John Buckingham earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Purdue
University, graduating from the Indiana school with honors. Many students who complete undergraduate coursework in this concentration go on to build pharmacy careers, which often require further study. A diversity of positions exists within the practice of pharmacology, a field that continues to grow. Individuals interested in working with prescriptions who are not inclined to pursue extensive study may earn a C.Ph.T. to become certified pharmacy technicians and assist registered pharmacists. The principal responsibilities of licensed pharmacists are to distribute prescribed medications and provide counseling to patients and health care practitioners.
Today, the actual process of mixing ingredients in order to form medications,
known as compounding, is only a minor piece of a pharmacist’s practice. Most medicines today are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and arrive at the pharmacy in standard, prepared dosages and delivery devices. Pharmacists serve in drugstores or health care facilities, and may also work with insurance companies (pharmacy benefit managers) or related professions. Some pharmacists are also able to administer vaccinations, and community pharmacists often provide occasional specialized services for patients living with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure, as well as those who are attempting to quit smoking.
A license is required in order to legally practice as a pharmacist in all U.S. states,
every U.S. territory, and Washington, D.C. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) remains responsible for administering both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). All potential pharmacists in the U.S. and its territories are required to complete a certain number of training hours and to pass NAPLEX, which tests basic pharmaceutical knowledge. Additionally, all states and territories test knowledge of pharmacy law through the NABP’s Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) or another similar assessment process.
Prior to finishing these examinations, all candidates must earn a Doctor of
Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from a college of pharmacy that has been approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. The Pharm.D. has now completely replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in the United States. Gaining acceptance to a Pharm.D. program requires a candidate to have fulfilled no less than two years of professional education. Upon graduation from a Pharm.D. program, an aspiring pharmacist will usually engage in a fellowship or residency. Additional required experience or education varies depending on the prospective pharmacist’s desired specialty. Many practicing pharmacists who earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry of pharmaceutical sciences before the Pharm.D. became the sole pharmacy degree may utilize the R.Ph. suffix to denote that they have passed the required examinations to become registered pharmacists.