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, as well as pharmacy administration, are examples of common courses. There are frequently courses on the mechanics of dispensing medications as well as clinical pharmacy, which teaches how to use drugs to prevent and treat diseases. Externships, in which students learn to put what they’ve learned in class into practice, account for about a quarter of the curriculum.
In most cases, obtaining a degree is insufficient to practice as a pharmacist. You must also complete a certain number of externship hours of practical experience and pass two exams: the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and the Multi-State Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam to practice as a pharmacist in the United States (MSJE). The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy administers both exams (NABP). Other countries’ testing requirements may be different.
If a foreign pharmacy graduate wishes to practice in the United States, he or she must first obtain certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC). The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE), as well as the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the Test of Spoken English Exam, are all available to graduates with this certification. Foreign graduates who pass all of these exams are eligible to take the NAPLEX and MSJE exams to become licensed pharmacists in the United States.