| The Pharmaceutical industry is growing in leaps and | | | | that it combines the people aspect of care to the field |
| bounds. Most people can say that they've viewed a | | | | of science, so being able to manage people and their |
| commercial about a new drug that's been developed | | | | needs is an important skill for any pharmacist to have. |
| or spent time talking with a pharmacy tech at their | | | | In addition to the regular college classes they take, |
| local drug store. With earnings averaging in the mid to | | | | many pharmacists choose to work in either a |
| high $100K annual range, and an above average | | | | pharmacy technician program as part of their learning |
| growth rate expected for careers, there are many | | | | process. There are multiple opportunities for pharmacy |
| opportunities to work in this field if this interests you. | | | | students to get all or part of their educational |
| Here's how you can find the right education path you | | | | expenses paid for while they are in school if they |
| need to obtain pharmacist jobs. | | | | become employed by a major pharmaceutical |
| A pharmacist job generally requires a good deal of | | | | company or retailer. There is a big need for skilled |
| education, starting with a Bachelor's degree in Science | | | | pharmacists so companies are often ready to help |
| from an accredited college or university. In 1992, a | | | | with the costs of education to recruit them after |
| majority of the nation's schools voted to create a | | | | graduation. |
| Doctorate program in pharmaceutical studies, so that is | | | | Once all college or university courses have been |
| generally the standard that professional pharmacists | | | | completed, the next step in the process is to take a |
| adhere to in their educational pursuits. So, on average, | | | | state licensing exam. This is similar to a doctor or legal |
| Pharmacists must get the same number of years of | | | | professional taking their state board exams. At the |
| education as a Physician or Lawyer before they can | | | | successful completion of the testing process, the |
| take a state board exam and become a professional | | | | pharmacy student or technician may begin working as |
| working pharmacist. That's a total of six years of | | | | a professional pharmacist. Each year, pharmacists are |
| post-secondary education. | | | | required to retrain or get additional coursework to |
| In general, the education that pharmacists must have | | | | keep their licenses and knowledge base up to date. |
| consists of studies in Pharmacology (the study of | | | | Becoming a pharmacist is a rewarding career choice |
| drugs), Chemistry, Clinical Care and Administration. In | | | | for individuals who enjoy helping others manage their |
| addition, pharmacists must have a solid background in | | | | medical care via drugs and medicine treatments. This |
| mathematics and general biological science. Excellent | | | | allows them to work with patient care, but stay out of |
| writing and communications skills are vital to success in | | | | the clinical setting. By following the above tips, you can |
| pharmacy as are knowledge of literature, history, | | | | be well on your way to getting an education in |
| government and social studies. Pharmacy is unique in | | | | pharmacy too. |