Pharmacy how many years of college

Some schools of pharmacy offer compressed calendars, which allow students to finish in three years by attending school year-round. Practicing pharmacists have earned a degree in pharmacy, completed an internship, and have passed the pharmacist licensing exams. Current requirements for California pharmacist licensure are available from the Board of Pharmacy web site. There are many other schools of pharmacy in the United States, offering both traditional and nontraditional training programs.

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy AACP web site provides information on careers in pharmacy, as well as detailed information for the schools of pharmacy. Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications? See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine.

From working behind the glass at your local pharmacy to preparing medication for patients in a hospital, being a pharmacist offers a variety of pathways.

The career is also well-compensated, earning six figures on average. There are a lot of steps a high school student must take, however, before they don the ubiquitous white coat , including many years of schooling. However, with proper planning and an understanding of the requirements necessary to become a pharmacist, students can expedite the time required in college and get a jump start on their career. The majority of pharmacists work in commercial operations such as drug, grocery, and big-box stores.

As the US population continues to age, the need for pharmacists in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, is anticipated to grow. Pharmacists working in hospitals also fulfill a multitude of roles—they prepare medication for patients, advise staff on medication options, and educate patients about medications and how to use them. Due to the importance of their position and the vast amount of training required to attain it, pharmacists are well compensated.

The region a pharmacist works in and the amount of experience they have will affect their earnings. There are two common paths that students follow toward a career as a pharmacist.

One path is through a traditional undergraduate program. Keep in mind that many students complete years of residency after their PharmD, making the total amount of time to become a full-fledged pharmacist years on the traditional path, or years on the accelerated one.

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them. There are multiple pathways for students interested in a career as a pharmacist, but with proactive planning, students can reduce their time spent in school—along with the cost of extra, unnecessary classes—and earn their white coat sooner rather than later.

Having a solid foundation of math and science will serve students well throughout their pursuit of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree PharmD. Students should take classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and math, and take them at an advanced level. In addition to science skills, pharmacists need to pass their knowledge of medication on to medical staff and patients, making good written and verbal communication skills a valuable asset.

To strengthen the skills needed to become a pharmacist, students might pursue extracurriculars in STEM, healthcare, or communication. Some ideas of extracurriculars might be:. For example, if you are applying for Fall admission, the final application deadline is June 1, You will need to complete all the prerequisites by June Some prerequisites may be completed during summer. Please contact an advisor to discuss completing the prerequisites during the summer before you start the program.

Upper-division level coursework is strongly encouraged for several prerequisites. Whether you are attending Oregon State University or another institution, it is important to plan your program of study with an academic advisor. Courses completed outside the U. The answer varies depending on the course content, the date completed, and the country in which the course was taken. It is extremely rare for foreign credits to fulfill all the Pharm. For specific information about foreign credits for Pharm.

We encourage prospective students to submit a request for a transcript evaluation to determine how your coursework applies to the Pharm. Submit copies of your transcripts via e-mail to pharmacy oregonstate. Unofficial transcript copies are sufficient for the informal evaluation. Include your full name and e-mail address so results can be communicated to you.

Make sure your unofficial transcripts include the name of your college or university, the name and number of each course you took, and the grade you received in each course. It is also helpful if you include a link to your college or university's course catalog and a filled out copy of this worksheet with your self-assessment of the prerequisites. Allow weeks to receive the results of your evaluation. Results will be sent by e-mail to the address you provided.

Transcripts will not be returned. As a general rule, upper-division science coursework should be no more than seven years old at the time of application. However, each situation is reviewed on an individual basis. Please contact the College of Pharmacy for more information. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum of C- grade on a 4.

You must submit at least two recommendation letters with your Pharm. A maximum of four letters will be accepted. Letters must be submitted directly to PharmCAS and received by the application deadline. Visit pharmcas. Letters submitted directly to OSU will not be accepted. People who know you well and can comment on the qualities that will make you a successful pharmacist.

Professors, employers, and practicing pharmacists are good sources of recommendations. You can expect to be asked questions designed to gauge your communication abilities, leadership, integrity, intellectual curiosity, and motivation. You may also be asked to produce a writing sample. These scholarships are usually only available to Pharm. A limited number of scholarships may be available for incoming Pharm.

Information on financial aid grants, loans and scholarships available through Oregon State University can be found at oregonstate.

Additional information about financial aid opportunities for pharmacy students is available through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy online. Information about aid available to Doctor of Pharmacy students. Information regarding Oregon residency requirements can be obtained from the OSU Office of Admissions at The average age of students when they begin the program is 24 to Many begin immediately after their undergraduate studies, but there are also many students who start the program later in their careers.

Quite well! Our students consistently perform at or above the national average. Read more about the success of our students.

The College of Pharmacy will consider applications from students currently enrolled in another Doctor of Pharmacy program who wish to transfer to OSU. Students may only transfer at the beginning of the fall term. Transfer applicants must submit the following materials to the Office of Student Services by March Applications will not be considered from students who are not in good standing or ineligible to continue in their current program.

If an applicant is deemed to be a potentially acceptable candidate, an interview will be scheduled. The Office of Student Services will forward a recommendation regarding admission, and professional year of entry, to the College Admissions Committee for consideration, following completion of the interview and review of the applicant's supporting materials. Transfer students admitted to the professional program by the Admissions committee will be asked to provide detailed documentation of all coursework and experiences already completed.

The decision of APS committee regarding required coursework will be communicated to the student prior to matriculation and is final. Like all students, international applicants to the Pharm. Our admissions committee strongly encourages international applicants to complete some of their prerequisite coursework in the United States.

Contact an advisor for more information. For specific information about international credits for Pharm. All applicants to the Pharm. While courses completed in a foreign bachelor of pharmacy program may fulfill some of the Pharm. It is strongly recommended that applicants in this situation enroll at a U.