How to become a pharmacist: A step-by-step guide

Becoming a licensed pharmacist is a rewarding journey that offers personal fulfillment, intellectual challenge, and the chance to positively impact patient health. Learning how to become a pharmacist means dedicating yourself to mastering medication management, ensuring patients get the right prescriptions, counseling them on safe usage, and preventing dangerous drug interactions.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about becoming a pharmacist, starting with a summary of the profession and ending with an overview of diverse pharmacy career opportunities.

What does a career as a pharmacist entail?

Becoming a pharmacist demands meeting rigorous pharmacist education requirements and developing a thorough understanding of pharmacology, including the mechanisms of action, drug interactions, and potential adverse effects of a wide range of medications. In addition to mastering the science behind medications, pharmacist education requirements include in-depth knowledge of pharmacy law, ethics, and regulatory standards, all of which are essential for the safe and legal dispensing of prescriptions. This extensive training equips pharmacists to provide accurate medication counseling, optimize patient treatment plans, and play a key role in promoting patient safety and well-being.

Pharmacist jobs are available in diverse healthcare environments such as retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. Beyond dispensing prescriptions and offering dosage guidance directly to patients, pharmacist jobs often involve managing pharmaceutical inventory, conducting health screenings, and administering immunizations. This highly collaborative role includes working with physicians, pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare professionals to enhance medication therapy management. The comprehensive pharmacist education requirements prepare professionals for these varied responsibilities, ensuring pharmacists are well-equipped to excel in their roles and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

Preparing for a pharmacy career: before and after high school

Taking advanced placement (AP) courses in subjects like chemistry or biology while in high school can help prepare you for the rigors of pharmacy school while contributing to your bachelor’s degree requirements. Taking an AP exam and scoring well can grant you college credit or advanced placement in relevant courses; however, each college has its own policy, so you’ll need to send your official AP score report to the colleges you’re interested in for them to evaluate your credits.

Volunteering or interning at a hospital or other healthcare setting is another great way to prepare for a successful career as a pharmacist. These roles provide practical, first-hand experience and can enhance your resume, expand your professional network, and boost your competitiveness when applying to pharmacy school or seeking employment in the field.

Interns often have the opportunity to assist with projects, conduct experiments, analyze data, and learn about drug development processes under the guidance of experienced professionals. These internships may involve working in research and development, regulatory affairs, quality control, or marketing departments of pharmaceutical companies. To find a good pharmaceutical internship, students can start with job databases like LinkedIn. You can also research pharmaceutical companies online to see their internship programs or browse the career sections on their websites.

Should you earn a bachelor’s degree?

In many countries, including the U.S., a bachelor’s degree is not always required to become a pharmacist. However, completion of prerequisite coursework and entry into a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D. or PharmD) program is necessary.

Many PharmD programs offer combined degree options, allowing students to earn both their bachelor’s and PharmD degrees concurrently, while others may require completion of a certain number of undergraduate credits before admission. Though not mandatory, a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a pre-pharmacy program can strengthen your application to Pharm.D. programs.

How to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree

The PharmD program is the essential educational pathway for those seeking to become pharmacists. As the standard requirement for pharmacist education in the U.S., the Doctor of Pharmacy degree typically involves four years of intensive study, including both classroom-based learning and immersive clinical rotations in actual pharmacy practice environments. By successfully completing the PharmD program, students will earn their Doctor of Pharmacy credential and receive comprehensive training across key areas such as pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy law, patient care, and healthcare management.

Meeting the pharmacist education requirements for admission to a PharmD program is highly competitive. Applicants generally need to have:

• Completed prerequisite coursework
• Achieved qualifying scores on standardized tests like the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
• Provided strong letters of recommendation
• Submitted a compelling personal statement

To ensure you fulfill all requirements for becoming a pharmacist, consult the admissions pages of individual pharmacy schools or contact their admissions offices directly for detailed information about their PharmD program criteria.

Specialize further within pharmacy

While not always mandatory, many graduates of a PharmD program opt to pursue a pharmacy residency after earning their degree. Pharmacy residency specialties encompass one- to two-year postgraduate programs designed to provide focused clinical training in advanced areas such as oncology, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Completing a residency in a specific specialty not only deepens your pharmacy knowledge and patient care expertise but also opens doors to rewarding career opportunities within specialized areas of pharmacy practice.

