The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Bachelor of Pharmacy, or Doctor of Pharmacy degrees all qualify the recipient for entry-level positions. However, the Doctor of Pharmacy degree is often preferred for employment in hospitals. The two bachelor's degree programs generally require five years to compete, with the first two years being general academic requirements including college-level math, biological sciences, and chemistry. These requirements can sometimes be completed at community colleges, before entering the formal pharmacy program. The Doctor of Pharmacy program also has two years of pre-professional study, but it is followed by four years of professional study, with the fourth year being an opportunity for practice in a variety of settings. There are 81 colleges of pharmacy recognized by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (311 West Superior, Suite 512, Chicago IL 60610). Thirty-four of them require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) for entrance. The exam is given three times a year, in November, February, and April. For more information about the PCAT, write to:

Pharmacy College Admission Test
The Psychological Corporation
P.O. Box 91581
Chicago, IL 60693

In all states, licensure requires graduation for an accredited college of pharmacy, passing of a State board examination, and an internship of some sort. There is also a special exam for graduates of foreign pharmacy schools who wish to apply for state licensure in the United States. Information about the exam (Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination Information) is available free from:

Information about the requirements for licensure in a particular state should be directed to the Board of Pharmacy of the state or to:

Or at: http://www.nabp.net

Further training is possible in one or two-year residency programs in a particular area of pharmacy practice, or in pharmacy fellowships, individualized programs to train the participant to become an independent researcher.

At least 70 colleges of pharmacy offer advanced study in one of the specialized areas of pharmacy, such as pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and pharmacy administration. GRE and TOEFL are frequently required. Such programs lead to Master of Science or Ph.D. degrees, but not to eligibility for licensing as a pharmacist.