Table of Contents
Pre-Professional Pharmacy Study
Admission to Pharmacy Programmes
The Professional Pharmacy Curriculum
Costs and Financial Aid
Post-Professional Pharmacy - Residencies
Post-Professional Pharmacy - Postgraduate Study
Information for Foreign-Qualified Pharmacists
Additional Resources

Pharmacists understand the use, composition, and effects of drugs and medications. They dispense medicine prescribed by doctors and provide information to patients about the medication and their use. Pharmacy education requires early preparation. In addition to their first professional degree, which prepares them for practice in the field, pharmacists may also choose to complete postgraduate study, which may consist of a non-degree residency experience, a graduate degree programme, or both.

Licensing
A license to practice pharmacy in the US is required in all states and territories of the US. Each state has its own licensure procedure. To obtain a license, one must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy with a doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D), pass a state examination, and serve an internship under a licensed pharmacist. Many pharmacists are licensed to practice in more than one state and most states require continuing education for license renewal.

International students should note that holding a US professional pharmacy qualification does not in itself give you the right to work in the US. When applying for a student visa, you will need to show that you intend to return to your home country after finishing your degree. Check with the appropriate professional association in your home country to see if a US degree will meet your home country's requirements to practice pharmacy.

Pre-Professional Pharmacy Study
Students interested in pharmacy study should start preparing for college while still in high school. Admissions requirements to colleges of pharmacy vary, so students need to check the catalogues and websites of individual pharmacy schools. By carefully planning their secondary school and pre-professional study, students increase their chances of acceptance to pharmacy school.

In the US, few colleges of pharmacy admit students directly from high school. Most require one or two years of university level pre-pharmacy or pre-professional education. Pre-professional courses can be taken at any regionally accredited university, college, or junior college in the US that offers a pre-pharmacy programme. Entry requirements usually include mathematics and basic sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences. It is important that pre-professional students arrange their coursework to meet the requirements of the college of pharmacy in which they eventually plan to enrol.

Most pharmacy colleges require an applicant to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), a multiple-choice exam that tests verbal and quantitative ability, reading comprehension, and biology and chemistry knowledge. The test is offered three times a year in the US and Canada only.

For further information, visit the website: http://harcourtassessment.com/haiwebcultures/en-us/dotCOM/PCATWEB.INFO.htm or contact: Pharmacy College Admission Test, Harcourt Assessment Inc., 19500 Bulverde Road, San Antonio, Texas 78259. Tel: 001 800 211 8378.

Admission to Pharmacy Programmes
British-educated students should have 5 GCSEs and preferably 2-3 A-levels in science based subjects for application onto pre-professional pharmacy programmes. Please read the EAS Guide to Undergraduate Study in the United States, which explains US undergraduate degrees, how and when to apply and includes information on tuition fees and financial aid. Contact pharmacy programmes at the same time as you are researching pre-pharmacy programmes to find out about requirements for later professional pharmacy study. Although holders of A-levels usually find that US universities are willing to award advanced credit for the work done at A-level this will usually not be sufficient to waive the entire pre-professional programme of studies. Colleges of pharmacy may still require international applicants to have attended a US regionally-accredited university for at least one academic year prior to enrolling at the college of pharmacy.

Most colleges of pharmacy then require the applicant to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) as part of the admissions criteria for entry into a professional pharmacy degree. The test is a multiple-choice examination that tests verbal and quantitative ability, reading comprehension, and biology and chemistry knowledge.

The Professional Pharmacy Curriculum
At least 5 years of study beyond secondary school are required to graduate from programmes accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Pharmacy, the degree traditionally received by most graduates, takes 5 years. A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) normally requires at least 6 years. The PharmD degree is generally more challenging, as students gain more experience in dealing with patients and working with health practitioners than students who studying for a BS. Most colleges are now moving to (PharmD) programmes.

