How to become a Pharmacist

Author: Solène Amandio

Becoming a pharmacist is a long journey. In this guide, we will see the essential steps that aspiring pharmacists should take. In particular, pharmacists are essential for the health and well-being of their patients. This is because they are experts on how drugs work and interact with the human body. What’s more, pharmacists make sure that the medicine prescribed to their patients corresponds to them and explain to them the procedures. They are also healthcare advisors.  Let’s explore the way to become a Pharmacist, from educational prerequisites to licensing examinations and ongoing professional development.

Before graduating

If this career has attracted you since childhood, the best option in school is to take subjects like math, sciences, biology… Skills essential to be a pharmacist are communication, educational skills, and enthusiasm towards innovations in the healthcare area.

Get a bachelor's degree

The best option is to earn a bachelor’s degree in science-related studies like biology, physics, or chemistry. If you didn’t get one, no worries! You can also complete at least 2 years of undergraduate pre-pharmacy predatory classes. Pre-pharmacy coursework includes statistics, physiology and anatomy, chemistry, biology, physics, math, and general education courses like English and communication.

How many years of studies are there after graduating?

Depending on the program you choose, your studies can last from 5 to 8 years.

Pass the PCAT

The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is a mandatory step. In particular, it consists of multiple-choice subtests:

• Biological process (biology, human anatomy and physiology, and microbiology)

• Chemical process (chemistry, basic biochemistry, and organic chemistry)

• Critical reading (analysis, comprehension, and reading evaluation)

• Quantitative reasoning (basic math, algebra, calculus, pre-calculus, probability, statistics)

The written part is an essay prompt on a topic concerning health, science, social, cultural, or political issues.

Enroll in a Pharmacy Program

The program that fits you the most depends on the job/field that interests you. The most common way is the Doctor of Pharmacy degree / PharmD accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In fact, most of the time it lasts 3 to 4 years, and it allows you to gain knowledge but also practical experience. PharmD includes:

• Pharmaceuticals

• Biology

• Non-prescription therapies

• Compounding and calculations

• Metabolism and cell biology

• Chemistry

• Pharmacy law

• Community practice

• Pharmacology and body systems

• Hospital and community practice

• Oncology medications

• Infectious diseases

This is the path for pharmacovigilance, hospital/clinical pharmacist, medical writing, clinical research, academics, and product management. Some countries provide other formations to become a pharmacist, like in the United Kingdom, with the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) to work in industries in a specific field.

Pass your state Pharmacy licensure exam

The Pharmacy Licensure Exam depends on your country. Maintaining a current license requires a fixed number of continuing education credits. In some states, pharmacists need to renew their licenses more regularly than others, such as every one or two years in the UK, Canada, USA.

Pharmacists’ specializations

Pharmacists can specialize in different ways. There is a specialization in their practice area:

• Academia pharmacist

• Community pharmacist

• Government pharmacist

• Hospital pharmacist

• Industry pharmacist

• Military pharmacist

• Research pharmacist

• Wholesale pharmacist

They can also accredit certifications in a specialty area, like:

• Ambulatory care

• Critical care pharmacy

• Nuclear pharmacy

• Nutrition support pharmacy

• Oncology pharmacy

• Pediatric pharmacy

• Pharmacotherapy

• Psychiatric pharmacy

  
  

A career led by innovations

The pharmaceutical area is always changing as new drugs are tested and implemented continuously. Therefore, pharmacists must be aware of the latest regulations, discoveries, and trends to better fulfill their patients’ needs. To help them navigate through these innovations, some professional organizations are providing memberships. For example, one of these is the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Also, they offer diverse resources like the American Pharmacists Association – APhA.

Requirements of being a Pharmacist

Becoming a pharmacist requires dedication, continuous learning, and a commitment to the well-being of their patients. The profession’s multifaceted nature offers various career opportunities. So, as the pharmaceutical landscape evolves, pharmacists stand at the forefront, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare.

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You can also read about:

The Best Universities for Pharmacy in Italy

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Reference List

• Forbes advisor – “How To Become A Pharmacist : A Step-By-Step Guide”

• Nurse.org – “How to become pharmacist”

• PCOM – “How to become a pharmacist”

• Inspira Advantage – “What Is the PCAT? All You Need To Know”

• NHS Health Careers – “Pharmacist”