Becoming a pharmacist requires years of education and training to obtain the necessary knowledge, skills and certifications. Aspiring pharmacists can spend anywhere between six years (fast-track) to thirteen years completing pre-requisites, Pharm.D coursework, clinical rotations and national exams. And while this might seem a straightforward path, anyone pursuing a career in pharmacology should understand (or at least be aware of) the finer details of the process, as well as the critical questions that need to be answered along the way. For example, should I earn a bachelor’s degree before applying to a Pharm.D program? Is my pharmacy license transferable to other states? If I fail the NAPLEX, what’s my next step?
The following “how to” guide serves as a starting point. Not only a rundown of the basic steps to becoming a pharmacist, but a comprehensive yet easily digestible resource to help you answer those important questions when and where they arise. There’s more than one way to the pharmacy finish line. You just need to choose the path that’s right for you.