Pharmacists are licensed medical professionals who dispense drugs to patients according to prescriptions by doctors or other medical clinicians. Pharmacists have extensive knowledge of the chemistry of various drugs and how they interact and react in human bodies. Pharmacist also educate patients on how to take prescribed medicine, inform the patient on possible side effects, advise on illness prevention, monitor patient progress, and advise doctors on medication issues. Pharmacists work in health care facilities and drug stores.
Pharmacist Undergraduate Education
Pre-pharmacy students must complete a two year training program in an accredited college to meet the requirements for a pharmacy school. Most applicant complete 3-4 years of a bachelor’s degree program. Undergraduate course work does not require one to major in any specific field; however, students must undertake courses in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics which provide a good foundation for advanced pharmacy training.
Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.)
To be eligible for a Pharm.D. program, a student must have completed at least two years of prerequisite courses, which include biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, humanities and social sciences. In addition, most students have three years at accredited colleges or university before proceeding on to a Pharm.D. program, although this is not specifically required for admission.
Pharm.D. programs usually take four year to complete. The course work offered is designed to train students in all areas of drug therapy, communication with other health works and patients, professional ethics, public health and concepts in business management.
In addition, students pursuing a Pharm.D. program must undergo clinical training to gain practical experience in pharmacy operations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Course offered under this program may include: toxicology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, biopharmaceuticals, disease treatment, patient care, pharmacy ethics and law.
Post–Graduate Pharmacist Training
Pharm.D. graduate may choose to pursue additional training through residencies or fellowships. These programs last 1-2 years and allow Pharm.D. graduates to gain experience in community pharmacies and hospital operations. Pharmacy residents can undertake training in general or specialty pharmacy practice. In addition, they are required to complete research projects. Pharmacy fellowships are highly specialized programs designed to prepare students to work in specialized aspects of pharmacy such as biomedical research, clinical practice and geriatrics pharmacology. Pharmacists who own pharmacies or are willing to establish one in future can obtain a master’s in business administration. Other pharmacists may pursue a degree in public health or in public administration.
Pharmacy Licensure
Pharm.D. program graduates must pass the North America Pharmacist Licensure Examination. This examination is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for safe distribution of drugs. Most states also require Pharm.D. graduates to have the NABP’s Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination which test pharmacy laws as stated in federal and state laws. Some states require additional examinations that are specific to their jurisdiction. All jurisdictions require a specific number of hours of experience in a pharmacy setting before a license is issued. In most states, a license applicant must have attained a specified age and meet the required criminal background screening.
Foreign pharmacy school graduates can obtain licensure in the U.S. after meeting several conditions. The foreign student must apply for certification from the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee. After approval, the graduates must pass the Foreign Pharmacy graduate Equivalency Examination, Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test of Spoken English Examination, and pass all the examinations and requirements needed by licensing jurisdiction.