There are multiple avenues for advancing your pharmaceutical specialization. Experienced pharmacists may enhance their credentials by earning Pharmacotherapy Specialty Certifications (BCPS) or qualifying in niche fields like psychiatric pharmacy or nuclear pharmacy. Administered by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, these pharmacy certifications validate advanced competencies developed beyond the core PharmD program. Earning these credentials can increase your professional recognition and often lead to greater earning potential within specialized pharmacy practices.

Maintaining pharmacy licensure and continuing education

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) is a crucial step in obtaining your pharmacy license, as it evaluates a pharmacist’s comprehensive knowledge and ability to ensure patient safety and optimal medication outcomes. Earning a pharmacy license is mandatory for practicing pharmacists, requiring candidates to pass the NAPLEX as well as any state-specific pharmacy law examinations. Maintaining an active pharmacy license also involves meeting continuing education requirements, which help pharmacists stay current on new medications, updated regulations, and evolving best practices within the profession.

State pharmacy boards generally require pharmacists to complete a designated number of continuing education credits to renew their pharmacy license. These credits can be earned through accredited programs provided by professional pharmacy organizations, online education platforms, or industry conferences. Continuing education initiatives often address critical topics such as drug interactions, medication management for chronic and complex diseases, and recent innovations in pharmaceutical care. Staying current on CE requirements helps pharmacists uphold the standards of their pharmacy license throughout their careers.

Pharmacy career opportunities

The demand for pharmacists and pharmacy jobs is projected to rise in the coming years. Earning your Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree opens a wide range of pharmacy career opportunities across diverse healthcare settings, such as retail pharmacies, hospitals, specialty clinics, pharmaceutical companies, academia, and government agencies.

Understanding the vast array of pharmacist jobs and pharmacy residency specialties allows you to discover pharmacy career pathways that best suit your interests, strengths, and professional objectives. For instance, pursuing a role as a community pharmacist remains one of the most traditional pharmacy jobs. These professionals work in retail settings like CVS or Walgreens, dispensing medications and providing direct patient counseling. Alternatively, hospital pharmacists play a critical role within healthcare institutions by monitoring patient outcomes, managing medication therapies, and collaborating closely with medical teams to ensure safe and effective treatments.

Beyond these conventional pharmacy positions, there is a wealth of pharmacist career paths available, including specialized clinical research pharmacists who design and conduct clinical trials to assess new drug therapies. Those interested in teaching and research may pursue opportunities as academic pharmacists, engaging in pharmacy education, advancing practice standards, and creating new knowledge in university settings. These pharmacy career opportunities illustrate just a few of the rewarding paths available with a PharmD degree and demonstrate the incredible versatility within the pharmaceutical profession.

Build your network and stay informed

Networking with fellow pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders is essential for career growth and advancement. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is one organization for pharmaceutical professionals that provides access to webinars on emerging drug therapies, practice management resources, and legislative updates impacting pharmacy practice. Engaging in professional organizations such as the APhA, attending conferences, and staying informed about industry trends and developments ensures that pharmacists remain at the forefront of their field.

Can you become a pharmacist as a pharmacy technician?

The short answer is: absolutely. However, there are many differences between pharmacist vs. pharmacy technician careers and certification pathways, and techs must be ready to dedicate time and effort to additional schooling and training. The basic requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician are graduating from high school, completing a certain number of work hours or a training program, and passing a certification exam. To become a pharmacist, pharmacy techs must take prerequisite college courses or finish their college degree, enroll in a PharmD program, and gain more advanced work experience.

Unlike undergraduate students with no experience, pharmacy technicians have the added benefit of bringing practical knowledge to their pharmacy training. If you’re already in the field, becoming a pharmacist is definitely a career-advancing path worth pursuing.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for exciting pharmacist jobs that combine science, critical thinking, and a passion for helping others, a pharmacy career offers outstanding opportunities for professional growth. Pharmacists play an indispensable role in the healthcare system, supporting improved medication adherence, advancing public wellness, and providing patient-centered care across the U.S.

With the wide array of pharmacy career opportunities available, the field remains in high demand, offering stability and the chance to make a meaningful impact. By following the steps outlined above and maintaining your commitment to patient care, you’ll be well-positioned to launch and sustain a fulfilling pharmacy career.