Education

A Pharmacy student must complete eight years of professional level training at a pharmacy school, or 4 years after receiving a bachelors degree. A bachelors degree is not required as some pharmacy schools only require two years of undergraduate education and the completion of a list of prerequisites. Competition to obtain entry into pharmacy school, however, limits the number of students admitted without a bachelors degree. Before schools went to the all PharmD programs students could do 5 years of professional undergraduate level training and receive a BScPharm with the option of continuing for one more year for the PharmD. There are currently 116 accredited pharmacy schools in the United States (late 2009), and 6 of these schools offer "accelerated" 3 year PharmD programs by attending school almost year round – with fewer breaks for summer and holidays.^{[citation needed]} There also is one fully accredited "distance/online" 4 year PharmD program offered by Creighton University.^{[citation needed]} Pharmacists receive a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) upon graduation, and licensure after passing the NAPLEX and MPJE. Both the PharmD and the BScPharm take the same licensure exams.

Mandatory courses may include:

Anatomy Biochemistry Biology Immunology Communications / Public Speaking Economics

Physics Humanities Microbiology Molecular Biology Organic Chemistry Medicinal Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Care Pharmacokinetics Pharmaceutics Pharmacology Physiology Pathophysiology Toxicology

Besides taking classes, additional requirements before graduating may include, for instance, a certain amount of hours for community service, e.g. working in hospitals, clinics, and retail.

Specialization and credentialing

American pharmacists can become certified in recognized specialty practice areas by passing an examination administered by one of several credentialing boards.

• The Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties^[26] certifies pharmacists in six specialties:

  • Ambulatory care pharmacy (starting 2011)

  • Nuclear pharmacy

  • Nutrition support pharmacy

  • Oncology pharmacy

  • Pharmacotherapy, which has two subspecialties: cardiology and infectious disease

  • Psychiatric pharmacy

• The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy certifies pharmacists in geriatrics specialty practice.

• The American Board of Applied Toxicology^[27] certifies pharmacists and other medical professionals in applied toxicology.

Earnings and wages

According to the 2010 "Pharmacy Compensation Survey"^[28]:

• Directors of Pharmacy $125,200

• Retail Staff Pharmacists $113,600

• Hospital Staff Pharmacists $111,700

• Mail Order Staff Pharmacists $109,300

• Clinical Pharmacists $113,400

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010–11 Edition^[4]:

• Median annual wages of wage and salary pharmacists in May 2008 were $106,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $92,670 and $121,310 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $77,390, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $131,440 a year.