So... to be a pharmacist...

[Solidus]

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1) Go to Undergrad school, take appropriate pre-approved courses for Pharmacist college.

2) Take Pharmacist exam, score high.

3) Apply for Pharmacist college, complete courses (4yrs)

4) Residency for 1 year under a certified pharmacist.




Am I doing it right? Are there any steps I have overlooked? Thanks for the help.

 

[BigJawn]

i think im on the same page as you, maybe more confused lol, i hope to go to rutgers pharmacy school.

 

[Knickerbocker]

You'll probably need to do some community service and get some kind of pharmacy experience (through shadowing, volunteering or employment).

Residencies are optional at this point.

 

[omnione]

You could go to a 0+6 school or a school with some form of guaranteed admissions out of high school and not have to deal with a true undergraduate coursework if you want.

Not all schools require the PCAT but an aspiring pharmacy student should take it as the test is becoming more popular.

Though it seems that everyone at my pharmacy school is advocating for a post-graduate residency, it still isn't required.

 

[confettiflyer]

haha, hmm...the terminology you use is interesting. Just for convention's sake...in the US....


"Pharmacist's college" = Pharmacy School
"Pharmacist exam" = PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test)

Residency is optional, and add in NAPLEX and MPJE as the exams you need to take to gain licensure.

 

[SGPharmD]

1) Go to Undergrad school, take appropriate pre-approved courses for Pharmacist college.

2) Take Pharmacist exam, score high.

3) Apply for Pharmacist college, complete courses (4yrs)

4) Residency for 1 year under a certified pharmacist.




Am I doing it right? Are there any steps I have overlooked? Thanks for the help.

I would change that a little bit....

1. The the pre-reqs in an undergrad school that are needed for pharmacy school.

2. Take the PCAT

3. Apply to Pharmacy School (4 years)

4. Take and pass the Naplex (National Licensure exam) and the MPJE (your State Law Exam)

5. Go to work!

 

[Solidus]

About those 0 + 6 year schools... are they a good path to go with? Or do you recommend the longer path of 4yrs. Undergrad study + 4yrs. Pharm school?

 

[omnione]

About those 0 + 6 year schools... are they a good path to go with? Or do you recommend the longer path of 4yrs. Undergrad study + 4yrs. Pharm school?

It's a good option if you are absolutely sure that you want to go into pharmacy out of high school. You could always drop out if you decide that it isn't for you. I suppose the main disadvantages with the 0+6 plan is that it doesn't offer much flexibility if you do drop out. The schedules for 0+6 school are more defined and stringent. The undergrad + 4 student has more flexibility to augment pre-pharmacy courses with other non-pharmacy related courses as a backup measure. The long-term effects of dropping out of pharmacy admissions while doing undergrad can be easier to bear. Of course, this is a minor issue or a non-issue if one is dead set on pharmacy.

I have a classmate who went to Pitt for undergrad but my school for pharmacy school. She wanted to go to Pitt for undergrad but not for pharmacy school. Given that transfers are rare and troublesome between pharmacy school, doing the undergrad to pharmacy school route is better if you have a particular undergrad school you want to go to but want to go somewhere else for pharmacy school. Once again, the disadvantage is a slight loss of flexibility.

 

[Solidus]

Thanks man, I really appreciate it.