Why does a pharmacist need a degree

You can enter one of these programs with only a high school diploma. Other PharmD programs are for doctoral-level training only. Having previous experience as a pharmacy assistant or technician can also be beneficial for admission. Each school determines its own passing score for admission.

Pharmacists are required to take 2 licensing exams after successfully completing a PharmD program. Some common examples include:. Having formal training as a pharmacy technician will give you a strong foundation for your PharmD classes.

Pharmacists can find work in a number of different locations. Many of these might also employ pharmacy assistants and technicians. Some common employers include:. Retail pharmacies employ pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and assistants.

This can include independent pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, and pharmacies in grocery and drugstores, which together, make up the largest employers of all pharmacy professionals. Hospitals employ pharmacists to prepare medication for current patients. Pharmacists in these settings might consult with doctors and nurses, prepare injections or IV bags, and ensure medication dose accuracy.

This is usually done with the assistance of pharmacy techs. Some hospitals might also employ pharmacy assistants. Military facilities employ pharmacists for a few different reasons. A pharmacist employed by a government facility might conduct community wellness programs that educate people on topics such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Pharmacists might also work in military hospitals or veterans care centers to handle medication. Some facilities also employ pharmacy techs. Labs employ pharmacists with specialized training to look into the effectiveness of medications and develop new therapeutic interventions. Pharmacists might need additional certification for a laboratory role.

Clinics can employ pharmacists to do a wide number of jobs, such as patient education, cholesterol testing, and immunizations. This degree will serve future pharmacists well by instilling a thorough understanding of how chemical compounds work together in the creation of drugs and therapeutic treatments.

Common courses include quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, biomedicinal chemistry and toxicology. When entering a doctor of pharmacy — frequently called a PharmD — program, students must meet an assortment of requirements to be admitted.

While some departments mandate that students complete a full undergraduate program, others only want to see that all pre-requisite classes have been completed satisfactorily. Check with prospective schools to learn about their preference on this topic. Grades are a particularly important component, especially in classes directly related to pharmacology. Most schools require at least a 3. As of , 85 percent of all pharmacy programs also require students to successfully pass the Pharmacy College Admission Test.

The examination is comprised of five sections, including:. Testers are given minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions and 30 minutes for the writing prompt. The majority of programs require students to score between the 40th and 50th percentiles. Other components for admission include two to three letters of recommendation, a biographical sketch, and potentially an interview with departmental faculty.

Aside from coursework, students must complete close to 2, hours of clinical experience and maintain a certain GPA. Some programs require students to research and write a dissertation.

Unlike hybrid or combined programs, the PharmD prepares students without prior postsecondary coursework for roles as general pharmacists. Students who have completed undergraduate coursework in a related field and have now decided to focus their talents on a career as a pharmacist.

Students must complete at least two years of relevant undergraduate coursework within the program, including studies in chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, advanced math and English. Once this work is completed, students take the PCAT examination to qualify for the advanced portion of the combined degree. Instead of completing coursework at different universities, the hybrid degree program allows students to settle into a program for the entirety of their academic career.

It can also shorten the amount of time required to graduate. The high-school graduate who knows without question that they want to pursue a combined degree in pharmacy. Students must complete all of the requirements of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in addition to the individual requirements of the second degree. The highly motivated student who wants to combine their knowledge of pharmacology with an additional academic discipline. This course introduces PharmD students to a blended approach of using organic chemistry and biochemistry, especially in relation to the macromolecular targets for drug action.

Students cover topics such as interactions, inhibitors, DNA and bioactivation. Typically taken in the first two years of study, this foundational course introduces students to the idea of ADME, or absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.

Through a variety of classroom lectures, students learn how drugs travel through the body. This course is taught across multiple semesters in an effort to build numerous skills required in working with drugs. Students will learn about the laws surrounding pharmacists and drug dispersion, the top medications prescribed, and proper means of providing drugs to individuals.

This course introduces students to the landscape of the American health care system, specifically in areas of pharmaceutical marketing and health economics. Students learn about the chain of command and how drugs move from the research phase to approval by the FDA. Covering the range of different skills needed to compound, dispense, and utilize drugs, this course provides students with the knowledge of how weights and mathematics play a critical role in prescribing medication.

Although those outside the field may not be aware of the diverse array of roles within the field of pharmaceutics, there are numerous paths and career areas a prospective pharmacist may elect to pursue. The following section highlights some of the fascinating areas of work. Professionals in this field use their understanding of patterns within and causes of diseases and apply it to uncovering how drugs are used and how they affect health issues in humans.

Most pharmacists in this specialization focus on research, with topics ranging from drug safety and effectiveness to understanding drug measurements and risk management. Pharmacoeconomists are tasked with creating studies to evaluate the clinical and economic components of the pharmaceutical industry.

Their research frequently informs the work of pharmaceutical organizations and decision makers within health care, and they are well-valued within the field. Some of the topics these professionals may research include evaluating the economics of other therapies or alternative medicines outside of pharmaceutics, researching how much patients are willing to pay for drugs, and understanding the importance populations place on drugs that improve quality of life.

Individuals who wish to combine their knowledge of pharmacology with an understanding of the biological, psychological, and sociological effects of aging can find great fulfillment in this field. Numerous combined degree programs exist that allow students to study the intersection of the two areas and eventually pursue geriatric pharmaceutical practice.

With a passion for providing care to underserved communities throughout the world, pharmacists with concentrated knowledge of global medicine are well-versed in how modern medicine can be used to help individuals in developing nations.

Graduates of these programs learn about pharmacotherapy, medication safety, public health and ways of promoting health and discouraging disease in global health arenas. Pharmacists with an interest in the business side of the industry are able to concentrate their careers in healthcare decision analysis to better understand the inner workings.

Typically offered as a dual degree program, graduates are equipped with not only a thorough knowledge of pharmaceutics, but also the economics and policies surrounding healthcare. Areas of work include drug access, coverage qualifiers, pricing structures and reimbursement policies. In addition to licensure requirements, pharmacists may also elect to pursue an advanced certificate in specialization areas or skill development. Postgraduate programs are becoming more popular as the field widens and practitioners seek to distinguish themselves.

These certificates, which can typically be completed in one to two years, are available in areas ranging from pharmaceutical economics and public health to infectious diseases and psychiatric pharmacy. The APA offers members a variety of helpful tools and resources ranging from career finder applications to continuing education databases.

Pharmacists can also find helpful research studies and publications to help advance their practice. ASPET is comprised of more than 5, members who conduct research and work in a variety of pharmaceutical roles.

Some of the benefits of membership include access to publications, local chapters, a careers board, and an annual meeting. The society hosts regular meetings, shares job postings, and offers the Knowledge Center for information about the latest research in the field.

In addition to numerous national groups and organizations, most states have their own associations where pharmacists can get involved. A great example is the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. The NCPA has been existence since ; today is represents a variety of community pharmacists, including 22, owners of local pharmacies. Pharmacists must then pass a second licensing examination from their state, which ensures their familiarity with applicable state laws. Some pharmacists opt to spend one or two additional years in clinical residencies, as doctors do, to learn a specialized field in pharmaceutical research.

In , the U. A slight decline is projected for this job position. You can expect a three percent decrease in available positions between now and The rise in mail-order prescriptions is expected to impact the availability of positions in retail operations. By Chron Contributor Updated April 20, Description of a Clinical Pharmacist Position.