Pharmacists

High School

If you are thinking of becoming a pharmacist, you should take college preparatory courses and concentrate in the areas of mathematics and science. It is especially important that you excel in biology, chemistry, and physics to prepare for this work. Additionally, you should take English, speech, and a foreign language, because good communication skills will be important as you progress through college, job interviews, and eventual employment as a pharmacist. If owning your own pharmacy sounds interesting to you, consider taking business and accounting courses to prepare yourself for working in and running a drugstore.

Postsecondary Training

To become a pharmacist, you will need to earn the degree Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (https://www.acpe-accredit.org/accredited-programs-by-state). The Pharm.D. has replaced the bachelor of pharmacy degree (B.Pharm.), which is no longer awarded. The doctorate degree generally takes six years to complete. The first year or two of study does not take place in a school of pharmacy but rather in a general college setting. You will take pre-pharmacy classes such as chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, calculus, statistics, English, and social sciences. After you have completed this work you will need to gain admission to a school of pharmacy. You may apply to a school of pharmacy that is part of the university where you completed your pre-pharmacy work, or you may apply to a school of pharmacy that is not part of your undergraduate school.

In pharmacy school, you will take courses such as the principles of pharmacology, biochemistry, pharmacy law and ethics, and pharmaceutical care. In addition, your education should include an internship, sometimes known as a clerkship, in which you work under the supervision of a professional pharmacist.

Certification

The American Pharmacists Association offers certificate programs in immunization, medication therapy management, patient centered diabetes care, travel health services, pharmacy-based HIV prevention services, and other specialties. Visit https://www.pharmacist.com/Education/Certificate-Training-Programs for more information. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (https://www.ashp.org/professional-development/professional-certificates) also offers certificate programs.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education seminars, webinars, and other learning opportunities are provided by the American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the National Community Pharmacists Association. Contact these organizations for more information.