How to Become a Pharmacist

If you have an interest in working in the medical field but don’t do well around bodily fluids, you might want to look into how to become a pharmacist. Pharmacists play a vital role in the medical field by making sure patients get the medications and prescriptions they need to stay well. Like many other careers in the medical field, however, becoming a pharmacist will take some time and dedication on your part.

 

Get Your Bachelor’s DegreeWhat are the requirements to become a pharmacist?  The first step to becoming a pharmacist is to get your Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. You don’t necessarily have to have your Bachelor’s degree in anything related to pharmacology, but it can be helpful. Typically, as long as your degree is in the sciences, you’ll be in good shape to continue onto applying to various pharmacy schools. Some schools even offer a pre-pharmacy program that can prepare you for your later years of formal education, so this might be worth looking into.

Pursue a Pharm.D Degree

Once you have your Bachelor’s degree, it’s time to apply to pharmacy schools for your Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D). In order to be admitted into a program and continue in terms of how to become a pharmacist, many schools these days will also have you take and pass the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).  How long is pharmacy school?  Typically, getting your Pharm.D takes about four years in addition to however long it takes you to complete your Bachelor’s degree. For most people, this equates to a grand total of eight or nine years of college.

Obtain Your License

Once you have your Pharm.D degree, the last step is to obtain your pharmacy license. If you plan on practicing in the Unites States, then you will need to take and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Depending on the state in which you live or plan on practicing in, however, the regulations may be different, so you will want to check with your state to be sure before you take any exams or apply for your license.

Pharmacist Salary

After all your hard work of spending eight or more years in school and taking lots of exams, you will have your license and will be able to practice as a pharmacist. From there, you will need to begin applying for job openings in the field.   So, how much do pharmacists make?  On the bright side, pharmacists tend to make a pretty decent salary for all their hard work, with the average pharmacist salary being around $116,000 annually.

This post has covered pretty much everything you need to know about how to become a pharmacist, so good luck with pursuing your career in the field!

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