Pursue an undergraduate degree. Most pharmacy programs require at least two years of undergraduate coursework to be completed prior to admission in Pharm.D. programs. A few pharmacy schools require that students complete a full bachelor's degree prior to applying for the professional degree program. While many majors are accepted into Pharm.D. programs, students will be required to complete certain prerequisites, including general education, math and science courses.
Apply to an accredited pharmacy school. Most states have at least one accredited pharmacy school that awards the Pharm.D. degree. A list of accredited schools by state can be found on the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education website. Pharmacy programs take between three and four years to complete, and they award professional not graduate degrees.
Continue your educational program. Pharmacy degrees require a broad range of knowledge, including drug information, public health, biology, anatomy, physiology, counseling, chemistry and mathematics. Students are often required to complete research projects as well as clinical training. If you plan on working in a clinical or research area after graduation, you will likely be required to complete a residency or fellowship prior to taking the licensure examination.
Complete a study program for licensure. All pharmacists must be licensed by their states. Licensure takes a variety of forms, but all require successful completion of an exam. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy administers all licensure examinations. The 185-question exam is called the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). A Pre-NAPLEX exam is also available for those who wish to take a practice test prior to the final examination.