How long does it take ?

[deleted158872]

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How long does it take to earn a PharmD degree after undergraduate ? 😕

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Depends. There are 3-yr accelerated programs and the usual 4-yr programs.

 

[deleted158872]

Wow! so it's as long as Med school!
I thought it's 4 years undergrad + 2 professional. That's not it ?

 

[sle3pyguii]

No. Like it says above, the accelerated programs are 3 years, not 2. You might be thinking about 6-years programs like 2 year undergrad + 4 years graduate. The shortest length to completing pharmacy school is 5 years (that I've heard of): 2 years in undergrad then 3 years in an accelerated program like USN and UOP.

 

[stardustmemory]

To answer your other question...yes (a 4 year pharm school) is a long as med school but remember that you have to do something like 2 years of residency after you graduate from med school (where, unless i'm horribly mistaken, you really terrible money).

 

[confettiflyer]

4 years (3 years for accelerated/year round programs). The degree is a Doctor of Pharmacy. Residency is OPTIONAL, as you are fully licensed and able to practice with full salary upon graduation/passing of the board exam.

 

[OKgirl]

4 years (3 years for accelerated/year round programs). The degree is a Doctor of Pharmacy. Residency is OPTIONAL, as you are fully licensed and able to practice with full salary upon graduation/passing of the board exam.

Is residency the same thing as the rotations? 😕

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Is residency the same thing as the rotations? 😕

I believe rotations are during our 4th year. Residencies are usually from 1-2 years after getting our PharmDs....say if you plan on working in a hospital setting, you will have to do a year of hospital residency and another year after that if you plan on specializing.

 

[OKgirl]

I believe rotations are during our 4th year. Residencies are usually from 1-2 years after getting our PharmDs....say if you plan on working in a hospital setting, you will have to do a year of hospital residency and another year after that if you plan on specializing.

So would someone interested in retail also have to do residency, or is it just a hospital/specialty thing?

 

[cinnamoroll12]

So would someone interested in retail also have to do residency, or is it just a hospital/specialty thing?

I don't think you have to do a residency for retail. I guess you can go out and work and earn full salary.

 

[mike36]

Residencies after graduation are optional. See the ASHP website for more information about them (look under resident information at the bottom):

http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/cat2cn.asp?CID=2&DID=2

 

[binghamkid]

While residencies are optional, they are increasingly becoming more popular and recommended. It is said that a residency is worth three years of experience. In many cases, top hospital jobs won't even look at you if you don't have a residency. If you have an opportunity to get a residency (there are both one-year and two-year type residencies), it is highly recommended unless of course you just want to work in a community pharmacy filling prescriptions for the rest of your life. If you want a management/directorship/starting job with a higher pay, a residency is a very good idea.

It wouldn't surprise me to see that residencies become the new selectivity requirement as the # of pharmacy schools increase and the shortage of pharmacists decreases. At such a point in time, you will see the high salaries go down; the only ones who will command the really high salaries will be the ones with the much-needed skillsets, e.g. the pharmacists who complete residencies.

 

[deleted158872]

I believe rotations are during our 4th year. Residencies are usually from 1-2 years after getting our PharmDs....say if you plan on working in a hospital setting, you will have to do a year of hospital residency and another year after that if you plan on specializing.

Specializing! I've never heard of it before!
In what areas can a PHARMACIST specialize ?

Btw, the PHARM.D. ACCELERATED PROGRAMS are more geared toward RETAIL, right? Do you know any site where I can find a list of schools that offer PharmD programs steering toward Hospital career ?

 

[Paulz]

While residencies are optional, they are increasingly becoming more popular and recommended. It is said that a residency is worth three years of experience. In many cases, top hospital jobs won't even look at you if you don't have a residency. If you have an opportunity to get a residency (there are both one-year and two-year type residencies), it is highly recommended unless of course you just want to work in a community pharmacy filling prescriptions for the rest of your life. If you want a management/directorship/starting job with a higher pay, a residency is a very good idea.