All pharmacy schools operate under one of three plans:
(1) one year of pre-professional education preceding admission to the professional curriculum.
(2) two years of pre-professional education followed by professional studies.
(3) an integrated curriculum with all years of study in the professional college.

Students can enrol in a PharmD programme either directly after completing pre-pharmacy study or after obtaining a BS (Those completing both BS and PharmD degrees may end up taking longer than six years to finish the two programmes, depending on the particular institution or institutions they attend.) Some pharmacy schools offer the PharmD as the only first professional degree, some offer students a choice between the BS or the PharmD, and others may require a BS prior to enrolment in their PharmD programme.

The curriculum for both the BS and PharmD programmes includes courses on pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, pharmacy administration and opportunities for pharmacy practice in the workplace. The PharmD curriculum may include advanced courses such as therapeutics, pathophysiology, biostatistics and pharmacokinetics.

Costs and Financial Aid
Average annual expenses for pharmacy schools range from $5,000-$25,000 for tuition. In addition, the cost of living for one academic year (nine months) varies from $6,000-$14,000 depending on the area of the US. Very few scholarships are available to international students and funding is very rare for students studying for professional pharmacy degrees. Individuals with permanent residency in the US may be eligible for federal student loan programmes. Check with the college of pharmacy before applying.

Post-Professional Pharmacy - Residencies
Once students have graduated from a professional pharmacy programme, they can choose to enter one of the 400 plus pharmacy residency programmes. Residencies are practice-orientated and are offered in hospitals, community pharmacies or other healthcare facilities.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is the accrediting body for pharmacy residencies and most residencies are ASHP-accredited (exceptions exist in certain pharmacy settings such as home health care or community pharmacy). International pharmacists considering residencies that are not ASHP-accredited need to look with special care at other indications of quality to ensure that the residency has the resources to meet their needs.

Two main types of pharmacy residencies exist:

Pharmacy Practice Residencies
In most instances, a general clinical residency is most appropriate for a student just graduating from a college of pharmacy. Speciality residencies are better for those with previous residencies or other clinical experience. Pharmacy practice residencies are designed to develop skills and knowledge in a broad range of pharmaceutical services, including acute patient care, ambulatory patient care, drug information, drug use policy development and practice management.

Most pharmacy practice residencies are not affiliated with a pharmacy school but are administered by US hospitals and medical centres. However, some residencies, called "affiliated residencies," are administered in conjunction with a PharmD or MS programme (see below). These usually last at least a year longer than non-affiliated residencies, as students pursue the residency part-time while also completing the academic work for their degree.

To obtain a residency in pharmacy practice, US pharmacists generally enter the Residency Matching Program (RMP), sponsored by the ASHP to match applicants and programmes. Entering the RMP does not guarantee acceptance to a residency programme. Pharmacists must also apply directly to individual residency programmes in addition to participating in the RMP.

Specialised Residencies
Pharmacists are generally expected to have completed a pharmacy practice residency prior to applying for a specialised residency. However, some programmes may accept professional experience as a substitute for the pharmacy practice residency. Speciality area residencies accredited by the ASHP include programmes in administration, adult internal medicine, clinical pharmacokinetics, critical care, drug information, geriatrics, nuclear pharmacy, nutritional support, oncology, paediatrics, primary care, and psychopharmacy. Far fewer specialised residency programmes exist than do pharmacy practice residencies and many of the specialised programmes are university-affiliated. Specialised residency programmes do not participate in the RMP. Individuals interested in such opportunities should contact programmes of interest directly to discuss programmes and requirements.

Post-Professional Pharmacy - Postgraduate Study

Types of Postgraduate Degrees
Individuals who have earned a professional degree from an accredited pharmacy school or college or the equivalent overseas may qualify to enter a Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) pharmacy degree programmes. Students with an undergraduate degree in a pharmacy-related field (such as chemistry or biology) can also apply to programmes, though some schools may admit only students with first professional pharmacy degrees..

