In addition to obtaining the PharmD degree the pharmacist will need to pass two tests that are administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. An applicant will also be required to complete a certain number of clinical hours before being eligible to receive their certification. Students will need to find pharmacist degree programs that provide clinical hours in settings such as community pharmacies, hospitals and other types of medical facilities so they’ll be more informed about potential employment opportunities upon graduation.

Degree Program Options for Pharmacology and Residencies

The bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences is an undergraduate program that is interdisciplinary in natures which includes courses in medicine, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and pharmacology.  Students will work in a classroom setting as well as the schools labs and will also be participating in internships with research labs or pharmaceutical companies. To qualify for the bachelor’s program the student will need to have their high school diploma, high SAT scores, and passing admission scores.

Coursework for this undergraduate program will include extensive studies of basic science, general chemistry, microbiology, organic chemistry, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry and biochemistry.

After completion of the bachelor’s degree program, students that are interested in becoming a pharmacist will need to enroll in the four year doctor of pharmacy program after they have obtained a minimum of two years in an undergraduate degree program.

Some of the foundational courses in pharmacology practices will include medical dosages, pharmacotherapy, health management, dosage forms and pharmacology law. The clinical experience program is a major part of the pharmacology student’s education. During the first two years of school a student will take the course introductory pharmacology practice experiences, where a student will develop the essential skills needed for consulting patients, performing screenings and administering immunizations. During the last two years of the program the student will take the advanced pharmacology experiences course, which places the student in different types of patient care settings under the supervision of the lead pharmacist. These clinical experiences will allow students to work in different areas of the pharmacy which can include in-patient, electives and ambulatory operations.

Working Residencies after a Program

Pharmacists that are interested in working in different types of clinical settings will need to consider completing a fellowship or residency program prior to applying for a clinical position. The fellowships and residencies are programs that will train a pharmacist for work in a specialty field or for administrative work. Specialties in pharmacology will include informatics, community care, nuclear pharmacology and medical drug interaction research. These programs can last one to two years and will include research on drug therapy or other pharmacology related topics.

How to Choose a Pharmacology Program

Some states will not require formal training in order to work as a pharmacy technician, however, by completing a training program you’ll have more experience in the field as opposed to new employees that require on the job training and you’ll therefore be more valuable to potential employers who will save money that will otherwise be used for training programs.

Some pharmacy technician schools will offer information sessions for potential students in order for the applicant to determine if a technician program is right for them before they commit to enrolling in a program.  The sessions will cover such topics as cost versus benefits, overall job duties, course curriculum and pharmacy technician certification options and responsibilities. Often admissions tests can be administered by the school during one of these sessions or it can be required before a student enrolls in order to evaluate a student for acceptance into the program.

Many of these schools will offer programs that will include internships that can help to prepare a student for immediate employment once they have completed the required courses. Through affiliations with local pharmacies a student is able to gain experience in the field by performing such duties as inventory control, recordkeeping, medication counting and physician order transcription. Every school will differ in this area as some will offer more lab time as opposed to more time spent in the field.

Pharmacy Technician Courses for Degree and Certificate Programs

Applicants for pharmacy tech programs will need to be 18 years of age and have their high school diploma or state equivalent. Students will need to complete an admissions application and provide school transcripts for the admissions department to review.

Training for this program can be found through degree or certificate programs, both of which will include field and classroom training. The associate’s degree program covers traditional courses which will include classes in social and behavioral science, mathematics, natural science and general elective classes. Students can also expect courses in anatomy, medication absorption, medical terminology, medical laws and ethics and medication dosage effects.

Certificate programs that are available for this field can be completed in one to two years and will also include an internship in a professional pharmacy setting and courses in drug interactions, medication absorption, anatomy, pharmacology laws and ethics and patient documentation.

After completion of either program the student will need to take certification exams through an accredited organization such as the PTCB, in order to obtain their licensure for this profession. To qualify for recertification the technician will need to earn twenty hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal.

As a professional, the technician can work in a number of environments such as retail pharmacies, dental offices, scientific research and development labs, private or public hospitals and medical clinics.