Completing pharmacy education requirements can take anywhere from six to eight years going full time. Undergraduate coursework can be completed in as few as two years because applying to a pharmacy school doesn't require a bachelor's degree.
The six- to eight-year time frame is based on full-time study. Students with pre-pharmacy undergraduate coursework may be eligible to apply for pharmacy school programs after two to three years of undergraduate study. Some students choose to complete a bachelor's degree before pharmacy school. The average bachelor's degree is completed in four academic years.
Pharmacy school itself is four years, with the first three years comprised of coursework. Year four of pharmacy school is a combination of coursework and in-pharmacy field placement.
It is highly recommended that students interested in pharmacy school complete a full bachelor's degree program rather than going directly to pharmacy school. A part-time job working in a pharmacy setting is also desirable for applicants.
Pharmacists are most often employed in retail pharmacies and starting salaries are in the $80,000 a year range for those with one year of work experience. Compared to other professional degrees, pharmacists begin making this income right out of school.
State examination and licensing requirements vary from state to state. Exams must be passed before a license is issued, and pharmacists are required to complete continuing education requirements during the length of their careers. Many pharmacy students take the state exams for licensure immediately after graduation from pharmacy school.
Pharmacists are the most seen health professional in the average person's health and wellness network. Pharmacists are highly accessible to patients due to their place in community and retail pharmacies.