NCPA - National Community Pharmacists Association
Represents the independent pharmacy owner, and encourages student members to pursue ownership of an independent pharmacy. They have their own programs to offer assistance to new pharm grads in the purchase and financing of an independent practice, and how to find a niche market for your new business.
http://www.ncpanet.org/
ASHP - American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (used to be called the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists)
Tends to represent hospital pharmacy practice (despite the name change
). If you have an interest in pursuing a hospital pharmacy practice residency, you'll probably want to be a member. They have showcases of residency programs at annual meetings (This December, it's in New Orleans, next year...Vegas Baby!) and you'll have to be a member anyways to use their residency matching program. You get a free subscription to their journal, AJHP.
http://www.ashp.org/
APhA - American Pharmacists Association (used to be called the American Pharmaceutical Association)
ASP just means the "Academy of Students of Pharmacy"...APhA-ASP is the student section of APhA
Tends to represent community (retail) pharmacy practice, also despite the inclusive name. They also have their annual meetings, you get a nice subscription to "Pharmacy Today". They sponsor community pharmacy residency programs, and you have online access to their journal.
http://www.aphanet.org/
At our school, if we join the "Nevada College of Pharmacy Student Alliance", we have to get membership in both ASHP and APhA-ASP.
Both ASHP and APhA offer decent student discounts on books. They also have their "stupid" benefits like credit cards, etc...
I may be attending the ASHP midyear clinical in New Orleans this December.