It wouldn't surprise me to see that residencies become the new selectivity requirement as the # of pharmacy schools increase and the shortage of pharmacists decreases. At such a point in time, you will see the high salaries go down; the only ones who will command the really high salaries will be the ones with the much-needed skillsets, e.g. the pharmacists who complete residencies.

are you talking of a residency after pharm school??

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Specializing! I've never heard of it before!
In what areas can a PHARMACIST specialize ?

Btw, the PHARM.D. ACCELERATED PROGRAMS are more geared toward RETAIL, right? Do you know any site where I can find a list of schools that offer PharmD programs steering toward Hospital career ?

Pharmacists can specialize in pediatrics/neonatology, critical care, geriatrics, ambulatory care, etc... About this, Binghamkid and other current pharm students probably know much more than I do. As for right now, I am thinking of subspecializing in peds/neonatology based on my volunteer experiences in the NICU, but who knows...I might change my mind once I get admitted to a pharm school.

PharmD accelerated programs covers everything from a traditional 4 yr program into a 3 yr program. That means, 2 years (including summer school) + a year of rotations. The list of schools can be found on the PharmCAS site. When I picked out the schools, I explored the sites of most of the schools....which included reading over the philosophies, histories, curriculums, and the facts about the schools.

 

[Rae444]

I am very interested in both geriatrics and pediatrics, and I dont know which one Id rather do... I am really looking forward to rotations to do both, but do you have any suggestions/comments on these fields of pharm or info on how one would get a job, and where, in either of these areas?

 

[cinnamoroll12]

I am very interested in both geriatrics and pediatrics, and I dont know which one Id rather do... I am really looking forward to rotations to do both, but do you have any suggestions/comments on these fields of pharm or info on how one would get a job, and where, in either of these areas?

I'm guessing that I would be looking into larger hospitals because currently I am volunteering at two different hospitals and I noticed that at a large teaching hospital, each dept (ICU, med/surg, for example) has a pharmacist's office. For peds, I guess we can look for a job at a children's hospital?

 

[binghamkid]

are you talking of a residency after pharm school??

Yes. Residencies are always after pharmacy school. There are all sorts of specializing that a pharmacist can do. You can specialize in neonatal care, asthma, informatics, diabetes, medication management, etc. etc. There are many different residencies that you can do that will define your specialization. There's even nuclear residencies where you can compound radionuclear pharmaceuticals (makes a boatload of money btw). The more specializations you get, the more highly sought after you will be. You can also get certifications, where you take a 3-month course (it varies), and take a test to become certified for a specialized condition (i.e. asthma, diabetes).

Keep your options open. Going to a 3-year institution will let you get out of the school one year early, but remember you go through three FULL years of hellish studying. You don't get a break. You study during your summers, while in a four-year institution, you can use your summers to rest and focus on your rotations/job/whatever you want to do. A three-year institution is NOT for everyone. Don't go just for the economics; remember, it does no good to go to a school only to fail out one year later. Go to a school that fits for you. You have lots of career options. I know lots of people go in saying that retail is not for them. I am like that as well; but I can tell you, there are many different types of retail, and while three months ago I said I wouldn't even consider a retail position, now I think I wouldn't mind running my own independent retail pharmacy. Things will change rapidly as you go through pharmacy school; don't get stuck in a rut or you will limit yourself severely as you consider your future options.

 

[binghamkid]

I'm guessing that I would be looking into larger hospitals because currently I am volunteering at two different hospitals and I noticed that at a large teaching hospital, each dept (ICU, med/surg, for example) has a pharmacist's office. For peds, I guess we can look for a job at a children's hospital?

If you are looking for jobs in peds and geriatics, it's highly recommendd you do a residency in either specialization (whichever one you end up choosing). If you have a residency, you will be highly sought after at a hospital/institution; I wouldn't worry about finding a job once you have that residency under your belt. People who complete the specialized residency are few and far between (it takes two years, after all).

 

[binghamkid]

So would someone interested in retail also have to do residency, or is it just a hospital/specialty thing?

They do have retail-oriented residencies; residencies command higher pay, and indicate you are much more experienced than your peers as you apply for jobs.

 

[OKgirl]

Do you get paid during the residency? Going 6 years with no job will be hard enough, I can't even imagine going 7-8 years with no pay!

