Pharmacy Education The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is the passing an examination administered by the Board drug therapy regimens, identify potential entry-level degree required to become a pharmacist. of Pharmaceutical Specialties. The specialty areas drug interactions, and establish monitoring Many pharmacists who graduated prior to 2000 may in which this certification can be obtained include: recommendations for patients. Pharmacists have a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree. The nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, may also conduct research to develop new drug PharmD degree requires successful completion of 2 oncology pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, and therapies used to prevent or treat various disease years of preprofessional coursework followed by 4 psychiatric pharmacy. states. Administrator, researcher and educator are years of professional courses. Following graduation, additional potential roles. Roles and functions licensed pharmacists may choose to practice in Practice settings a wide range of patient care settings or to pursue In addition to extensive knowledge of one- or two-year post-graduate training programs, pharmacology, pharmacists also have expertise in Pharmacists can pursue careers in a variety including pharmacy residencies and/or fellowships. pharmacokinetics (how drugs are processed by the of settings including community pharmacies, body), pharmaceutics (how the dosage formulation hospital pharmacies, long-term care facilities, Certifications influences drug action), pharmacoeconomics, and pharmaceutical companies, managed care After earning the PharmD degree, in order to other health, social, and administrative sciences. The companies, medical publishing companies, and/or become a licensed pharmacist, individuals must role of the pharmacist has significantly expanded schools/colleges of pharmacy. pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure over the years. Pharmacists interact directly with Examination (NAPLEX) as well as a federal/state patients as they fill their prescription, provide Professional association links for further info law examination called the Multistate Pharmacy information regarding medications, and monitor on the profession: Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). their response to drug therapies. Pharmacists also www.pharmacist.com work with physicians and other members of the A pharmacist can also become certified in healthcare team to select the most appropriate Link to TJU education program: recognized specialty pharmacy practice areas by http://www.jefferson.edu/jchp/pharmacy/ THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY.