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What Education Is Necessary When Pursuing A Pharmaceutical Career

Pursuing a pharmaceutical career today offers a variety of opportunities for the pharmacist unlike years past where they simply poured pills behind the counter in a pharmacy. Pharmacists are more involved in patient care and are a crucial part of the healthcare team. The educational requirements for a pharmaceutical career are rigorous ensuring the student can fulfill their expected responsibilities upon graduation.

Since 1992 pharmacists have been expected to obtain the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. The PharmD requires six years of college level work beyond high school, including two years of pre-pharmacy coursework with a high emphasis on math, chemistry, biology and physics. Four years of professional courses follow to include pharmacology, pharmaceutical administration, drug information, pharmaceutical chemistry and clinical pharmacology.

Educational requirements do not end upon graduation. To become a fully licensed pharmacist (RPh) the student must participate in a clinical internship involving direct patient care where they participate in patient rounds with physicians, offer suggestions for medication changes and proper dosing and answer team questions. The last step in licensing involves passing the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination). Education in the pharmaceutical career extends well past licensure with most states requiring ongoing continuing education credits each year.