How to become a pharmacist?

How long does it take to become a pharmacist?

• I heard you need to take two years in some college unit then 4 to become a phramacist...is that true? What course do i have totake for the 2 years before the 4 years to become a pharmacist?

• Answer:

  Only Sandra had a good answer. I'll try and break it down simply. To be a pharmacist in the US, you need to go to pharmacy school which is a grad school. Pharmacy schools, like other medically related grad schools, have a certain list of required courses they want you to take before you start pharmacy school (see each individual pharm school for their specific list). Pharmacy school normally lasts 4 years. Schools like Univ of Pacific in California last only 3 years because they are year round and don't have a summer break like "regular" pharmacy schools. Now, technically, pharmacy schools don't require you to get a bachelors degree. It only takes 2 years to finish all those required courses. If you wanted to speed through, it'd take you 5 years (2 yrs in undergrad, and then 3 yrs at a school like UOP). Or, 6 years at a regular schedule pharm school. However, pharmacy is extremely competitive. So, many applicants get a bachelors degree (4 yrs or so) before applying to pharm school in order to look better on the application. Doing that, it'd take you 8 yrs (4 undergrad, 4 pharm school) or 7 at a school like UOP. In a state like CA, it's quite competitive so having a 4 yr bachelors degree seems to be the norm rather than the exception.