Discuss your courses with your high school guidance counselor. Take a schedule heavy in math and science (chemistry, biology and physics). Strong written and verbal communication skills will also benefit your pursuit for a pharmacy degree. Pharmacy courses do not focus on history, literature, social studies or foreign languages.
Meet with a dean or admissions officer from pharmacy schools early. Find out the details about entrance requirements so there are no surprises. Have the admissions counselor check over your planned coursework to make sure it fits the requirements well.
Take education tests for admission. Each pharmacy school differs, but many require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), along with college entrance tests, like the ACT and SAT. Take the PCAT in high school or college.
Study courses on pharmacognosy, pharmacology, modern business management, pharmacy practice and clinical studies. Pharmacognosy involves natural drugs, that are derived from plants or animals. Pharmacology is the understanding of how drugs interact with the body. Modern business management helps students who want to work in a community pharmacy upon graduation. Pharmacy practice teaches processes used in pharmacies, the different forms of medicine, and how to dispense medications. Clinical study varies between colleges, but requires students work with pharmacists and patients in a real pharmacy.
Practice under the guidance of a pharmacist. Many students seek residency training after graduation in a pharmacy, hospital or other facility. This is where the graduate can focus on specialties, if desired. Some hospital pharmacies require completed of a residency before employment.
Get licensed. All pharmacists in the United States must be licensed through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam to test your knowledge of the law. The test is also known as the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam.