Pharmacy Schools

With the health care industry projected to grow steadily in the coming years, both pharmacists and pharmacist technicians will be in high demand. Pharmacy schools provide the necessary training for both professions, but have different requirements for each. A pharmacist technician assists the pharmacist by filling prescriptions, answering customers’ questions and maintaining a clean, organized workspace. To become a pharmacist technician, students must attend a pharmacy school at either an actual school or online. These students will need to take courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, measurement, computer systems and other relevant subject areas, which in all, should take no more than 12 months, and doesn't require a college degree.

However, becoming a pharmacist is a much more difficult and lengthy process. Before selecting a reputable pharmacy school, applicants must take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) to see if they are adequately prepared for this course of study. People who want to become a pharmacist need complete enough courses to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Some students may choose to enter the pharmacy program after high school graduation, provided they have taken the prerequisite science and math courses. Other people might take classes at a college or university, or even complete a related bachelor’s degree. If students already have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, it will take about four years to earn a PharmD; but without a BS, it will take five to six years A few pharmacy schools do offer an accelerated year-round program that enables students u to complete their degree in just three years.

Pharmacy Degree Options

In order to become licensed as a pharmacist, it is necessary to first earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy school. Pharmacy schools receive their accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. This independent organization reviews pharmacy schools and their programs, policies, and practices to ensure they meet certain baseline standards.

Pharmacy schools typically offer degree programs that can be accomplished in four years. In order to be accepted into pharmacy schools in the United States, there is first a pharmacy admissions test, similar to the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) exam for business school, or LSAT (Law School Admission Test) for law degree programs. Pharmacy schools also require students to have at least two years of college education in related areas, such as math, science, biology, chemistry, or physiology.

Pharmacy schools teach all aspects related to the distribution of legalized drugs for the purposes of treatment, rehabilitation, or therapy. Prescription drugs are becoming increasingly complex; and as people continue to live longer, they have to take more drugs for longer periods of time. Often, they need to take multiple types of drugs to maintain their health. In addition, pharmacists are becoming increasingly involved in issues of patient care. These are some of the reasons why the job outlook will remain bright for pharmacists in the foreseeable future.

The most important criteria when comparing pharmacy schools is accreditation, and whether the curriculum and faculty adequately prepares its students to pass the licensing examination. Many pharmacy schools track each of their graduate’s licensing examination success rates. A lot can be gleaned from these statistics. Also consider the class size and amount of hands-on experience gained from working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

A number of sources rank pharmacy schools, including U.S. News & World Report, and the Annals of Pharmacotherapy. To help find the right program, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy provides a comparison tool on its website. This tool helps in comparing programs based on the criteria of a student’s requirements.

Many pharmacy schools offer one-year programs to prepare students for careers as pharmacy technicians. Some pharmacy schools offer graduates an opportunity to continue on to residency or fellowship programs. These are often prerequisites for pharmacists working in clinical settings

Pharmacy Technician Certification

Pharmacy technicians work in tandem with licensed pharmacists to dispense medicine and healthcare products. Pharmacy technicians are trained to read prescriptions, as well as retrieve and dispense medication. In addition, technicians handle some of the more routine tasks associated with the operation of a pharmacy. Such tasks include: interacting with customers, taking telephone calls, tracking inventory, recordkeeping, creating and maintaining client profiles, and preparing forms for insurance claims.

A licensed pharmacist must supervise a pharmacy technician. The pharmacist is legally responsible for ensuring that medication is properly dispensed.

In order to attain a pharmacy technician certification, the candidate must have completed high school and have no felony convictions on his record. The candidate should receive on-the-job training, complete an internship, or prepare for the examination by completing a pharmacy technician program at a pharmacy technical school. Depending upon the certifying body, the candidate may also need to prove he has no drug or pharmacy-related convictions (even at the misdemeanor level).

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians grant pharmacy technician certifications. These are both national certifications; therefore, a pharmacy technician does not have to become recertified if he moves to a different state. The exams generally cover areas such as medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmacy calculations, record keeping, laws, and ethics.

Upon successful completion of the exam, the individual can use the designation CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician). The certification is good for two years, and the CPhT is required to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years.

According to PayScale.com, entry-level pharmacy technicians earn between $21,988 and $38,937 per year. The baby boomer generation is aging and in need of more medical care and treatment; therefore, the demand for pharmacy technicians will continue to rise.