How to Be a Pharmacist: Everything You Need to Know

A pharmacist’s role is much more important than just filling pill bottles. They direct the use of medication, provide information on medications, and help ensure that medications are used properly and safely.

If you aspire to become a pharmacist, here’s everything you need to know.

1. Education Requirements

To begin with, you’ll need a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy school. Pharmacy schools usually require a minimum of two years of college or university course work in the sciences before being admitted. Once admitted, the Pharm.D. program typically takes four years to complete. Aspiring pharmacists will take a combination of science, medical, and pharmacy-specific courses.

Post-graduate clinical pharmacists hold either an M.S. or Ph.D. in addition to their Pharm.D. degrees. Depending on your target job, you may need a post-graduate level of education.

2. Getting Licensed/Certified

Once you have a Pharm.D. degree, you must become licensed in your state. Typically, this involves completing an application and taking the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) as well as a state-administered pharmacy law and practice exam.

You may also need to be certified in order to work in certain settings, such as hospitals, surgical centers, and health clinics. To gain these credentials, you may need to take a certification exam from a national pharmacy organization or prove your expertise in a specialty area.

3. Finding a Job

Finding a job as a pharmacist requires keeping track of job postings, networking, and applying for jobs. You should have your resume ready and know what type of pharmacist you want to be. You might want to work in a retail setting or specialize in nuclear, consultative, or even long-term care pharmacy. Many important pharmacist roles today are found in hospitals and other health care organizations.

4. AI and the Future of Pharmacy

Pharmacists of the future will have to be adept in the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being used to expedite drug identification and prescription filling. As AI advances, it can even take on important roles such as providing personalized drug recommendations and recognizing indications of adverse effects.

Pharmacists of the future will need to adjust to this shift and take on more supervisory roles while AI automates many mundane tasks. As the profession evolves, pharmacists will also need to develop their communication skills and become more involved with patient counseling.

Conclusion

Becoming a pharmacist entails a lot of hard work, but the payoff is great. You can find great jobs with good pay and work alongside medical professionals to help ensure the safe use of medication. If you’re ready to embark on your journey to become a pharmacist, you now have the information you need to get started.