PHARMACY Prescription for a Rewarding Career PHARMACY Prescription for a Rewarding Career © American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 1727 King Street Alexandria, Virginia

Why Pharmacy? A well-rounded careerA well-rounded career A vital part of the health care teamA vital part of the health care team Outstanding career opportunitiesOutstanding career opportunities Excellent earning potentialExcellent earning potential A trusted professionA trusted profession

Goals of Pharmaceutical Care Cure diseaseCure disease Eliminate or reduce symptomsEliminate or reduce symptoms Stop or slow a diseaseStop or slow a disease Prevent diseasePrevent disease Change physiological processes to improve the health of a patient with minimal riskChange physiological processes to improve the health of a patient with minimal risk

What Do Pharmacists Do? Educate patients about prescription and over- the-counter medicationsEducate patients about prescription and over- the-counter medications Advise other health care professionals on drug decisions for patientsAdvise other health care professionals on drug decisions for patients Provide expertise about the composition of drugs, including chemical, biological and physical properties, as well as on useProvide expertise about the composition of drugs, including chemical, biological and physical properties, as well as on use Ensure drug purity and strengthEnsure drug purity and strength Ensure drugs do not interact in a harmful wayEnsure drugs do not interact in a harmful way

PHARMACISTSare Drug Information Experts No one knows more about medications than pharmacists

Pharmacy Career Options  Academic Pharmacy  Community Pharmacy  Government Agencies  Hospice & Home Care  Hospital & Institutional Practice  Independent Ownership  Long-term Care  Consulting Pharmacy  Managed Care Pharmacy  Medical & Scientific Publishing  Pharmaceutical Industry  Trade & Professional Associations  Uniformed (Public Health) Service

Shortage of Pharmacists Nationwide shortage of pharmacists throughout U.S. various industries*Nationwide shortage of pharmacists throughout U.S. various industries* Shortage expected to last into the foreseeable futureShortage expected to last into the foreseeable future Why?Why? –Increase in number of new prescription medicines –Growing elderly population –Greater demand for patient care –Growth in community pharmacy (). * According to the results of the National Pharmacist Workforce Survey (2006) and the HRSA BHPR National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (2000).

Nationwide Shortage = Increased DemandNationwide Shortage = Increased Demand Student pharmacists can expect multiple job offers at graduationStudent pharmacists can expect multiple job offers at graduation Median salary in 2007 = $107,403 *According to DrugTopics.comMedian salary in 2007 = $107,403 *According to DrugTopics.com Regional mobility - Demand for pharmacists is widespread in U.S.Regional mobility - Demand for pharmacists is widespread in U.S. Opportunities to work in wide variety of health care and industry settingsOpportunities to work in wide variety of health care and industry settings Job Outlook

DO YOU LIKE... Chemistry, Biology, and Math?Chemistry, Biology, and Math? To Help People?To Help People? To Solve Problems and Puzzles?To Solve Problems and Puzzles? ARE YOU... Dependable? Organized?Dependable? Organized? Detail-Oriented?Detail-Oriented? Able to Communicate Well with Others?Able to Communicate Well with Others? DO YOU LIKE... Chemistry, Biology, and Math?Chemistry, Biology, and Math? To Help People?To Help People? To Solve Problems and Puzzles?To Solve Problems and Puzzles? ARE YOU... Dependable? Organized?Dependable? Organized? Detail-Oriented?Detail-Oriented? Able to Communicate Well with Others?Able to Communicate Well with Others? If you answered YES, you may want to consider pharmacy as a career! Should YOU Be a Pharmacist?

Pharmacy Education and Admission Requirements

The Pharm.D. degree program requires... At least of pre-pharmacy study At least 2 Years of pre-pharmacy study + of pharmacy study + 4 Academic Years of pharmacy study = of study after high school = 6 or more years of study after high school The Pharmacy Degree The majority of student pharmacists enter the professional program with 3 OR MORE years of (pre-pharmacy) college experience

Pharmacy Curriculum Counsel patients on the proper use of medicationsCounsel patients on the proper use of medications Promote public healthPromote public health Develop and manage medication distribution and control systemsDevelop and manage medication distribution and control systems Manage pharmacy practiceManage pharmacy practice Plan and perform ongoing evaluations to provide patients with the best drug therapy for their individual health care needsPlan and perform ongoing evaluations to provide patients with the best drug therapy for their individual health care needs The professional pharmacy curriculum is designed to educate pharmacists to...

Recommended High School Preparatory Classes SCIENCE ChemistryChemistry BiologyBiology MATHEMATICS Algebra I&IIAlgebra I&II GeometryGeometry TrigonometryTrigonometry CalculusCalculus OTHER EnglishEnglish HistoryHistory Foreign LanguageForeign Language Computer ProgrammingComputer Programming * Accelerated or Advanced Placement (AP) level courses suggested

Common College Course Prerequisites General Chemistry I & IIGeneral Chemistry I & II Organic Chemistry I & IIOrganic Chemistry I & II General Biology I & IIGeneral Biology I & II PhysicsPhysics MicrobiologyMicrobiology CalculusCalculus Anatomy and PhysiologyAnatomy and Physiology English I & IIEnglish I & II Public SpeakingPublic Speaking * These college courses are not required by all pharmacy degree programs and do not represent all of the course requirements for any pharmacy school. Admission prerequisites vary significantly by pharmacy institution.

Pharmacy School Admission Requirements The classes required for admission to a pharmacy program vary Contact AACP or schools for details Three-fourths of all pharmacy admission offices require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

Profile of 2008 Entering Class* GPAsGPAs  Science 3.35  Non-Science 3.62  Math 3.40  Cumulative % = Composite PCAT66% = Composite PCAT 61% = Female / 37% = Male61% = Female / 37% = Male 10% = Underrepresented Minorities10% = Underrepresented Minorities 89% = U.S. Citizens89% = U.S. Citizens * Data for 59 PharmCAS Institutions Only. Data represents average for accepted PharmCAS applicants.

71 Participating PharmCAS Schools71 Participating PharmCAS Schools Allows an applicants to use one application and one set of materials to apply to multiple Pharm.D. degree programs.Allows an applicants to use one application and one set of materials to apply to multiple Pharm.D. degree programs.

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