The demand for pharmacists in California is slower than in other occupations. But the need for pharmacists in California is expected to grow by 6 percent or 2000 jobs by 2028. Suppose you are planning to take pharmacy as your career. The first question that comes to everyone’s mind is salary. But everyone ignores the skills, degrees, and licenses required to become a pharmacist. In this article, you will get the pharmacist’s salary details. You will also get the point about expenses, skills, degrees, and more required to become a successful pharmacist.
Cost and time required to complete a pharmacy degree
A pharmacy degree is considered one of the promising degrees of the healthcare industry. However, the average cost of pursuing a pharmacy degree can range from $65,000 to $200,000. Debt is nothing new to a pharmacy student. As per a report of ABC News, students take more than ten years to repay student debt of $90,000. The factors like location, tuition fees, cost of books and labs also affect the overall expense of the pharmaceutical degree.
You have to give at least six years to complete a pharmaceutical degree and training. The typical pharmacy school or college requires students with two or three years of undergraduate studies. However, some universities need a student with a graduate degree.
What to do to become a pharmacist.
These are the following steps that you have to follow to become a successful pharmacist.
- Bachelor’s Degree And Courses
Most pharmacy programs want the candidate to have at least a bachelor’s degree. A degree in Chemistry or Biology will help you get an idea of what it is like studying pharmacy.
Here are some of the courses you may want to take that will be helpful in preparing you for pharmacy school: Chemistry (General and Organic), The study of cells and their molecular composition, Anatomy & Physiology of the human body, Microbiology, Statistics, Calculus, English…
Prior to applying to the University of Toledo pharmacy program in 2007, I completed my Associate Degree in Biology from Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA. The University of Toledo’s Pharmacy program was one of a few programs in the country that didn’t require a bachelor’s or a PCAT. Here is a list of accredited pharmacy programs with a high acceptance rate in the country.
2. Pharmacy School
Currently, 141 US base colleges have accredited pharmacy programs. The pharmacy courses are approximately 3 to 4 years long.
It took me seven years to graduate from the University of Toledo, OH. I spent my first two years retaking some university classes to fill the application requirement fully. Once I got into the program, I spent another two years acquiring a Bachelor’s in Pharmaceutical & Science. The 3rd year of the program was challenging because it was loaded with heavy clinical courses. I remember my struggle well because we had to juggle six to seven quizzes and exams every other week. During the last year of the program, students get to rotate to eight or nine different pharmacies. I went to eight pharmacies from retail to hospital, to Poison Control Center. Out of them all, my favorite was clinical rotation at the hospital which allowed me to learn a lot.
3. License
After graduation, students need to take two exams before becoming licensed pharmacists. Most states demand the following of applicants seeking a license:
- Passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)
- Pass the state Law exam.
California, Florida, and New York are the three most difficult states to get licenses. It isn’t easy there because their state Law exam contains many clinical questions. To renew a pharmacist license in California and most states, we must complete 30 hours of continuing pharmacy education every two years.
4. Training
Pharmacists don’t need to complete post-doctoral training to work in the pharmaceutical industry, but it is highly recommended if you plan to work in a specific area. If you intend to conduct research, the same holds. It is not difficult to get a job in a retail setting such as Rite Aid or Walgreens. If students are interested in the hospital setting, students are often required to apply for hospital Residency programs. These programs are limited, and it is very selective.
Salary Of Pharmacist
Finally, the only question on our mind: is all the schooling and training worth it?
As per Indeed, the average monthly salary of a pharmacist is $9643 in CA. However, if you do not have any experience, you can earn $8630 per month. With ten years of experience, you can earn more than $10,000 per month.
When I first started as a pharmacist in 2014, my annual salary was $130,000.
Eight years and three different organizations later, my wage has increased by 50 percent. I will be lying if I say it was easy. There was a lot of risk-taking, long nights and weekends, traveling, and personal sacrifices. Currently, I am a Director of Pharmacy service (D.O.P) at a 130-beds hospital in southern CA. I am happy to be with my current team and surrounded by well-educated individuals.
As far as I am aware, the max salary you can get as a director is $250,000. I am talking about leading a 500-beds facility and managing around 110 pharmacy employees. I haven’t heard anyone offer a higher salary cap. This quarter of a million dollars check comes with a lot of stress and a huge responsibility.
Conclusion
If you are interested in healthcare, the pharmaceutical field is definitely should be of your top choices. Now, you have learned about essential topics related to the pharmaceutical field. I hope that this article will be helpful in your career-making decision and help you decide whether you should choose pharmacy as a career or not.
References
https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/Detail.aspx?Soccode=291051&Geography=0604000111
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/how-much-does-a-pharmacist-make
https://www.tldrpharmacy.com/content/immediate-post-grad-expenses
https://www.indeed.com/career/pharmacist/salaries/CA
