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The PharmD: The Path to Becoming a Pharmacist

So you want to become a pharmacist? Then get ready to spend four years earning your Doctor of Pharmacy, also known as a PharmD. The PharmD is a professional doctorate, and it is the required level of education for all aspiring pharmacists in the United States. Read on to learn more about this program, including what you types of classes you can expect to take and how much you might earn once you graduate.

PharmD Basics

Once upon a time, pharmacists in the U.S. typically earned just a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Those days are gone. The Bachelor of Pharmacy degree is no longer awarded in this country. In a nutshell, undergraduate degrees in pharmacy are no longer enough to earn you a position as a pharmacist. The PharmD has replaced such undergraduate programs as the educational requirement for becoming a pharmacist.

Most PharmD programs take about four years to complete. Admittance requires at least two years of specific study in areas such as calculus, chemistry, biology, and physics. Generally, PharmD candidates have completed three or more years at a college or university before applying to a PharmD program, but an undergraduate degree is not a requirement for admittance. To find the right PharmD program for you, take a look at our list of accredited pharmacy schools.

PharmD Coursework

A typical PharmD program will teach students about all aspects of drug therapy, such as:

  • How to educate patients on the correct use of prescription medication
  • Understanding how different drugs interact
  • How to make sure that a drug is safe and appropriate for a patient
  • How to explain drug information to patients
  • How to work with healthcare providers.

Other courses will cover ethics, public health issues, and business management. Students will also work with licensed pharmacists to gain hands-on experience.

Cost of Tuition

Attending a PharmD program will be more expensive than attending a normal four-year degree program. The overall cost varies widely depending on the location and type of college or university you attend. In 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Education, the average in-state tuition was about $4,300 per year. Meanwhile, the average tuition at a private, non-profit college or university cost about $23,200 per year, and the average tuition at a private, for-profit university (e.g. most online universities) cost around $14,350 per year.

There are many scholarships available for pharmacy students. Check out our list of 50 Scholarships for Pharmacy School Students. Additionally, some hospitals and large chain stores that have pharmacies (e.g. Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) offer programs that are designed to help pharmacy students. The specifics vary, but generally these programs allow students to work part-time at one of the organization's pharmacies while they are in school. In exchange, after the student receives his or her license, he or she must then work for that organization for a set number of years. Many pharmacists find this to be a good way to gain experience while decreasing the amount of money they have to borrow to pay for their education.

After Graduation

After graduating from a pharmacy program—preferably one that has been approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education—there are several tests the graduate must pass in order to obtain his or her pharmacy license. All of the states in the U.S. require successful completion of the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia also require that aspiring pharmacists pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests pharmacy law. The states that do not require the MPJE have their own tests of pharmacy law.

Students who earn a PharmD can continue their education in more specific areas of pharmacy. They can earn a M.S. or a PhD in a pharmaceutical science, such as:

  • Clinical pharmacy
  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Pharmacognsy
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Physical pharmacy
  • Industrial pharmacy
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacy administration

 

Salary & Career Outlook

Pharmacy is a rapidly expanding and well-paying field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there are about 270,000 pharmacists currently working in the U.S. Most of them are salaried employees who work in a retail setting or in a hospital. The median earnings for a pharmacist is $106,410, with the highest 10 percent of pharmacists earning more than $131,440 per year. The lowest 10 percent are still well-paid, earning about $77,390 per year. Through 2018, the number of pharmacist positions is expected to grow by 17 percent to around 316,000.

 

Best Graduate Schools for Pharmacy Studies

Below is a list of the top 10 Pharmacy Schools and Colleges in the United States, ranked by U.S. News & World Report .

Please note: The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is for those who want to become a practicing pharmacist. The Pharm.D. is a professional degree similar to the doctor of medicine (MD) for physicians, or a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) for dentists. Most students pursue postgraduate advanced training or education in the form of residencies, fellowships, or advanced degrees.

