Pharmacy School

After you have taken the necessary prerequisite coursework, you'll need to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) in order to apply to pharmacy school. You'll want to make sure the pharmacy program is accredited  by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Make sure you understand all the requirements for the different pharmacy programs, as they tend to differ. For example, some programs may suggest or require advanced pharmacy practice experience as a pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician.

Once admitted to a pharmacy school or degree program, you'll take courses like biochemistry, pharmacology, healthcare management, chemotherapy, pharmaceutical measurements, biostatistics and pathology.

Post Graduate Preparation

Before beginning your pharmacy career, you'll need to complete a formal internship/residency program and experiential learning in pharmacy practice settings. The hours needed will depend on state licensing requirements. The final step for aspiring pharmacists is to take two pharmacist licensure exams and satisfy pharmacist licensure requirements set out by the state you'll practice in.

Choosing a Pharmacy Career

Before committing to a lifelong career in the pharmaceutical care industry, it is important to consider which role(s) you could envision yourself taking on post-graduate. Due to the intensity of the academic rigor, ensuring you have a clear career path can help you hone the specific skills you will need in order to become a dedicated working professional. Listed below are potential career paths that you could align yourself with:

• Pharmacy Assistant: The job descriptions of pharmacy assistants can vary depending on state laws and work settings, but some responsibilities include: working cash registers, keeping stock of merchandise and supplies, and tracking medication deliveries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a pharmacy assistant is $30,490.
• Pharmacy Tech: A pharmacy technician is responsible for several essential functions within the pharmacy. A pharmacy tech is frequently the primary person a doctor, patient, or other medical professional talks to about medical prescriptions. Responsibilities can include, but are not limited to: Collection of patient information for refills, measuring appropriate amounts of medication, packaging and labeling prescriptions, tracking inventories, and processing insurance claims. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for pharmacy technicians is $35,950. 
• Pharmacists: Pharmacists do a lot more than just fill prescriptions. Responsibilities are dependent on whether you work at a hospital, retail pharmacy, or another setting. Additionally, pharmacists may have several more responsibilities if they are the owners of their pharmacy, requiring business skill sets. Daily duties may include: Administering flu shots, researching allergy conditions for patients taking new medication, educating customers on how to take medications, conducting health and wellness screenings, etc. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a pharmacist is $128,090. 

Upon graduation from pharmacy school, most aspiring pharmacists are employed and gain introductory pharmacy practice experience in pharmacies or drug stores, hospitals and medical centers, other retail pharmacies (grocery stores and mass merchandise stores), and institutional settings such as long-term care facilities. Smaller numbers of pharmacists are employed by the pharmaceutical industry, managed care and health insurance plans, consulting groups, home health care, prescription fulfillment centers, veteran's hospital, rural pharmacy teams and universities. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the demand for pharmacists is projected to increase in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics. This is largely due to the increased complexity of medication therapy and the need for proper drug selection, dosing, monitoring and management of the entire drug use process. The demand for pharmacists in the institutional sector, including both long-term patient care and home care, remains strong.
 
Some pharmacists specialize in areas like oncology, pediatrics, transplant and many more. 

Whether you pursue general biology or chemistry as a major, you’ll be set up for success in pharmacy school. The knowledge and skills you acquire as you complete pharmacy education requirements will prepare you for a four-year doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD program) and a career in pharmaceutical care, public health, retail pharmacy work or other pharmaceutical fields.  

North Central College Can Help You Reach Your Goals! 

North Central College's Pre-Pharmacy Program is designed to set students up for success. If you are a current high school student considering pursuing a pre-pharmacy program, North Central College has an affiliation agreement with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) to offer the high school applicant an opportunity for a "reserved seat" in its School of Pharmacy leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD).

This type of partnership allows qualified high school students interested in becoming a licensed pharmacist to be admitted jointly in both institutions. Application in the LECOM's Early Acceptance Program (EAP) can occur as early as the student's senior year in high school and up until the start of their third year at North Central College.

Application to the EAP is separate from the application to North Central College. A student may apply for EAP consideration as a high school senior. 

Laura Zahn Pohl has been an editorial director and content provider in higher education for 17 years.