Currently I have a degree in Graphic design (born and raised in London England) but I do not wish to follow this route as it is so competitive, and am interested in the field of pharmacy as I have always been interested in the sciences.
I am moving to Philadelphia soon and the problem is I do not know what I need to do in order for me to pursue a career in pharmacy, eg what qualifications etc. Please could someone advice me the best route?
2007-07-30 11:02:48 · 5 answers · asked by Dee 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Although it is possible to become a pharmacy technician with nothing more than a high school degree, employers with little time for on-the-job training increasingly require completion of an associate's degree or certificate program.
Pharmacy technicians can become certified by taking the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. You can find out about the test on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (http://www.ptcb.org)website. Pharmacy assistants do not need to be certified.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy assistants earned an average hourly wage of $10.07 in 2006. Pharmacy technicians earned $12.75 an hour.
Pharmacy studies at the associate's degree level can lead in at least two directions. One of these is toward transfer into a professional pharmacy program (often combined with a bachelor's degree program), and the other is toward immediate entry into the workforce as a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians work in commercial and hospital pharmacies under the supervision of pharmacists. They fill prescriptions, track patient information, and interact with patients and customers, providing essential information about the drugs they dispense. Given this level of responsibility, you can see why pharmacy techs need to have solid grounding in the required topics of the associate's degree curriculum, which include
General chemistry
Microbiology
Drug actions and interactions
Legal aspects of pharmaceutical dispensing
Pharmaceutical mathematics
Drug dependency and addiction
Pharmacy management
Patient interaction
A big part of the pharmacy-tech curriculum is devoted to clinical experience. You'll spend a lot of time practicing filling prescriptions and learning to recognize different varieties of pharmaceuticals. A voluntary exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board can add to your credentials as a pharmacy tech. If you pass the certification exam, you can put the initials CPh.T. after your name on your resume, but you'll need to continue your education through professional-development courses if you want to keep your certification up to date.
2007-07-30 11:10:23 · answer #1 · answered by cricket 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can find out the facts about pharmacy in the USA by checking the website of the Association of American Colleges of Pharmacy AACP. Their website has links to the websites of all the accredited schools of pharmacy in the USA.
In the USA all pharmacists now receive a graduate degree - Doctor of Pharmacy or "PharmD." It takes four years of full time study of some very difficult courses, mainly chemistry and biochemistry.
Pharmacists in the USA make a LOT of money so entry into pharmacy schools is very competitive. In an article in our local paper it said that our local Pharm school had over 1000 applications for 90 seats this year. The school requires chem, organic chem, biochem, bio, calculus and several other pre requisite courses and the PCAT exam before you can apply.
2007-07-30 22:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by matt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First choose a university that you wish to attend. Go and speak to an advisor in the Pharmacy School and get as much information as possible. More than likely, you will have to take pre-pharm and chemistry and biology classes before even being accepted into pharmacy school. It is a challenging program, but if your heart is into it you can do it. Every school's pharmacy program is different, so start with asking an advisor at school. You will need a PharmD degree for sure.
2007-07-30 18:07:14 · answer #3 · answered by CaliGirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You don't like competition? Than you don't want to be a pharmacist in the US.
That leaves being a pharmacy technician. Just do an internet search for pharmacy technician programs.
2007-07-30 20:12:55 · answer #4 · answered by Linkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you contact chemists and there employment people human resources.
2007-07-30 18:06:14 · answer #5 · answered by capa-de-monty 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