What Education Do I Need to Become a Pharmacist?

Pharmacist at a glance

Pharmacist Education and Duties Guide

Healthcare technician careers are growing fast in the United States, with a slow but steady need for both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through 2034. This is largely due to the growing number of senior citizens in the country, many of whom need medications and additional medical care as they continue to live longer lives. But in-store jobs may decline due to an increase in pharmacy mail order and online pharmacy services.

Pharmacists are needed to educate patients on these new medications and ensure people are taking them safely. If you’re interested in helping others in a healthcare role and are highly detail-oriented, a pharmacy career might be a good fit. In this guide, learn what you’ll need to do in order to become a pharmacist along with other careers within the field.

You’ll need advanced education and licensure in order to work as a pharmacist. Pharmacists are required to have a doctoral degree and pass multiple exams before becoming licensed. However, you don’t need to be a pharmacist to work with patients and medications. Pharmacy assistants and technicians also play important roles in pharmacies and hospitals.

Pharmacy assistants and technicians need much less education in order to begin working. Their roles fall the supervision of pharmacists and they complete essential tasks for patients and doctors. Working as a pharmacy technician can be a great place to start your healthcare career. You’ll gain valuable experience in the field that can help you decide if you want to pursue a pharmacist license later. Plus, working as a pharmacy technician can give you an advantage when applying to pharmacist programs. Wherever you want to start, read on to learn more about becoming a pharmacist and other pharmacy careers.

Types of Pharmacy Careers

A pharmacy needs numerous professionals in order to serve its customers. While these job titles all sound similar, they require different levels of education and training, and each role has its own specific duties.

Pharmacy Assistant

Pharmacy assistants generally only need a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Since they have less education and experience, they also have fewer responsibilities than other pharmacy professionals.

What They Do

The duties of a pharmacy assistant can vary depending on your work setting and the laws in your state, but general tasks can include:

Pharmacy Assistant Salaries

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians are healthcare professionals who have received specialized training to assist pharmacists. Many states and employers require that pharmacy techs earn the credential of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Additionally, many pharmacy technicians complete a formal education program that leads to a certificate or associate’s degree. Pharmacy technicians also usually need to pass background checks and drug screenings.

What They Do

Pharmacy techs are responsible for many vital duties in a pharmacy or hospital.  One of the most important aspects of a pharmacy technician career is customer service. A pharmacy tech is often the first person that a patient, doctor, or other medical professional talks to about prescriptions. In recent years, pharmacy technicians have been increasingly taking on responsibilities, including ones previously only performed by pharmacists. This trend is likely to continue as the roles of pharmacists and pharmacies evolve.

Common job duties for pharmacy techs include:

There are some technician duties that vary depending on your state. For example, only certain states legally allow pharmacy technicians to call doctor’s offices for medication refills.

Pharmacy Technician Salaries

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are advanced professionals who hold the ultimate responsibility at a pharmacy. In most states, they’re required to check overall prescriptions that have been filled by pharmacy technicians to ensure accuracy. They’re also responsible for patient safety and education.

What They Do

Pharmacists have many duties beyond filling prescriptions. Their responsibilities can change depending on whether they work at a retail pharmacy, hospital, or in another setting. Some pharmacists also own their own pharmacies and have additional business management responsibilities. Other important job duties might include:

As healthcare shifts over the next several years, the role of pharmacists might continue to grow and change.

Pharmacist Salaries

Types of Pharmacy Degrees

Your degree will vary depending on your role. There are different options for pharmacy assistants and technicians, but all pharmacists must earn a doctoral degree.

Prerequisites for the PharmD Degree

A pharmacist degree, often referred to as a PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy), typically requires approximately four years of study. In some accelerated programs, it may be possible to complete the degree in three years. This professional degree equips individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in pharmacy.

How to Become a Pharmacist

You’ll need to complete education and testing requirements before you can apply for your pharmacist license. The steps you’ll take might vary depending on your state, but the basic requirements are discussed below.

Choose a degree path

Many pharmacy schools are dual degree programs, meaning you’ll earn your bachelor’s degree alongside your PharmD over a period of six to seven years. You can enter one of these programs with only a high school diploma. Other PharmD programs are for doctoral-level training only. These programs accept students who have earned bachelor’s degrees in subjects such as biology or chemistry and generally take 3–4 years. Having previous experience as a pharmacy assistant or technician can also be beneficial for admission.

Determine PharmD admissions requirements

Once you’ve decided which type of PharmD program is right for you, check their admissions requirements to find out exactly what you need to apply to their program. In the past, many PharmD programs required students to take and pass the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) to be admitted to their program, but the PCAT was officially retired in January 2024. Pharmacy programs may accept other standardized test scores (such as the Medical College Admissions Test or MCAT) to supplement your application, or they may not require test scores at all.

Apply for school and complete your education

Your PharmD program will consist of classes in subjects such as:

You’ll also need to complete a formal internship at a pharmacy during your program. The hours needed in your internship will depend on your state’s licensing requirements.

Take licensure exams

Pharmacists are required to take 2 licensing exams after successfully completing a PharmD program. You’ll need to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and either the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) or a jurisprudence exam specific to your state. Your state’s licensing board will let you know which exam you need to take.

Apply for a license

You’ll apply for licensure once your education and exams are complete, but there may be other requirements depending on your state. Some common examples include:

You’ll probably also need to take steps to maintain your license, such as completing continuing education credits and renewing your background check.

Does Becoming a Pharmacy Tech Make It Easier to Become a Pharmacist?

While there’s no formal path for advancing from a pharmacy tech to a pharmacist, it can be a beneficial step. In addition to being an advantage on PharmD program applications, your work as a pharmacy tech can better prepare you for the classes you’ll take as you’ll already have basic knowledge of many of the concepts that you’ll study.

Your advantage might be even greater if you’ve earned a certificate or associate’s degree as a pharmacy tech and have taken certification exams. Having formal training as a pharmacy technician will give you a strong foundation for your PharmD classes.

Where Can Pharmacists Work?

Pharmacists can find work in a number of different locations. Many of these might also employ pharmacy assistants and technicians. Some common employers include:

Retail pharmacies  

Retail pharmacies employ pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and assistants. This can include independent pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, and pharmacies in grocery and drugstores, which together, make up the largest employers of all pharmacy professionals.

Hospital pharmacies

Hospitals employ pharmacists to prepare medication for current patients. Pharmacists in these settings might consult with doctors and nurses, prepare injections or IV bags, and ensure medication dose accuracy. This is usually done with the assistance of pharmacy techs. Some hospitals might also employ pharmacy assistants.

Government and military facilities

Military facilities employ pharmacists for a few different reasons. A pharmacist employed by a government facility might conduct community wellness programs that educate people on topics such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Pharmacists might also work in military hospitals or veterans care centers to handle medication. Some facilities also employ pharmacy techs.

Research labs

Labs employ pharmacists with specialized training to look into the effectiveness of medications and develop new therapeutic interventions. Pharmacists might need additional certification for a laboratory role.

Clinics and other patient care settings

Clinics can employ pharmacists to do a wide number of jobs, such as patient education, cholesterol testing, and immunizations. Clinics are likely to be an increasingly common employer for both pharmacists and pharmacy techs in the future.

Other employers

Some pharmacists also serve as consultants to other healthcare providers. These roles are often done in private practice. Another possible role for pharmacists might be teaching classes to pharmacy technician students.