How to Become a Pharmacist

Intro: To become a pharmacist, you will have to work very hard for many years but it will be worth the possible starting salary of 75K to 150K. Follow these steps to learn how.

Step 1: You must finish high school and get your diploma. Taking any sort of pharmacy classes in high school, if offered, will benefit you greatly but won’t really matter on a resume.

Step 2: Enroll in a college which offers a Pharmacy program. Instead of getting a 4 year degree and then getting another 4 year degree at Pharmacy school, many colleges and universities are offering a 6 year program.

Step 3: The most popular and quickest way to become a pharmacist, is to attend the University of the Pacific’s School of Pharmacy in Stockton, CA. You may be able to start practicing pharmacy after as little as 5 years.

Step 4: Some other colleges and universities which offer 6 year programs are Ohio Northern University, Florida A & M University, Albany College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, University of Missouri, and many more. You may have to go out of state to get through a short pharmacy program but it will be worth saving yourself a year or two of college.

Step 5: You will have to take tests, such as the Pharmacy College Admissions Test and maybe even a state test where you will be working. Your high school advisor and college advisor should help you with all of this along the way.

Step 6: After graduating, get licensed, and renew it every 2 years by taking continuing education classes.

Tips: It is a long road to become a pharmacist but the large salary can be motivational. Stick with it!

Warnings: You should speak with a college advisor right away, to get on the right track to graduating in 5-6 years. You don’t want to get stuck at college for longer than you have to.

Comments (1)

paul said:

	... Wow. I never realized how much money pharmacists make. That would be a good career.
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June 12, 2009
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