如何成为美国药剂师

Pharmacy School – What’s Required to become a Doctor of Pharmacy.

According to salary.com the average Pharmacist salary in the United States is $138,176 as of January 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $130,195 and $147,173. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors and this article discusses the path you would take to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree.

Recently, we have begun to see students inquire about the pharmacy school process. Oftentimes, these are students who have considered medical school but have opted out for some reason–most often, the length of time in becoming a doctor (well known advice is often that it is at least another 12 years of school after you have completed high school…almost like starting from first grade again!).  While there may be other paths to working within a pharmacy, this article focuses on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) path — which begins well before you even enter pharmacy school.  This is the pathway for students seeking to become pharmacists in a pharmacy setting, not those who would want to research pharmaceuticals (in which case, they would pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacy).  

Pre-Pharmacy Work

Pre-pharmacy coursework can be completed at any college and include the same coursework as those on the pre-medical track.  While it is important to check with each potential pharmacy school about what their specific requirements are, pharmacy schools commonly expect these courses to be completed prior to admission:  General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Math, Microbiology and Physiology.  If you complete an undergraduate degree in the U.S., you will likely have completed other general education requirements which include various English, Social Sciences, and/or Humanities courses.  Surprisingly, there are some pharmacy schools that do not require students to complete a bachelor’s degree before entering the professional Pharm.D. curriculum — a student can attend a pre-pharmacy program at a community college to earn an Associate’s degree that satisfies the Pharm.D. application requirements.

The PCAT-Pharmacy College Admission Test

Like medical school, students looking to earn a Pharm.D. degree must take an admissions test akin to the MCAT or GRE in order to apply.  The PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test)  is required for most pharmacy students seeking admission to the Pharm.D. program.  The pre-pharmacy courses taken prepare applicants for this exam which measure general academic ability and scientific knowledge.  It is made up of various subtests that are individually timed: Biology, Chemistry, Writing, Critical Reading and Quantitative Reasoning.  Applications are submitted through PharmCAS (the Pharmacy College Application Service) website portal, which centralizes applications to pharmacy schools.

Pharmacy School

Most pharmacy colleges and schools in the U.S. require 4 years of study in the professional Pharm.D. curriculum. Some pharmacy institutions (such as Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) offer accelerated programs where a student can earn their Pharm.D. in 34 months.  Additionally, schools like the Sacred Heart University and the University of St. Joseph’s will offer a joint “3+3” program where students earn both a bachelor’s and Pharm.D. in a six year combined program.  The curriculum in pharmacy schools will vary slightly but will include courses such as Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutics, courses on legal aspects of pharmacy and patient care, Physiology, Professional Development, Pathophysiology, and Toxicology.

Licensing–the final step!

All Pharm.D. graduates must successfully complete the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).  The NAPLEX is one component of the licensure process required to practice as a pharmacist in the U.S.  The MPJE is designed to assess understanding of laws and regulations for the specific states/jurisdictions. As of January 18, 2021, the NAPLEX and MPJE exam results will be reported as Pass or Fail. In addition, new graduates must have an official transcript sent to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).  Some states have specific rules about the minimum number of practice hours (or possible age requirements) and therefore it is important to check with your state licensing board.  To take the NAPLEX and/or MPJE, candidates must first register with NABP and meet the eligibility requirements of the board of pharmacy.  Once the board of pharmacy determines the candidate’s eligibility to take the examination and NABP is notified, an Authorization to Test (ATT) will be issued to the candidate.