Requirements for a Pharmacist

by Staci Eastin

Overview

Requirements for a Pharmacist

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2008, the average salary for a pharmacist was $104,260 per year. With the aging of the U.S. population, demand for pharmacists is expected to remain high. Besides passing their state's licensure examinations, pharmacists must meet high educational standards.
Education

Pharmacists in the United States must be graduates of an accredited pharmacy school. Since 2000, the basic degree offered by most colleges of pharmacy is doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. This usually consists of two years in a pre-pharmacy program, followed by four years in pharmacy school.

Internship

All states require pharmacist candidates to serve an internship with a licensed pharmacist. The length and requirements of the internship varies from state to state.
Examination

The final hurdle in becoming a pharmacist is the licensure examination. The pharmacist exams in most states contain sections on law, pharmacology and pharmacy practice.
Continued Learning

To remain licensed, pharmacists must meet annual continuing-education requirements set forth by the states in which they practice.
Considerations

Except for California, all states use the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NAPLEX) exam as the heart of their examinations. Pharmacists can then transfer their licenses to other states after passing that state's pharmacy-law examination. A pharmacist licensed in another state must take the entire California pharmacy exam in order to become licensed there.