Considering a career in pharmacy requires knowledge of medicine and how the human body works. Pharmacists work with doctors and other medical professionals to prescribe medication and cure ills. The pharmacist develops a relationship with their customers who rely on their expertise to fill prescription orders and understand their needs to prevent adverse reactions.

History of Pharmacy

The practice of pharmacology by professionals is as old as society. Many countries established practice areas for individuals who specialized in the study of medication and how it is dispensed and works in the body. In this country, independent local pharmacists were viewed as integral parts of their community. The local pharmacist would not only fill prescription orders, but also would maintain lunch counters and sell various sundry items such as toothpaste, shaving equipment and woman's pantyhose.

Pharmacists were also known to create tonics and cures made with seltzer water and various roots and herbs. Charles Alderton, a pharmacist working in the Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas came up with a soft drink concoction that would be named Dr. Pepper.

Education and Training

To become a pharmacist requires a 4-year bachelor's degree, preferably in science or math and an additional 3-year attendance at a pharmacology school. Successful completion of the 3-year post-bachelor program will earn you a PharmD degree, which is a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Licensing and Certification

Once completing the PharmD designation, you will need to pass a national licensing examination that is administered by National Association of Boards of Pharmacy or NABP. The board exam, known as the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), is computer-based and consists of 185 broad based questions, although scores are based on 150 of the 185 questions. The examinee is permitted up to 4 hours to complete the exam.

In addition to the NAPLEX, pharmacists must pass a multistate law exam, which is the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). This exam consists of 90 questions of which 60 count toward the candidate's score. Currently 43 states and the District of Columbia require the MPJE and NAPLEX in order to become licensed as a pharmacist.

The licensing requirements for a pharmacist are on par with the same requirements for other professionals such as doctors, attorneys, accountants and financial planners. Because a lot of the work of a pharmacist involves the public trust and the handling of controlled substances, there are stringent ethics and code of conduct requirements in place.

Where Pharmacists Work

Pharmacists set up practice in local corner drug stores, go to work with large national chains like CVS and Walgreens or work in hospitals and clinics. Wherever there is a need for a qualified individual to dispense medication and work with patients to meet their needs when ill or injured, being a pharmacist should provide endless opportunities for a career.

What a Pharmacist Earns

As a career, pharmacists earn approximately $100,000 on average. This makes pharmacist an attractive and well-paying profession for you, provided that you meet the education and licensing requirements to become a pharmacist.

There are online resources that can provide you with additional requirements and information regarding a career as a pharmacist such as the NABP. If you can do the 7 years of undergraduate and professional level training and meet all of the Federal and state licensing requirements, a career in pharmacy may be for you.