MS and PhD degrees do not in themselves qualify students to take US licensure examinations: only an American BS or PharmD degree qualifies pharmacy graduates for such examinations. MS and PhD programmes are usually geared toward those interested in conducting research, teaching, or pursuing a speciality. Areas of pharmacy specialisation (defined above) might include pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, toxicology, or pharmacy administration as well as other, less common, areas. Universities may also offer opportunities for additional study in some of these areas for those who have already completed an advanced pharmacy degree.

Applying To Postgraduate Programmes
British-educated students interested in applying to US postgraduate pharmaceutical science programmes should read the EAS Guide to Postgraduate Study in the United States which explains about US postgraduate degrees, how and when to apply, and includes information on funding for postgraduate study. A large majority of pharmacy schools accept students with foreign degrees into their programmes; however, a few schools enrol US citizens only.

Information for Foreign-Qualified Pharmacists

Applying For Pharmacy Residencies
Graduates of pharmacy schools outside the United States can enter the RMP only upon earning a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certificate. To obtain an FPGEC certificate, students must pass the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and achieve a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not their first language. To be eligible to take the FPGEE, students must have earned a degree from a school of pharmacy that has at least a four-year curriculum or its equivalent and be licensed or registered to practice pharmacy in the country where their degree was earned. The FPGEE is a one-day examination testing knowledge of the pre-clinical sciences (physical science, biological science, and mathematics); pharmaceutical sciences; biomedical sciences; social and behavioural sciences; and pharmaceutical services management. Since June 2003, the FPGEE has been administered in a paper-and-pencil format. The examination is administered twice a year, the last Saturday in June and the first Saturday in December. It is usually administered at three sites spread across the United States. The fee for this examination is several hundred dollars, plus an additional fee to cover credential evaluation for those applying to take the exam for the first time.

Certain pharmacy residency programmes require residents to be US licensed. Others may accept only graduates of US PharmD programmes at pharmacy schools accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). Occasionally ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice programmes allow foreign pharmacy graduates to apply directly for pharmacy practice residencies without participating in the RMP. Foreign pharmacy graduates should check with individual programmes to determine their eligibility for residencies.

Licensure To Practice
Foreign-qualified pharmacists that are interested in practising in the US should contact the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC). The agency informs graduates about entering the US pharmacy profession and health care system and certification, and evaluates the qualifications of foreign applicants. Contact the committee at: NABP, Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee, 700 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068, USA

No schools of pharmacy outside the United States have been awarded US ACPE accreditation. However, states often allow foreign graduates to gain licensure eligibility by earning an FPGEC certificate (see above). It must be emphasised that the FPGEC certificate is not a license to practice pharmacy in itself, but merely documents a candidate's pharmacy education. The certificate's function is limited to rendering a candidate eligible to apply for licensure in most states.

Additional Resources

Other On-Line Resources

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1426 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314 US. Tel: 001 703 739 2330.

American Council on Pharmaceutical Education
311 West Superior Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60610 US. Tel: 001 312 664 3575.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 US. Tel: 001 301 657 3000, Fax: 001 301 652 8278.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 US Tel: 001 301 657 3000 Fax: 001 301 652 8278

American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 US. Tel: 001 301 530 7060.

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee, 700 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068 US. Tel: 001 708 698 6227.

Society of Toxicology
1101 Fourteenth Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005 US. Tel: 001 202 371 1393, Fax: 001 202 371 1090.

Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
The Psychological Corporation, PO Box 91581, Chicago, IL 60693 US. Tel: 001 800 622 3231, Fax 001 210 921 8861 Mon-Fri, 7:00am - 7:00pm Central Time (6 hours behind the UK).

US Schools of Pharmacy

Off-Line Resources
The US Educational Advisory Service's reference library contains several directories concerning pharmacy education in the US and US university prospectuses. You are welcome to consult these materials during our opening hours.