Pharm Tech to Licensed Pharmacist

[theqguru]

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I've worked at a small family Pharmacy for the past 2 years and recently became a Licensed Pharmacy Tech for the state of Maryland. I want to continue my education and eventually earn my Pharm D but with having a family and not living to close to a Pharmacy school I would need to do it in a non traditional route. I have a bachelor degree in a non health related field. I have seen on the AACP that there are many non traditional Pharm D programs. In my reading they seem to all state you need to be a licensed pharmacist as a requirement. Can I become a licensed pharmacist without a Pharm D??? If so has anyone done it or know a licensed pharmacist that has done it through online learning or distance based education?

Thanks so much for your time.

 

[pharmaster]

No, you cannot. You need a pharmD degree and you can only get one if you attend pharmacy school.

 

[theqguru]

Looking at the University of Florida Pharmacy School they offer an online PharmD program. But you need to be a Licensed Pharmacist to attend. They currently have over 750 students attending the school and over 1500 that have graduated. It just seems so odd that if you need a Pharmd to get licensed why would they have any students if being a licensed pharmacist is a requirement???

Shenandoah has a non traditional PharmD program called NTDP. Their website states "The online NTDP Pathway is for registered and practicing pharmacists and normally requires about 2 ½ years to complete" So again why would you go back to get your PharmD if you are already a practicing registered Pharmacist.

The AACP list 7 schools that offer PharmD programs this way all saying you need to need to be a licensed pharmacist to attend. Seems crazy if you can't become a pharmacist without having a PharmD???

I know Creighton offers a complete online PharmD program, I just did not know if there was a step below PharmD I could aim for initially.

 

[eagles22]

The AACP list 7 schools that offer PharmD programs this way all saying you need to need to be a licensed pharmacist to attend. Seems crazy if you can't become a pharmacist without having a PharmD???

I know Creighton offers a complete online PharmD program, I just did not know if there was a step below PharmD I could aim for initially.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy degree used to be the degree that led to being a licensed pharmacist (not available anywhere any more). These programs allow pharmacists who have the B.Pharm. to go back and get their Pharm.D's.

 

[fungikid]

The Bachelor of Pharmacy degree used to be the degree that led to being a licensed pharmacist (not available anywhere any more). These programs allow pharmacists who have the B.Pharm. to go back and get their Pharm.D's.

+1

The programs the OP is talking about are for pharmacists who hold the old degree. All those pharmacists still had to attend a brick and mortar pharmacy school to earn their bachelors of pharmacy degrees. They completed to requirements to be licensed at the time. It's just the requirements have now changed.

 

[pharmschooler]

I've heard Creighton University actually offers the PharmD education online (all four years, for non-pharmacists), but you've got to be highly self-motivated and come back to Omaha (I think that's where they are) for labs in the summer.

 

[Chris co2012]

OP, I think the "non-traditional" might have been referring to a residency...

 

[Praziquantel86]

Looking at the University of Florida Pharmacy School they offer an online PharmD program. But you need to be a Licensed Pharmacist to attend. They currently have over 750 students attending the school and over 1500 that have graduated. It just seems so odd that if you need a Pharmd to get licensed why would they have any students if being a licensed pharmacist is a requirement???

Shenandoah has a non traditional PharmD program called NTDP. Their website states "The online NTDP Pathway is for registered and practicing pharmacists and normally requires about 2 ½ years to complete" So again why would you go back to get your PharmD if you are already a practicing registered Pharmacist.

The AACP list 7 schools that offer PharmD programs this way all saying you need to need to be a licensed pharmacist to attend. Seems crazy if you can't become a pharmacist without having a PharmD???

I know Creighton offers a complete online PharmD program, I just did not know if there was a step below PharmD I could aim for initially.

A Pharm.D. is the only degree that you can currently obtain in the U.S. in order to practice pharmacy. There are many pharmacists who currently practice holding the older B.Pharm. degree, however, that has not been an option to obtain since 2001. The post-graduate Pharm.D. programs you see are for currently practicing pharmacists with a B.Pharm. degree who wish to obtain a Pharm.D. for career advancement or other reasons.

The online program at Creighton offers a Pharm.D. to students who are NOT already practicing pharmacists, but is not an abbreviated program like the other post-graduate Pharm.D. programs. From what I understand, it is a very difficult program to get into and requires a large amount of dedication from the student.

There are no alternatives. A Pharm.D. is the one, and only, way to become a practicing pharmacist in the U.S. Good luck.

 

[deleted129840]

The online program at Creighton offers a Pharm.D. to students who are NOT already practicing pharmacists, but is not an abbreviated program like the other post-graduate Pharm.D. programs. From what I understand, it is a very difficult program to get into and requires a large amount of dedication from the student.

There are no alternatives. A Pharm.D. is the one, and only, way to become a practicing pharmacist in the U.S. Good luck.

However, if there is already one online program that gained accreditation, consider that other schools might go this route in the future. Especially if the number of pharmacy applicants decreases due to less favorable job prospects.

 

[CUninja]

However, if there is already one online program that gained accreditation, consider that other schools might go this route in the future. Especially if the number of pharmacy applicants decreases due to less favorable job prospects.

Possible, but let me point out something.

Creighton's online program was accredited in 2000, and no other program has in the 11 years since. If I had to venture a guess as to why, that would be because of the technology aspect of the program. I know our school has a group of people whose job is to make sure that the technology works and is reliable. Not to mention that you have to train faculty to learn how to use the technology that you decide to use. I don't see a lot of schools that have the resources right now to buy technology/train faculty/hire people to run the technology and get the program accredited.

 

[Praziquantel86]

However, if there is already one online program that gained accreditation, consider that other schools might go this route in the future. Especially if the number of pharmacy applicants decreases due to less favorable job prospects.

Sure, it can happen. But it's not relevant right now to the OP's situation.

 

[CUpharmD2013]

Here is where you can find information on the Creighton program.

http://spahp2.creighton.edu/admission/Pharmacy/Pharmacy_Distance.htm

Feel free to PM me with any questions.