Pharmacist Education Requirements

If you become a pharmacist, then you have a great opportunity to be of great service to many people. The medical field is a wonderful world that can open up doors not only for the individuals who are professionals as they build a career in it but also for those who are being touched in one way or the other by health care and medical practitioners.

For pharmacists, the education requirements are rigorous and strict, just like any other expert in the medical field. Pharmacy is a very important branch in medicine and healthcare. It is as challenging as any other profession and it can be a great decision to build a career in it. There is a great demand for pharmacists and so many people are studying it now.

Pharmacists are tasked to dispense medicines for the patients as directed by their physicians through the prescriptions. They are the ones who do the final check before medicines are handed over to the patients so it is important to be accurate and have great attention to detail. Pharmacists also act as consultants for physicians regarding proper medications for a patient. They can discuss proper dosage, side effects, and even further developments in a certain drug or alternatives from brand name to generic drugs. Pharmacists are also tasked to have a record of the patient’s history of medications for future reference, especially if the patient is subjected by the physician under intense drug therapy for treatment of specific illnesses.

It is required to undergo a pre-pharmacy course in accredited schools. This is usually completed in two years with 60-90 credits. There are several modules that will be discussed in the pharmacy course program which are all essential for pharmacists. Topics such as anatomy, physiology, mathematics, chemistry, medical and drug terminology, as well as law and ethics, are discussed. There will also be modules on professionalism and effective communication. All these topics cover all the expectations that govern pharmacists that we see every day in hospitals, pharmacies, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Those who aspire to become pharmacists must earn a degree and a certificate of completion or diploma at the end of the course. A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) is the proper degree associated with pharmacists. This must be earned from a reputable and an accredited university, college or any excellent learning institution. To be able to get that degree, a four year course is administered with a lot of classroom discussions and laboratory exercises. They go through strict training during their on the job trainings and internships as well. Practical experience is needed as part of the education for pharmacists.

Lastly, it is important to get a license to become a full pledged pharmacist. You may opt to go straight and take the exam as soon as you finish your course, or you may choose to review a little bit more and get topics refreshed in your head before you take the examination.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Licensing Examination or NABPLEX, is the governing body that administers the standardized test for those who want to acquire a license to become a pharmacist. This is a big and an important step to be able to build a career in pharmacy.

Pharmacists are very important in the medical field. They are the gatekeepers to the medicines and drugs that go hand in hand with the treatments that the doctors and other health care professionals administer to their patients. The pharmacist education requirements may look very intense and highly strict but it is intended to be like that because in one way or the other pharmacists have the life of the patients in their hands. It is best that they have the adequate knowledge and skills for any health action to be carried out successfully.