Becoming a pharmacist is an excellent choice for people who want to help others and are good at solving problems. You get to work with drugs that save people and can develop new research that impacts millions of lives. It also doesn’t hurt that the benefits of a pharmacist are great and will ensure you live a great life.
There are some critical steps you need to take if you want to start your pharmacist career. Read the guide below to help start your pharmacy career and do so correctly.
Pick Your Career Goals
There are many paths you can take as a pharmacist. Many people are okay with working in a retail store filling prescriptions. It offers an excellent salary and will help you build a safety net for financial security in the future.
However, you can also work in the research field. Many pharmacists use their knowledge to help the medical field advance drugs that help people. You’ll gather data and run an analysis to see which medications work best.
Of course, you can also follow the business owner’s path and open a pharmacy practice. Opening a pharmacy is a great way to become your own boss and fulfill your entrepreneurial dreams. You’ll need to work with pharmacy suppliers to get what you need to sell to customers and bring on a team to help you run your physical location.
Get Your Undergraduate Education
You’ll need to attend pharmacy school before working as a pharmacist. However, you can’t just sign up for a program and get started.
Many pharmacist training schools require an undergraduate degree to get started. Here are a few common ones you can consider:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math and statistics
These requirements can also change based on the pharmacy school you wish to attend. Look at your pharmacy school options to see their undergraduate requirements. From there, you can pick a school and degree program that will meet your pharmacy school requirements.
Once you know what field you need to study, you’ll need to understand your grade requirements. In most cases, you’ll need at least a 3.0 GPA to get accepted to pharmacy school.
Apply for Pharmacy School
You’re ready to start pharmacy school once you have your undergraduate degree. Of course, some schools may need a graduate program to get accepted. But that depends on the school you decide to attend.
Completing your undergraduate requirements isn’t enough to immediately get you into a school. Like law and medical school, you’ll need to prove you can handle the work.
You’ll do this by taking the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). This test will quiz you on the various elements of being a pharmacist and test your reasoning skills.
You’ll be able to get into pharmacy school once you pass this test.
Take an Internship
You won’t be qualified to work as a pharmacist right out of school. You need hands-on experience to get into the field on your own. That’s why pharmacy school requires internships to give you that experience.
Your internship requirements vary based on the state you live. Look at your state’s requirements to see how much internship training you’ll receive during your time in pharmacy school.
Take a Licensing Exam
Once you complete pharmacy school and finish your internship, you have one final step to take. If you want to work as a pharmacist, you need to get a license. That means you’ll have one last task to complete to start your pharmacist career.
You’ll have two exams to take if you live in the United States. The first exam is the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLE). This is a national exam required to work as a pharmacist in the United States.
The second is an exam for the state you plan to work. It can be the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) or an exam specific to your state.
Once you complete your exams, you’re ready to start your pharmacy career.
Get Your First Job
You’re ready to start applying for jobs after you finish your licensing requirements. Start looking for pharmacy roles in your state to begin the process. Consider your career goals during the process.
Getting started in a pharmacy location shouldn’t be too difficult. There are several openings available every year.
If you want to go the research route, start looking at educational institutes and pharmaceutical companies that develop drugs and do research. These are the perfect places to begin the process.
Of course, you may not want to start your own pharmacy immediately if this is your goal. It pays to gain more experience before you go the business owner route.
Continue Learning
The pharmacy world changes all the time. Yes, the basics of biology and chemistry probably won’t change much. But there are always new drugs and ways to treat diseases that are created all time time.
You’ll need to stay updated on the latest developments to do a great job. Keep an eye on industry news, so you’re aware of what to look for.
You can also attend pharmacy conferences to network with other professionals and gain insider knowledge. These resources will help you become a better pharmacist and advance your career.
You’re Ready to Start Your Pharmacist Career Today
Becoming a pharmacist can be a lucrative career, but you’ll have plenty of work ahead of you if you want to start. You need to follow the rules and qualify yourself as a great pharmacist to see success. Remember the guide above when you start to ensure you begin your pharmacist career the right way and work your way to the pharmacy salary you deserve.
Do you want to learn more tips that will help you get started in other career fields? Check out the blog to find more posts that will help you land a new job.