How Long Does It Take To Be A Pharmacist
How long does it take to be a pharmacist?
The medical field will always be a great field to be in for many reasons. There are a plethora of career options to choose from. One of them being a pharmacist. A pharmacist’s job is to disperse medication to patients who have a prescription. They work in pharmacies, so you would see them in grocery stores, drug stores, clinics and hospitals. The pay is very substantial. In 2010, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $111,570.
Being a pharmacist is very appealing to a lot of people. At some point, these people may want to know exactly how long does it take to be a pharmacist. If you are one of these people who are asking, you should know that it is a relatively long time. It typically takes between six to eight years to complete all of the schooling required to become a pharmacist. Of course, if you would like to obtain a more advanced pharmacist position, something along the lines of a research job or clinical pharmacy, then you will be required to attend a residency for an additional one to two years. It will take a lot of work and even more dedication in order to successfully complete all of the schooling required to be a pharmacist.
As mentioned before, there is typically around six to eight years of school required to become a pharmacist with an additional one to two years of residency if you are seeking a higher up position. If you are wanting to become a pharmacist, you will need to take courses in college such as anatomy, biology and chemistry. Before even thinking about entering a pharmacy school, you will need to have completed at least two years of undergraduate study. Most of the students who are admitted into a pharmacy program have completed at least three years of undergraduate study. Once you have been accepted into a pharmacy program, you will have another four years to go. Some pharmacy programs can be finished in three years, but the majority of them will take four years to complete. During these four years, you will be taking courses that will expand your knowledge of the field such as pharmacology and medical ethics. You will also get to work, under supervision, in various places such as hospitals, clinics and retail pharmacies. It is a great opportunity that will allow you to see what environments you are most comfortable working in, as well as which environments you like the best. Once you have your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which is also known as Pharm.D., you will be required to complete and pass two exams. Pass these and you will officially be a licensed pharmacist and will be allowed to look for employment.
For those of you who were wondering how long does it take to be a pharmacist, you now have a pretty good idea. Becoming a pharmacist requires a lot of years and a lot of hard work, but it can be done and is a very rewarding field to be in. It is also a career that will keep on growing. The job outlook is steadily increasing and it is estimated to go up by 25% in the next eight years. Due to the fact that there is a greater number of people who are older than there ever were before, there is a greater need for medication. If you would like to become a pharmacist, it would be a good idea to start job hunting early. While you are still in the pharmacy program, preferably sometime in your last two years, it would be wise to begin looking for an internship. Once you graduate and have passed your exams required to get licensed, you will already have much needed experience.