Careers in Pharmacy

"There’s a crying need for pharmacists in all roles."
Dr. Barbara G. Wells, President of American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

Pharmacy
May be for you if …
• Math and science are appealing
• Working with people is rewarding
• Follow-up on detail is important
• A variety of career options are interesting

In High School
• Work with your guidance counselor to be sure you take courses to prepare for a pre-pharmacy or related major.
• Chemistry, physics, biology, and lots of math will lay a solid groundwork.
• Language, public speaking, and other communication classes help students prepare for talking with people, an important skill for pharmacists.
• Business classes are important, since pharmacists are often managers or business owners.
• Learn about colleges that offer majors appropriate for applying pharmacy school, and decide where to attend pharmacy school.
• Try to get some practical experience working in a pharmacy environment, even as a volunteer. Many pharmacists hire pharmacy technicians, an occupation that does not require a college education.

In College
• In Arkansas, the only College of Pharmacy is at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Only the professional level courses are taught at UAMS, so applicants must complete at least 65 semester hours of pre-professional courses at an accredited undergraduate institution. For a listing of these requirements, refer to http://www.uams.edu/cop/entry_apps/prepharm.asp.
• For other information related to preparing for and applying to pharmacy school, please refer to http://www.uams.edu/cop/entry_apps/general_admission.asp.

Other Links
• US Department of Labor - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy - http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?CID=920&DID=5747
• Pharmacist career brochure - http://www.myfirstday.org/Pharm.pdf