Looking for information on how to become a pharmacist? Read on to find out more.
A job as a pharmacist can be rewarding. Currently, the job demand for pharmacists is high, the unemployment rate is relatively low. One item of note is that more people are pursuing this degree than ever before which can result in a surplus of applicants with less jobs to fill. Despite that, a profession as a pharmacist is still a viable career choice for a person with the right interests. More often than not, a pharmacist is interested in science and working with others. Although possessing these interests is not essential to an enjoyable profession, it definitely helps.
To practice as a pharmacist, a doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD) is necessary. For students starting college, it can take 6-8 years to graduate with a PharmD. The first two years of school is generally the same as most students except that the focus should be on take math and science courses. Current high school students that wish to pursue a career in pharmacy can increase their college admission chances by taking chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics classes while still in high school. The admission requirements can vary per school so it is advised to request information early. The Phamacy College AdmissionTest is a requirement of many pharmacy schools. The PCAT can be taken while still in high school or in college.
Now that you’re been accepted and are attending college, here’s some of the courses you’ll be taking. As mentioned earlier, math and science classes are a strong foundation of a pharmacist’s education. Since most science classes rely on math, it would behoove a student to start with these courses early on.
After building a foundation in mathematics, students should start focusing on biology, physics, and chemistry. Since many medicines are derived from animals and plants, biology is a necessary course. Biology classes also include human anatomy, zoology, and biochemistry.
As expected, chemistry is the most important area of study. Since pharmacists deal with chemicals on a daily basis, understanding the correct way to work with them is essential. Obtaining knowledge of how chemicals behave (combine, split, interact) one of the student’s primary focus . For students pursuing a career in academics or research, chemistry is quite possibly the most important area of study.
One area of pharmacy that is often overlooked is management. As the businesses increase research/retail locations, someone needs to deal with all the pharmacists under employment. Companies are now hiring pharmacist to manage their departments. If obtaining a job in this area appeals to you, you’ll still need to obtain your PharmD to become a pharmacist. However, adding some finance and/or management classes to your studies will be necessary.
A career in pharmacy can be rewarding personally, professionally, and financially. Pharmacists are in demand as the population ages and more drugs are being prescribed.
