Pharmacist vs Pharmacologist

[orthomyxo]

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What's the difference? They seem to make the same amount of money and learn basically the same things, except one takes six (or even eight) years, and the other takes four. I'm confused!!! 😕

 

[kittycatblues]

What's the difference? They seem to make the same amount of money and learn basically the same things, except one takes six (or even eight) years, and the other takes four. I'm confused!!! 😕

To become a pharmacist it takes at least six years or more of college level study. The terminal degree is the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). This degree leads to licensure as a registered pharmacist (after passing requisite exams and fulfilling internship requirements). There are many possible careers in pharmacy, but many graduates work in community (retail) pharmacy settings or hospital settings. You take classes in many science areas but also patient-care, pharmacy law, economics classes, etc. Most pharmacy students do take classes in pharmacology, but that is just one small area of study.

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs or naturally occuring compounds (e.g., hormones) act on the body, typically at the cellular and molecular level. I suppose there are colleges out there that offer a four-year bachelor's degree in pharmacology, but if someone wants to call themself a "Pharmacologist" most likely they would need to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree which is an additional four to seven years typicallly. Getting a Ph.D. is no cakewalk and it requires taking graduate level classes and original research, which most Pharm.D. programs do not require. Also getting a Ph.D. does not guarantee a job or any set level of income, unlike a Pharm.D. which virtually guarantees any graduate still breathing a well paying job.

So the two are not similar at all, really.

 

[delano2000]

One is pretty much dispensing and implementing and managing drug regimens and the other does research.

 

[delano2000]

To become a pharmacist it takes at least six years or more of college level study. The terminal degree is the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). This degree leads to licensure as a registered pharmacist (after passing requisite exams and fulfilling internship requirements). There are many possible careers in pharmacy, but many graduates work in community (retail) pharmacy settings or hospital settings. You take classes in many science areas but also patient-care, pharmacy law, economics classes, etc. Most pharmacy students do take classes in pharmacology, but that is just one small area of study.

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs or naturally occuring compounds (e.g., hormones) act on the body, typically at the cellular and molecular level. I suppose there are colleges out there that offer a four-year bachelor's degree in pharmacology, but if someone wants to call themself a "Pharmacologist" most likely they would need to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree which is an additional four to seven years typicallly. Getting a Ph.D. is no cakewalk and it requires taking graduate level classes and original research, which most Pharm.D. programs do not require. Also getting a Ph.D. does not guarantee a job or any set level of income (especially not with a B.S.), unlike a Pharm.D. which virtually guarantees any graduate still breathing a well paying job.

So the two are not similar at all, really.

Very detailed. 👍