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Every pharmacist needs license to practice
pharmacy is required in all States, the District of
Columbia, and all U.S. territories.
To obtain a license, the prospective pharmacist
must graduate from a college of pharmacy that is
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy
Education (ACPE) and pass an examination.
All States require the North American Pharmacist
Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), which tests pharmacy skills
and knowledge, and 43 states and the District of
Columbia require the Multistate Pharmacy
Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests pharmacy law.
Both exams are administered by the National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Pharmacists in
the eight states that do not require the MJPE must
pass a state-specific exam that is similar to the
MJPE.
In addition to the NAPLEX and MPJE, some States
require additional exams unique to their State. All
States except California currently grant a license
without extensive reexamination to qualified
pharmacists who already are licensed by another
State. In Florida, reexamination is not required if
a pharmacist has passed the NAPLEX and MPJE within
12 years of his or her application for a license
transfer. Many pharmacists are licensed to practice
in more than one State. Most States require
continuing education for license renewal.
I89 colleges of pharmacy are accredited to confer
degrees by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy
Education. Pharmacy programs grant the degree of
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), which requires at
least 6 years of postsecondary study and the passing
of a State board of pharmacy’s licensure
examination.
Courses offered at colleges of pharmacy are
designed to teach students about all aspects of drug
therapy. In addition, schools teach students how to
communicate with patients and other health care
providers about drug information and patient care.
Students also learn professional ethics, how to
develop and manage medication distribution systems,
and concepts of public health. In addition to
receiving classroom instruction, students in Pharm.D.
programs spend about one-forth of their time
learning in a variety of pharmacy practice settings
under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. The
Pharm.D. degree has replaced the Bachelor of
Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) degree, which is no longer being
awarded.
The Pharm.D. is a 4-year program that requires at
least 2 years of college study prior to admittance,
although most applicants have completed 3 years.
Entry requirements usually include courses in
mathematics and natural sciences, such as chemistry,
biology, and physics, as well as courses in the
humanities and social sciences. Approximately
two-thirds of all colleges require applicants to
take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
(AACP) runs the Pharmacy College Application
Service, known as PharmCAS, for students who are
interested in applying to schools and colleges of
pharmacy. This centralized service allows applicants
to use a single Web-based application and one set of
transcripts to apply to multiple schools of
pharmacy. A total of 43 schools participate in the
program.
67 colleges of pharmacy award the
master-of-science degree or the Ph.D. degree. Both
degrees are awarded after the completion of a
Pharm.D. degree and are designed for those who want
more laboratory and research experience. Many
master’s and Ph.D. degree holders do research for a
drug company or teach at a university. Other options
for pharmacy graduates who are interested in further
training include 1-year or 2-year residency programs
or fellowships. Pharmacy residencies are
postgraduate training programs in pharmacy practice
and usually require the completion of a research
study. There currently are more than 700 residency
training programs nationwide. Pharmacy fellowships
are highly individualized programs that are designed
to prepare participants to work in a specialized
area of pharmacy, such clinical practice or research
laboratories. Some pharmacists who run their own
pharmacy obtain a master’s degree in business
administration (MBA). Others may obtain a degree in
public administration or public health.
Areas of graduate study include pharmaceutics and
pharmaceutical chemistry (physical and chemical
properties of drugs and dosage forms), pharmacology
(effects of drugs on the body), toxicology and
pharmacy administration.
Prospective pharmacists should have scientific
aptitude, good communication skills, and a desire to
help others. They also must be conscientious and pay
close attention to detail, because the decisions
they make affect human lives.
In community pharmacies, pharmacists usually
begin at the staff level. In independent pharmacies,
after they gain experience and secure the necessary
capital, some become owners or part owners of
pharmacies. Pharmacists in chain drugstores may be
promoted to pharmacy supervisor or manager at the
store level, then to manager at the district or
regional level, and later to an executive position
within the chain’s headquarters.
Hospital pharmacists may advance to supervisory
or administrative positions. Pharmacists in the
pharmaceutical industry may advance in marketing,
sales, research, quality control, production,
packaging, or other areas.
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