Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners

High School

In high school, take college preparatory courses in science (especially biology and chemistry) and mathematics. Since CPPs interact closely with the public, take English, speech, writing, foreign language, and psychology classes. Business classes will come in handy if you work as a manager or want to start your own consulting firm. Other recommended courses include social studies, computer science, and health.

Postsecondary Education

To become a pharmacist, you will need to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from a school that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (https://www.acpe-accredit.org). It typically takes six years to earn the Pharm.D. Those who are interested in direct patient-care roles typically complete additional training in a postgraduate year-one residency program in an acute care or ambulatory care setting. Those who are interested in further specialization complete a year-two residency in a medical specialty such as infectious disease, oncology, internal medicine, critical care, or other areas.

Certification

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy offers the following one-year certificate programs to help pharmacist practitioners develop their skills: Leadership and Management; Research and Scholarship; Teaching and Learning; Comprehensive Medication Management Implementation; and Billing and Contracting for Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Services. Visit https://www.accp.com/academy to learn more. The American Pharmacists Association offers 10 certificate programs for pharmacists, including Immunization; Medication Therapy Management; and Patient-Centered Diabetes Care. Visit https://www.pharmacist.com/Education/Certificate-Training-Programs for more information. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists offers more than 30 online certificate programs. Programs that will be of interest to CPPs include Emergency Medicine; Pain Management; Pediatrics; Diabetes Management; and Medication History-Taking & Reconciliation. Check out https://www.ashp.org/professional-development/professional-certificates for more info.

Pharmacists who administer immunizations and vaccinations typically earn the pharmacy-based immunization delivery certificate from the American Pharmacists Association (https://www.pharmacist.com/Education/Certificate-Training-Programs/Immunization).

Other Education or Training

Participating in continuing education (CE) classes is a great way to keep your skills up to date and learn about new developments in the pharmaceutical sciences; CE credits may also be required to renew one’s certification. Educational opportunities are offered by professional associations (such as the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists), postsecondary institutions, online learning platforms, and other providers.