 

[mike36]

Do you get paid during the residency? Going 6 years with no job will be hard enough, I can't even imagine going 7-8 years with no pay!

Yes, residents are paid but it is typically much less than you could make working as a pharmacist after graduation. I think residents typically make between $30,000-$40,000/yr. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

 

[Paulz]

So then say you graduate pharm school at 26, you won't begin making money until your 30? I thought pharm residencies were typically shorter than med-school residencies?

 

[mike36]

So then say you graduate pharm school at 26, you won't begin making money until your 30? I thought pharm residencies were typically shorter than med-school residencies?

Residencies are usually 1-2 years. Add that to four years of PharmD coursework and that is 5+ years of full time education with none or very little pay (compared to pharmacist salary).

 

[Paulz]

^^ Is that for pharm?

Because you can look at it this way. There are accelerated 6 year pharm programs that will get you graduating from phar school when your 24, do a year a residency, your 25, and then you start making money. At the very latest you'll start when your 26-27 even if you complete a bachelor degree. Look at MED SCHOOL, you need 4 years undergrad, then 4 years med, your 26, then you do your internship/residency for 3 years, you don't start making money till your 30.

 

[Farmercyst]

So then say you graduate pharm school at 26, you won't begin making money until your 30? I thought pharm residencies were typically shorter than med-school residencies?

The residencies are optional, so you could make money as soon as you graduate.

As far as I know residencies are all one year, but there are residencies designated as PGY-1 (Post-Graduate Year-1) and PGY-2. PGY-1 residencies are more general. For instance you may be in a hospital for an entire year, but rotate through peds, NICU, CCU oncology, etc. Whereas PGY2 residencies are more specialized. Maybe you'll spend the entire year in a peds ward or in a critical care unit or on some other specialty unit.

The ASHP website probably has the most concentrated information on who has which residencies, what you'd be doing and how much they pay.

 

[binghamkid]

The residencies are optional, so you could make money as soon as you graduate.

As far as I know residencies are all one year, but there are residencies designated as PGY-1 (Post-Graduate Year-1) and PGY-2. PGY-1 residencies are more general. For instance you may be in a hospital for an entire year, but rotate through peds, NICU, CCU oncology, etc. Whereas PGY2 residencies are more specialized. Maybe you'll spend the entire year in a peds ward or in a critical care unit or on some other specialty unit.

The ASHP website probably has the most concentrated information on who has which residencies, what you'd be doing and how much they pay.

You can't do PGY-2's until you do a PGY-1. That's the rule. Residencies pay really low, but the end result is you command a higher pay later on initially. The bright side is that residencies guarantee job security. Don't be fooled by the current shortage in pharmacists. The truth is, cities are already fairly saturated by pharmacists; they are going to be looking for qualified candidates.

 

[Paulz]

The residencies are optional, so you could make money as soon as you graduate.

As far as I know residencies are all one year, but there are residencies designated as PGY-1 (Post-Graduate Year-1) and PGY-2. PGY-1 residencies are more general. For instance you may be in a hospital for an entire year, but rotate through peds, NICU, CCU oncology, etc. Whereas PGY2 residencies are more specialized. Maybe you'll spend the entire year in a peds ward or in a critical care unit or on some other specialty unit.

The ASHP website probably has the most concentrated information on who has which residencies, what you'd be doing and how much they pay.

you talking from a pharm stand point here about the residencies where you rotate or medical?

 

[mike36]

you talking from a pharm stand point here about the residencies where you rotate or medical?

We are talking about pharmacy residencies. Go to the link I posted above. It really does have some good information .

 

[POP44STOP22]

How long does it take to earn a PharmD degree after undergraduate ? 😕

Pharmacy takes 4 years, and so does Medical schools. You will make more money after graduation from a Medical school than Pharmacy school. I am doing Pharmacy not for the money though. I will work for free.

 

[Paulz]

^^ I believe that's an inacurate statement. In the long run yes, but in the short term no. After graduating from a pharm school, you will generally begin making money quicker than after med school. Many doctors won't earn their typical salary until they are 30-31.