MD-pharmacist

[jyhhsieh]

I'm wondering if a graduate MD student who can't spot a residency, can he/she uses his/her MD to become a pharmacist in Canada?

If there are more courses needed to fulfil, how many years of study are needed usually?

Thanx Guys!

 

[IMdocT]

i'm not too sure but it was my impression that a pharmacy is a pharmacy degree, at least in the US. so anyone wanting to go into it would have to take the PCAT, apply, complete an average of 4 years of pharm school, take exams, get licensed, etc. as far as i can imagine, i don't think having an MD changes the situation very much. interviewers may ask why an applicant no longer wants to pursue a medical career, or maybe having some basic science/clinical knowledge would give a head start academically (but not allow someone to skip courses). would need someone else to confirm all this.

 

[Giemsa]

I'm wondering if a graduate MD student who can't spot a residency, can he/she uses his/her MD to become a pharmacist in Canada?

No, an MD degree qualifies you to do a residency and not much else.

To become a pharmacist, you need to complete a four-year bachelor's degree in pharmacy, pass the national board exams and do a pharmacy internship.

http://www.pharmacists.ca/content/about_cpha/about_pharmacy_in_can/how_to_become/index.cfm

Perhaps some of your undergrad / med school classes (if taken at a Canadian school) might be counted towards Canadian pharmacy school, but you'd need to ask the individual University program about that.

 

[Winged Scapula]

This is no different than the discussion below about using the MD to become an RN, etc. These are different paths, with different focuses and the MD is not an entry degree to PharmD or vice versa. You may get credit for a few of your courses.

If you need to find a position using your MD, there are few options, becoming a pharmacist without the proper training is not one of them.

 

[PharmaTope]

dont know about canada BUT

hospital pharmacies do pay physician salaries if the physician is doing Antimicrobial Stewardship.

You could always inquiry to a lot of directors of pharmacy if they would take you on.