School of Pharmacy - Hampton University
Average Salary: $98,960, based on 2007 data - Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Is a Pharmacist? Overview of Pharmacist's Job:
A pharmacist is a medical professional who dispenses drugs to patients according to a prescription ordered by a physician or other clinician. Pharmacists have an in-depth knowledge of the chemistry of various drugs and how they react in humans, and also how drugs interact with each other. Pharmacists must accurately measure and package medicine, ensuring its dosage and safety to be administered properly to a patient. While the pharmacist does not typically select or prescribe the medication, the pharmacist educates the patient on how to take the medication and what reactions or problems to be avoided.
How to Become a Pharmacist - Education and Training:
Pharmacists graduating from college today are required to have a PharmD, or doctorate of Pharmacy degree. College students can start a four-year pharmacy program after successfully completing two years of undergraduate coursework and earning a passing score on the PCAT (Pharmacy college admission test). Coursework in pharmacy and pre-pharmacy includes chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology.
Additionally, PharmD students must complete a series of rotations in a variety of clinical and pharmaceutical settings. The length and quantity of rotations varies, but the average PharmD program requires 7-10 rotaions, each of which is 4-6 weeks in length.
If a student knows early in his or her college career that they would like to become a pharmacist, one could graduate with a PharmD in about 6 years. Many college students do not decide until later in college or after college to become a pharmacist; therefore, many pharmacists have completed eight years of college.
How Much Do Pharmacists Earn? Average Salary for Pharmacists:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for pharmacists is $98,960, based on 2007 data. According to Sherrie Nackie, CPC, who specializes in pharmacist recruitment for Hire Dynamics Rx in Atlanta, their average contract (temporary hourly) pharmacist job pays $50.00-$60.00 per hour, which equates to $100,000-$120,000 annualized income, assuming a full-time schedule. Additionally, a signing bonus of $5,000-$15,000 may be offered upon accepting and starting a position. Signing bonuses help keep pharmacists locked into a job for up to three years.
What's to Like about Pharmacist Jobs:
Demand is strong and pay is high for this medical career. Therefore pharmacists enjoy job security and stability, and availability of jobs in just about any location nationwide. A variety of options and work settings are available for pharmacists as well. About.com - Health Careers
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