One of the requirements to become a pharmacist is to go to pharmacy school.  There are two ways to get into pharmacy school.  The first option is to take 2 years of undergraduate college courses that are related to the field of pharmacy and then 4 years of professional pharmacy school afterwards for a total of 6 years of education.  This option is usually chosen by high school students who are certain that they want to become pharmacists.  The second option is to take 4 years of professional pharmacy school after graduating from college.  This option takes longer, but is good for people who are still trying to decide what type of career they want.

There is a variety of different classes in pharmacy school and most of them are based on fundamentals from biology and chemistry.  Some common courses include organic chemistry, molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, and physiology.  There are also many in-depth courses on specific areas of treatment such as infectious diseases and chemotherapy.  The in-depth courses prepare students for clinical experiential roles at hospitals where they recommend treatment options with doctors.

There are also practical courses where pharmacy students give patients counseling for their medications and learn how to recommend over the counter products without potentially embarrassing customers.  Some students also learn how to apply diagnostic tests and administer flu shots.

Becoming a pharmacist takes commitment, but the rewards may be worth it for the right people.

Since pharmacists are becoming more clinically involved, it is becoming increasingly important to keep up with modern medicine. As such, a residency after graduation from pharmacy school is a great way to gain exposure to the latest developments and to get a job as a hospital or clinical pharmacist.

Residency for pharmacists take place over 2 years (PGY-1 and PGY-2). The first year is general and provides a wide range of study and helps future pharmacists decide which clinical areas to focus on. The second year is specific and allows the future pharmacist to specialize in a particular field of pharmacy medicine.

Residency specialties offered include health system pharmacy administration, nutrition, informatics, critical care, emergency medicine, psychiatric medicine, solid organ transplant, pharmacotherapy, geriatric care, managed care, pediatric care, internal medicine, infectious diseases, ambulatory care, drug information, oncology, medication use safety, nuclear pharmacy, and cardiology.

To get a residency, prospective candidates go through a matching system that is sponsored by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). Candidates can attend Midyear for the Residency Showcase and sign up for the Personnel Placement Service (PPS) where they can meet with representatives from various residency programs in December. After reviewing residency programs, candidates complete an application and attend interviews. Applications require an updated resume, transcript, reference letters, and essays. The applicant selects from their favorite residency programs and the residency program selects their top picks for candidates. Residency is given if there is a match between an applicant’s selection and the residency program’s pick.

Passing the MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination) is necessary to become a pharmacist in most states in the US. Exceptions are Arkansas, California, and Virginia, which have their own law exam.

The exam contains 90 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 2 hours. Questions will ask about both federal and state laws for your chosen state of licensure. A score of 75 or higher is required to pass.

The MPJE exam tests you on:

• Legal aspects of pharmacy practice, including responsibilities with regard to the distribution and dispensing of pharmaceuticals and for the care of patients.
• Licensure, registration, certification, and operational requirements.
• Regulatory structure and terms of the laws and rules that regulate or affect pharmacists, pharmacies, manufacturers, and distributors.

More information about the exam can be found at the NABP.
http://www.nabp.net/programs/examinations/mpje

Most recent pharmacy students pass the MPJE for the state that they went to pharmacy school in. However, those looking to get a license in a different state, may benefit from study materials that show the differences between state laws.

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Passing the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) is necessary to become a pharmacist in the US.

The exam contains 185 questions that must be completed within 4 hours and 15 minutes. There is an optional 10 minute break after the first 2 hours. The questions are multiple choice and some have a K-Type format. A 75 or higher score is required to pass.

The 3 main competencies that the NAPLEX tests you on are your abilities to:

• Assess pharmacotherapy to assure safe and effective therapeutic outcomes (56% of exam)
• Assess safe and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications (33% of exam)
• Assess, recommend, and provide health care information that promotes public health (11% of exam)

More information about the exam can be found at the NABP.
http://www.nabp.net/programs/examination/naplex/naplex-blueprint

Although the exam usually has a high pass rate for pharmacy students who recently graduated, it may be helpful to get an exam guide since those who fail will need to wait an entire 91 days before retaking the exam.

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Pharmacy School

The courses in pharmacy school are much more challenging than the classes during undergraduate education, but it is still important to continue to do well in class. Study groups and study guides can help students reach their goals.

There are several options after graduating from pharmacy school. Some people choose to go directly to work, others choose to do a residency or fellowship. Networking becomes extremely important as students get closer to graduation.

Key Milestones:

• Complete pharmacy school with a 3.5 or higher GPA
• Get a job as a pharmacy technician or intern
• Apply for residency (optional)
• Apply for fellowship (optional)
• Get a state pharmacy license by passing the NAPLEX, MPJE, and other requirements

Time for Completion: 2-4 years

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Undergraduate Education

There are 2 paths to pharmacy school. One involves 2 years of undergraduate coursework before transferring to a 4 year pharmacy school and the other involves completing a 4 year Bachelor degree and then going to a 4 year pharmacy school. It is important to maintain a good GPA and to excel in the science courses. The introductory chemistry courses will be an important foundation for future classes in pharmacy school.

At this time, students should meet with pharmacy students so they can get an idea of what to expect in pharmacy school. Also, students should try to get a job at a pharmacy and gain experience.

Key Milestones:

• Complete undergraduate education with a 3.5 or higher GPA
• Network with current pharmacy students to get an idea of what to expect
• Get a 430 or higher score on PCAT (if necessary)
• Complete pharmacy school application (if necessary)
• Prepare for pharmacy school admission interview
• Get a job at a pharmacy

Time for Completion: 4-6 years

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High School

Students can get an early start to become a pharmacist by getting good scores on the SAT and maintaining a high GPA. Courses to focus on are biology and chemistry. Several colleges will give students credit if they pass the AP exams.

Also, students should get a job at a retail pharmacy as a pharmacy technician or a cashier working in the pharmacy area.

Key Milestones:

• Complete high school with a 3.5 or higher GPA
• Get a 4 or higher score on the AP biology exam
• Get a 4 or higher score on the AP chemistry exam
• Get a high SAT score
• Get a job at a pharmacy
• Complete college applications

Time for Completion: 4 years

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Continue to Undergrad

Getting a good score on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is necessary to become a pharmacist unless you are in a 6 year pharmacy program direct from high school.  The exam is scored between 200 – 600 and a percentile rank is given.  Usually a score above 430 is high enough for any pharmacy school and other factors in your application will determine if you are admitted.

The exam contains 240 multiple choice questions and 2 essays.

Further breakdown by category:

• Writing section (2 essays) – 30 minutes each
• Verbal section (48 questions, 60% analogies, 40% sentence completion) – 30 minutes
• Biology section (48 questions, 50% general biology, 20% microbiology, 30% anatomy and physiology) – 30 minutes
• Chemistry section (48 questions, 50% general chemistry, 30% organic chemistry, 20% bio chemistry) – 30 minutes
• Reading Comprehension section (48 questions with 6 reading passages) – 50 minutes
• Quantitative section (48 questions, 15% basic math, 20% algebra, 20% probability and statistics, 22% pre-calculus, 23% calculus) – 40 minutes

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