Prepare for Admission to Pharmacy School

• While two years of college study is the minimum prerequisite for admission to pharmacy school, most competitive applicants have at least three years, notes the BLS. While in undergraduate school, an aspiring pharmacist needs to take courses in chemistry, biology, math and physics, along with humanities and social sciences coursework. Taking these courses as an undergraduate prepares an applicant to pharmacy school for success in a PharmD program.
  
  

Complete Pharmacy Degree Requirements

• The doctor of pharmacy, or PharmD, is the professional degree held by a licensed pharmacist. It takes four years to complete, and while specific course offerings may vary by school, students will generally take classes that teach them about various aspects of drug therapy. These science-based courses are supplemented with courses in ethics, patient relations and business management. In addition to the academic coursework, students will meet clinical requirements in the form of practicums completed under the supervision of licensed pharmacists.
  
  

Take the Licensing Exam

• After graduating from pharmacy school, the next step to becoming a successful pharmacist is becoming licensed. Prior to registering for the licensing exam, a prospective pharmacist must complete an internship of 1,500 hours. Some states will permit candidates to fulfill this requirement while in pharmacy school, while others mandate that it must be done after graduation, according to the American Pharmacists Association, or APhA. The licensing exam is 185 questions long and offered in a multiple-choice format. Most questions will present scenarios that a pharmacist might face in the course of her work. A drug law examination is also required by most states.
  
  

Meet Continuing Education Requirements

• Once an aspiring pharmacist has earned her license and found employment, she does not stop learning. Continuing education ensures that a pharmacist remains up-to-date on new drugs and pharmacy-related laws. Pharmacists can manage their continuing education online; the APhA offers a list of courses and seminars that meet continuing education requirements. The number of continuing education credits required for pharmacists varies by state; pharmacists can get this information from their state's licensing board.