Pharmacy Career Spotlight

In the U.S. all pharmacists (PharmD) are licensed health care providers. To prepare future pharmacists complete a three-year post-graduate program to earn a doctorate in pharmacy. They must also pass a national exam to be licensed and practice pharmacy in their state. There are well over 150 programs of pharmacy in the U.S. Pharmacists can specialize in ambulatory care, critical care pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, pediatric pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, and psychiatric pharmacy.

The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science describes Pharmacy as a “blend of science, health care, direct patient contact, technology, ethics, and business. A pharmacist is a highly skilled and trusted medication expert. They know and understand everything there is to know about drugs. Pharmacists undergo extensive education to understand the role that drugs play in different situations. They are familiar with the biochemical make up of drugs and how that impacts their use, side effects, interactions, and implications of effectiveness. Their role revolves around dispensing prescriptions to patients, conducting health screenings, giving immunizations, and advising on the safe use of medicine.”

Go to Pharmacy Is Right for Me to learn about the important roles pharmacists play in healthcare and peruse some Fun Facts about Pharmacy. You may also gain more information by going to ExploreHealthCareers.org, American Pharmacists Association, National Pharmaceutical Association, and the Pharmacy Schools Directory