University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy

  • Rank : No. 1
  • Degree : Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
  • Cost : $27,000 annually
  • Length : 4 years
  • The Pharm.D. program at the University of California is ranked as the top in the country. Faculty members are known worldwide as leaders in pharmacy, professional education and research. The Pharm.D. prepares students for licensure as a pharmacist and takes four years to complete. The first three years consist of course work in the biological, physical, and chemical sciences. Throughout the curriculum, students take elective coursework to explore their professional interests. In the fourth year students gain advanced experience in patient care settings.
  • Students select an emphasis in one of 3 pathways:
    Pharmaceutical Care Pathway
    Pharmaceutical Health Policy and Management Pathway
    Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway

 

University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill

  • Rank : No. 2
  • Degree : Pharm.D.
  • Cost : $27,000 annually
  • Length : 4 years
  • The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is one of the country's premier research universities. Students work in the UNC hospitals that are known as one of America's best in many areas. The school places emphasis on hands-on experience and personal interaction. Students wanting to enter the Pharm.D. program at UNC need at least two years of study in pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, zoology, or 2 years from another university or college with course work that is acceptable to the UNC Graduate School. In the first two years students learn about common diseases and how they are managed with the correct use of medications. In the third year they learn about more complex cases and about the career path they have chosen such as ambulatory care, critical care, nuclear pharmacy, or pediatrics. And in their final year it is primarily clinical practice experiences.
  • Graduate Programs:
    Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Master of Science M.S. in Pharmacy Practice and Experiential (P.P.E.E.)

 

University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy

 

University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy

  • Rank : No. 4
  • Degree : Pharm.D.
  • Cost : $11,000 per semester
  • Length : 4 years
  • The College of Pharmacy has state-of-the-art research facilities available for students. The College faculty have been internationally acclaimed for their research, and cited for distinctions in teaching excellence.
  • Cooperative Programs – Students are able to complete the Pharm.D. in six years with four years being completed in the student's home region.
  • Graduate Programs:
    Pharm.D. Ph.D.
    Pharm.D.Honors Program
    Post Pharm.D. Education and Training
    Ph.D. or M.S. in Pharmacy

 

Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

  • Rank : Tied for No. 5
  • Degree : Pharm.D.
  • Cost : For 2009-10, full time per-quarter fees are $3,561/quarter for Ohio residents and $8,641/quarter for non-residents.
  • Length : 4 years
  • Ohio State University boasts a state-of-the art laboratory and library facilities. The University Medical Center is one of the most comprehensive health science centers in the United States. Several current faculty members are fellows of various professional/scientific organizations, and ten national practice/clinical science related awards have been received by this group since 1997.
  • Graduate Degrees:
    Ph.D. and M.S. Programs
    Combined degrees (Pharm.D. with Master of Business Administration M.B.A. or Pharm.D. with Master of Public Health M.P.H.)

 

University of Kentucky School of Pharmacy

  • Rank : Tied for No. 5
  • Degree : Pharm.D.
  • Cost : $15,000
  • Length : 4 years
  • Students selected to join one of these 3 tracks of study have the chance to perform research under the guidance of national leaders in pharmaceutical sciences in areas from neurological disease to computer-aided drug design, to drug delivery. The college collaborates with scientists across the UK campus, and around the globe. Graduates become leaders in education, industry and research throughout the nation and world p rograms. The new University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy laboratory building was completed on January 2010, it was built primarily to foster collaboration among researchers in chemistry, biology and pharmaceutical areas. It is the largest academic building in Kentucky and among the biggest in the nation.
  • Graduate Degrees:
    Ph.D.
    Dual Degree Programs – Students can enroll in the Pharm.D. program and one of these programs at the same time allowing them to differentiate themselves. M.S. (Economics), M.B.A. (Business), M.P.A. (Public Administration), M.P.H. (Public Health), M.P.P. (Public Policy), M.S. P.A.S. (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies) .

 

University of Michigan Ann Arbor School of Pharmacy

  • Rank : Tied for No. 5
  • Degree : Pharm.D.
  • Cost : $20,000 annually
  • Length : 4 years
  • With an effective and dedicated faculty, the graduate programs at the U-M College of Pharmacy are highly valued for their interdisciplinary approach. Students spend two years taking advanced-level courses relevant to their specific Ph.D. program, the courses are taken together with a research project. The remaining two to three years of Ph.D. study are devoted to conducting research and writing and defending a thesis. These programs are directed by faculty with international reputations for excellence in research and teaching.
  • Graduate Degrees:
    Masters in Parmaceutical Engineering
    Ph.D.
    Pharm.D.
    Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry
    Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Ph.D. in Social and Administrative Sciences

 

University of Washington Seattle School of Pharmacy

 

Purdue West Lafayette, ID School of Pharmacy

 

University of Arizona Tuscon College of Pharmacy

 

Article Resources:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
National Center for Education Statistics

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