Pharmacy Career Requirements

All states require a license to practice pharmacy. To obtain a license, a pharmacist must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy, pass a state examination, and serve an internship under a licensed pharmacist. Colleges of pharmacy train students to dispense prescriptions, communicate with patients, and strengthen their understanding of professional ethics. Instruction is focusing more and more on training pharmacists on the subtleties of direct patient care and consulting services to other health professionals.

Starting in 2000, all new pharmacists must graduate from a six-year program (two years pre-pharmacy and four years in pharmacy school). These pharmacists will all have Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) degrees. BS pharmacists will still be in the market, but aspiring pharmacists will all go through the six-year commitment.

In community (retail) pharmacies, pharmacists usually begin at the staff level. After they gain experience and secure the necessary capital, many become owners or part owners of pharmacies. Pharmacists in chain drug stores may be promoted to supervisory pharmacist at the store level, followed by the district level, and later to an executive position within the chain's headquarters. Pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry may advance in marketing, sales, research, quality control, production, and other areas.

Pharmacy students interested in research must have a Pharm. D, though some enter fellowship programs which are designed to prepare students to do independent research.