Pharmacists are highly-trained and skilled healthcare professionals who perform various roles to ensure optimal health outcomes for their patients. Pharmacists are also often small-business owners, owning the pharmacy in which they practice. This unique dichotomy is often the subject of debate within the profession€”in part due to the perception of pharmacists as €œcommon shopkeepers€ by many in the community.
Pharmacists are represented internationally by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). They are represented at the national level by professional organizations such as American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
History of Pharmacy
Pharmacy (from the Greek †άρμακον = drug) is the profession charged with assuring the safe use of medication. Traditionally, pharmacists compounded and dispensed medications on the orders of physicians. More recently, the term has come to include other services related to patient care including clinical practice, medication review, and drug information. Some of these new roles are now mandated by law in various legislatures. Pharmacists, therefore, are drug therapy experts and the primary health professionals who optimize medication management to produce positive health-outcomes.
The symbols most commonly associated with pharmacy are the mortar and pestle and the recipere character. Pharmacy organizations often employ other elements such as the Bowl of Hygieia, conical measures, and caduceuses in their logos.
If you would like to know more about the history of Pharmacy, please use this link.
Education
Pharmacy programs require four years of study, after at least two years of college work (a bachelor€™s degree is not required for admission). Most individual have their own requirements.
List of pharmacy schools are listed here.
Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Programs
Post Baccalaureate programs
are programs offered by many institutions that allow students to complete
their pre-requisites or improve their academic records. Most of these programs
are one year in length, and many have specific requirements similar to those
of entry to college.
For example: A minimum PCAT score
Application Process
During the 2004-05 application cycle, 59 of the 89 U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy required the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) for admission.
The PCAT is divided into separate sections, or subtests, each of which is timed separately. During the time allowed for each subtest, you will be permitted to work only on that section. You will not be allowed to go back to earlier subtests or on to later ones. As you work on each section, you may find it useful to first answer the questions that are easy for you, skipping over those questions to which you will need to return for further thought.
There are six content areas measured by the PCAT in six separate subtests:
· The Verbal Ability section measures general, non-scientific word knowledge and usage using analogies and sentence completion. There are approximately 58 questions in this section.
· The Biology section measures knowledge of the principles and concepts of basic biology, including general biology, microbiology, and human anatomy and physiology. There are approximately 58 questions in this section.
· The Reading Comprehension section measures ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate reading passages on science-related topics. There are approximately 48 questions in this section.
· The Quantitative Ability section measures skills in mathematical processes and the ability to reason through and understand quantitative concepts and relationships, including applications of algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, pre-calculus, and calculus. There are approximately 58 questions in this section.
· The Chemistry section measures knowledge of principles and concepts of inorganic and elementary organic chemistry. There are approximately 58 questions in this section.
· The written Essay section measures conventions of language skills in terms of sentence formation, usage, and mechanics. Examinees will have 30 minutes to write an essay on a topic provided to them.
Experimental Items:
The form of the PCAT that you take may contain experimental multiple-choice items that are embedded within the six subtests, or it may have a separate section with experimental items. The experimental items are being tested for future use on PCAT test forms and will not effect your score. You will not know which items are experimental and which count toward your score, so it is very important that you do your best on all the items and sections of the test.
Interview
If the Admissions Committee thinks you have what it takes, they will invite you for an interview. The interview occupies an entire day; one full of mini sessions and a faculty interview.