 Preparation
Courses offered at
colleges of pharmacy are designed to teach students about all aspects of
drug therapy. In addition, schools teach students how to communicate
with patients and other health care providers about drug information and
patient care. Students also learn professional ethics, how to develop
and manage medication distribution systems, and concepts of public
health. In addition to receiving classroom instruction, students in
Pharm.D. programs spend about one-fourth of their time learning in a
variety of pharmacy practice settings under the supervision of licensed
pharmacists. The Pharm.D. degree has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.)
degree, which is no longer being awarded.
The Pharm.D. is a 4-year
program that requires at least 2 years of college study prior to
admittance, although most applicants have completed 3 years. Entry
requirements usually include courses in mathematics and natural
sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as courses in
the humanities and social sciences. Approximately two-thirds of all
colleges require applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test
(PCAT).
Prospective pharmacists
should have scientific aptitude, good communication skills, and a desire
to help others. They also must be conscientious and pay close attention
to detail, because the decisions they make affect human lives.
 In
community pharmacies, pharmacists usually begin at the staff level. In
independent pharmacies, after they gain experience and secure the
necessary capital, some become owners or part owners of pharmacies.
Pharmacists in chain drugstores may be promoted to pharmacy supervisor
or manager at the store level, then to manager at the district or
regional level, and later to an executive position within the chain's
headquarters.
Hospital pharmacists may
advance to supervisory or administrative positions. Pharmacists in the
pharmaceutical industry may advance in marketing, sales, research,
quality control, production, packaging, or other areas.
Admission
 In 2003, the American
Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) launched the
Pharmacy College Application Service,
known as PharmCAS, for students who are interested in applying to
schools and colleges of pharmacy. This centralized service allows
applicants to use a single web-based application and one set of
transcripts to apply to multiple schools of pharmacy. Many schools are
currently participating, but not all are -- so be sure to explore all
the accredited programs below.
Advanced Degrees and Residencies
 Many
master's and Ph.D. degree holders do research for a drug company or
teach at a university. Other options for pharmacy graduates who are
interested in further training include 1-year or 2-year residency
programs or fellowships. Pharmacy residencies are postgraduate training
programs in pharmacy practice and usually require the completion of a
research study. There currently are more than 700 residency training
programs nationwide. Pharmacy fellowships are highly individualized
programs that are designed to prepare participants to work in a
specialized area of pharmacy, such clinical practice or research
laboratories. Some pharmacists who run their own pharmacy obtain a
master's degree in business administration (MBA). Others may obtain a
degree in public administration or public health.
Areas of graduate study include pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical
chemistry (physical and chemical properties of drugs and dosage forms),
pharmacology (effects of drugs on the body), toxicology and pharmacy
administration.
Licensing
 A
license to practice pharmacy is required in all states, the District of
Columbia, and all U.S. territories. To obtain a license, the prospective
pharmacist must graduate from a college of pharmacy that is accredited
by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and pass an
examination. All states require the North American Pharmacist Licensure
Exam (NAPLEX), which tests pharmacy skills and knowledge, and 43 states
and the District of Columbia require the Multistate Pharmacy
Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests pharmacy law.
Both exams are administered
by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Pharmacists in the
eight states that do not require the MJPE must pass a state-specific
exam that is similar to the MJPE. In addition to the NAPLEX and MPJE,
some states require additional exams unique to their state. All states
except California currently grant a license without extensive
reexamination to qualified pharmacists who already are licensed by
another state. In Florida, reexamination is not required if a pharmacist
has passed the NAPLEX and MPJE within 12 years of his or her application
for a license transfer. Many pharmacists are licensed to practice in
more than one state. Most states require continuing education for
license renewal. Persons interested in a career as a pharmacist should
check with individual state boards of pharmacy for details on
examination requirements, license renewal requirements, and license
transfer procedures.
 Accredited
Programs
The Accreditation
Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) is the accreditation agency
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit professional
degree programs in pharmacy. Pharmacy programs grant the degree of
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), which requires at least 6 years of
postsecondary study and the passing of a state board of pharmacy's
licensure examination. The following table provides links to currently accredited pharmacy programs.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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