Educational Requirements

• The training to become a pharmacist starts with two years of post-secondary study specific to pharmaceutical-related sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics. Additional courses include mathematics, humanities and social science. Once the two-year study is complete, a student can apply for admittance to a four-year Pharm.D. degree program (formerly a bachelor's degree of pharmacy). This degree is required to operate as a pharmacist in the United States.
  
  

Work Requirements

• Pharmacists are required to complete residency programs or fellowships to gain practical work experience. These are often referred to as training programs, and they are required for pharmacists who wish to work in clinical practice settings or research laboratories. Pharmacists who wish to start their own businesses may choose to complete business administration courses in addition to practical clinical training.
  
  

Knowledge of Medicinal Laws

• Pharmacists must be familiar with drug and pharmaceutical laws in the state where they will work. Knowledge of medicinal and pharmaceutical laws is important both in terms of passing the licensing examination, but also when working in the pharmacy. Pharmacists can encounter difficult patients and situations, so knowing their rights along with the expectations and laws of the given state can help them perform better.
  
  

Licensing Requirements

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that all operating pharmacists in the United States must have a license to practice pharmacy or provide pharmaceutical services. A candidate is eligible to apply for the license when she has completed the Pharm.D. degree and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam, also called NAPLEX. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia require an additional examination, called the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination. This examination focuses on the laws regarding pharmaceuticals.