Pharmacy school
The basic requirement for pharmacists to be considered for registration is often an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy degree from a recognized university. In many countries, this involves a four- or five-year course to attain a bachelor of pharmacy or master of pharmacy degree.
In the United States since 2003, students must complete a doctor of pharmacy degree to become a licensed pharmacist, with a similar requirement being introduced in some other countries such as Canada and France. The doctor of pharmacy degree usually requires completion of four years at an accredited college of pharmacy after an undergraduate degree or other approved courses.
To practice as a pharmacist, registration with the country, state, or province's regulatory agency is required. There is often a requirement for the pharmacy graduate to have completed a certain number of hours of experience in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If the regulatory body governs an entire country, they will usually administer a written and oral examination to the prospective pharmacist prior to registration. If its jurisdiction is limited to a specific jurisdiction, such as a state or province, the required examination is administered by a national examining board.
Australia
In Australia, a pharmacist must complete an undergraduate four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy course followed by an internship and independent examinations set by respective state registration boards. In addition, graduates are required to complete an approved graduate training course. There is the option of a postgraduate two-year Master of Pharmacy course for those with undergraduate science degree background.Since July 1, 2010, pharmacists are registered nationally with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority , having previously been registered by individual states. Graduates are required to complete one year of practice under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. In addition, graduates are required to complete an approved graduate training course. On meeting these requirements, graduates are eligible to sit the registration examination which may involve both written and oral components.
Canada
In Canada, pharmacists must complete undergraduate four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in pharmacy after completing a minimum of one or two years of university study studies beforehand. The University of Waterloo requires two years of prerequisite study in the basic sciences.The degree in pharmacy is composed of coursework and clinical experience through required internships and work placements, followed by the completion of a national board examination administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.
The pharmacy schools in Quebec now offer only the PharmD degree that involves two years of basic sciences and four years of pharmacy education, similar to many programs in the United States.
The University of Alberta Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences will start a one-year post-B.S. degree PharmD program in 2013. This will prepare students for the PharmD programs.
Many hospital pharmacists also complete a hospital pharmacy residency program. This is a 12-to-24 month directed postgraduate learning experience. Through structured rotations in pharmacy practice, education, research, and administration, residency programs intend to prepare pharmacists for challenging and innovative pharmacy practice. Graduate residents are an important source of highly qualified pharmacists trained in institutional practice. Most residency programs are accredited by the Canadian Hospital Pharmacy Residency Board on behalf of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
Finally, there is the option of students taking a graduate two-year Doctor of Pharmacy course of study for those with Bachelor of Pharmacy or equivalent degrees. This advanced PharmD program can be pursued in Canada at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto and at several pharmacy schools in the United States. The advanced PharmD programs in the United States were phased out by the introduction of the entry-level PharmD programs, which despite being identical in their names, differ from the advanced level PharmD programs in terms of the depth and scope of the teaching.
The profession of pharmacy is regulated on a provincial level. The provincial regulatory authorities are directly responsible for granting pharmacist licenses, assessing the competency of pharmacists and ensuring public safety. The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities was established in 1995 as a way to harmonize the activities of the provincial regulatory authorities. They represent the interests of the provincial authorities and serve as a national resource centre for all pharmacists. CPhA is actively involved on several NAPRA committees.
Chile
In Chile, students must study six years to become pharmacists. The best school of pharmacy is at Universidad de Chile , in Santiago de Chile. Chilean pharmacists are prepared not only to dispense and be able to work at clinical and community pharmacies, but in Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic industry at every level, including drug development, manufacturing, management, marketing, etc., due to the very strong scientific preparation they receive, including engineering and pharmaceutical technology topics. The official title for pharmacists in Chile is Químico Farmacéutico, and their degree is Licenciado en Ciencias Químicas y farmacéuticas.Denmark
The education of pharmacists in Denmark takes place at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.The Bachelor of Pharmacy degree takes three years. The Master of Pharmacy degree takes two years. In order to work as a pharmacist in Denmark, the MPharm degree is required.
After graduation as a pharmacist with the MPharm degree, the student can begin the three-year Doctor of Pharmacy education programme.
In addition to pharmacists, in Denmark there is another professional group with a pharmaceutical higher education: the pharmaconomists, whose education takes place at the Pharmakon—Danish College of Pharmacy Practice.
France
In France, a six-year PharmD must be completed.At the end of the fifth year, young pharmacists can choose to pass a competitive examination. If they succeed, the few students chosen can then follow a four-year specialty. This is a pharmaceutical residency program called the "Internat en Pharmacie". During this residency, the pharmacists specialize in Laboratory Medicine called "biologie médicale", or in hospital pharmacy, or in research.
Greece
In Greece, a five-year University course must be completed. This course is offered by the University of Athens , the University of Thessaloniki and the University of Patras . The course comprises 4 years of theory and laboratory practice and a 5th year of compulsory, full-time in-service training in a community pharmacy and the pharmaceutical department of a hospital. An additional trimester placement in a pharmaceutical industry is also an option, however it does not count towards the acquisition of the license to practice. Upon successful completion of the course, a Degree in Pharmacy is awarded. Since September 2011, undergraduate students that have completed a thesis in the University of Athens during the 5th year of their studies, are able to obtain a Certificate, equivalent to master's degree, together with the Bachelor of Pharmacy.The pharmacy graduate may pursue a career in the industry after graduation. A career in this field does not require a license to practice pharmacy. However, pharmacists wishing to open a pharmacy, work in hospitals or in the National Organization of Medicines must first successfully participate in board examinations organized by the Greek Ministry of Health, in order to obtain a License to Practice Pharmacy.
Guyana
In Guyana, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy is a four-year professional programme. The Pharmacy course offered by the University of Guyana consists of foundation core courses in the first year of the programme followed by three years of core health sciences, professional and pharmacy practice courses.India
In India, group of national level institutes of pharmaceutical sciences or Pharmacy school in India called NIPERs also various colleges and universities offer D.Pharm, B.Pharm, M.Pharm and Pharm.D programs. All India Council for Technical Education and Pharmacy Council of India are responsible government bodies for the accreditation of pharmacy education in India.D.pharm is a 2 years diploma program after Higher Secondary Certificate or 10+2 exam in the science stream. It is the minimum requirement for registration as a pharmacist in India.
B.Pharm is a 4 years undergraduate program. M.Pharm is a 2 years post graduate course after B.Pharm degree from a PCI approved institute.
The Doctor of Pharmacy course was introduced in India in 2008 by the PCI. The duration of Pharm.D is 6 years. It is a post-graduate qualification and hence Pharm.D graduates can register directly for Ph.D. All candidates being awarded the Pharm.D degree are eligible to use the prefix "Dr." before their name. Pharm.D. is a 3 years program. Admission requirements are B.Pharm from any PCI approved institute.
Iran
In Iran, The doctor of pharmacy is a 5.5 years program requiring 11 semesters of coursework in the classroom and experiential practice.Ireland
Traditionally in Ireland, a four-year BPharm degree was completed followed by one year of pre-registration clinical training. The one-year of pre-registration training has been replaced by an internship program, for which the student both works and completes assignments, leading to the award of an M.Pharm degree from the Royal College of Surgeons.A five-year integrated master's degree program will commence in September 2015. At the moment there are three universities in Ireland offering a B.Pharm degree: Trinity College Dublin, the University College Cork, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.