Pharmacists are the number one rated most trusted health professional

       

 

       

 

       

 

Pharmacist Education

(From: American Pharmaceutical Association)

All pharmacists have earned at least a Bachelor of Sciences degree in pharmacy. However, in July 1992, a majority of the nation's schools and colleges of pharmacy voted to move toward awarding the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree as the only professional degree in pharmacy. A PharmD degree requires four years of professional study, following a minimum of two years of pre-pharmacy study, for a total of six academic years following high school. Including pre-pharmacy study, the minimum educational program for a BS in Pharmacy is five academic years.

A sound education in math and science is an essential part of preparation for the study of pharmacy, so pre-pharmacy students take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Also, good written and verbal communication skills are important in both the study and practice of pharmacy, so would-be pharmacists study literature, history, government, and social studies to develop a strong background during their pre-professional schooling.

Professional courses, i.e., those taken in pharmacy school include:

 

	Pharmacognosy - the study of the biology and biochemistry of naturally-occurring drug products, such as herbs and those derived from plants and animals.
	Pharmacology - the study of the action and uses if drugs.
	Pharmaceutical chemistry - the application of basic organic and inorganic chemistry to medicines
	Pharmaceutics - a broad range of subjects, including introductory pharmacy, pharmaceutical calculations, preparations, techniques, dispensing pharmacy, biopharmaceutics (the effects of the dosage form on a medication's therapeutic activity).
	Clinical pharmacy - the study of patient care with special emphasis on drug products. During part of theis area of their education, many pharmacy students actually have hands-on experience with patients in a variety of health care settings.
	Drug information - the study of how to convey information about drugs to patients and other health care professionals.
	Pharmacy administration - principles and practices of business and law as they apply to pharmacy practice.

After graduating from pharmacy school an increasing number of students are seeking residency training in pharmacy practice, which adds another year or so to their total education. Over three hundred pharmacy residency programs are offered in hospitals, community pharmacies, and some specialized facilities.

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