Pharmacy is widely known to be a noble profession and is continually in demand, hence, admission into Pharmacy schools are highly competitive.
However, with the increase in population, more pharmacists are required to cater to the healthcare needs. This has resulted in many colleges increasing their acceptance rates, making it convenient for individuals looking for accessible pharmacy schools to gain entry.
This might sound untrue for an ideal profession, but you will be amazed at the realization that some schools put up considerably lower entry requirements. I mean 3.0GPA and less.
Are you are still in doubt? Read through; you will see and even connect with a few accredited colleges with known track records of success. Ensure you follow our step-by-step guide to get the best of this publication.
What Is Pharmacy
In the healthcare system, Pharmacy links medical science with chemistry. According to Merriam webster.com, Pharmacy is the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs.
In a simple term, Pharmacy deals with the discovery, production, control, disposal, safe and effective use of drugs. A person who studies Pharmacy is called a Pharmacist.
What do Pharmacists Do?
Pharmacists work together with physicians, to help a patient get well. When physicians diagnosis an ailment, they make some prescriptions. Pharmacists take over to make the drug available to the patient.
Also, pharmacists give drug prescriptions and advice to patients. They tell patients about the components of drugs and how effective the drugs are and essential drug reactions to expect.
Where Do Pharmacist Work?
Pharmacists are essential for the daily operations of any healthcare system. They work in a wide range of environments and their functions vary by the workplace.
A Pharmacist can get employment as a Dental Assistant, Medical Assistants, Medical Transcriptionists, and many others.
Now that you’ve understood what Pharmacy is and what pharmacists do, We will explain how you can get a pharmacy degree without stress from an affordable yet reputable institution.
To gain more insight into this profession, read also; Pharmacology vs Pharmacy: Amazing Differences You Must Know
How To Get Into Pharmacy School Easily- Expert Advice
If you’ve decided to become a pharmacist, I advise you to pay attention as I lead you by hand through the step-by-step process of how you can achieve your dream career.
Step #1. Pass the Pharmacy college admissions Test(PCAT)
Actually, the first step into a pharmacy career is the PCAT. Most countries consider PCAT a prerequisite to enrolling in a degree program.
Basically, this test is a multiple-choice section covering topics such as biological processes, critical reading, and quantitative reasoning. You may also complete an essay section.
Furthermore, to pass you must meet the passing score of the university or college you have applied to as there is no general grading system. In fact, each school determines its own passing score for admission.
A few pharmacy schools offer low grading systems making admission pretty easy. See the list of schools below.
Step #2. Earn A Degree
Pharmacists are well-trained professionals that means, you will need a degree and a license to be a certified pharmacist.
To achieve this, you have to enroll in undergraduate coursework that may last for four to five years depending on the program type after which you proceed to a graduate degree program or get the dual in one program.
Apparently, many schools offer degree programs including online pharmacy schools that allow you to take some or all your courses at your comfort.
Additionally, top pharmacology schools allow students to earn a dual degree. This means that you can earn a bachelor’s degree alongside your doctoral degree over a longer period of 6-7 years.
Step #3. Get a License
Upon graduation, you must meet the licensing requirement as slated at the state level. Actually, each state has its own criteria that a graduate must meet before being issued a license. So, it is important that you check your state local board before applying for a license.
In general, every aspiring pharmacist must complete additional postgraduate experience hours to work in a specialized field like psychopharmacology or pharmacoepidemiology.
Furthermore, you must maintain your license by completing continuing education hours that may last for 15-30 hours before the license renewal period.
Cost Of Enrolling In a Pharmacy School?
The cost associated with enrolling in a pharmacy school varies quite a bit. The factors determining cost include the state residency; students living in the same state as their school will often pay lower tuition than out-of-state students.
However, some schools charge flat tuition for all online students regardless of residency status. Technology fees also impact the price tag of an online degree.
In summary, the average cost of getting a pharmacy degree ranges from $65,000 to $200,000. Despite the costs, a pharmacy degree is generally viewed as one of the most promising within the healthcare field.
How Long Does It Take Complete a Pharmacy School?
The length of a Pharmacy program varies from school to school. Most school program length usually takes four to five years to complete.
With three to four years of undergraduate pre-professional study followed by four academic years in the professional program, we can say it takes at least eight years to earn a pharm.D and become a pharmacist.
However, accelerated programs allow students to graduate in as little as three months by studying full-time. In most cases, the time it takes students to graduate depends on the amount of time they can put in.
Nevertheless, pharmacy schools meet or exceed the training requisites for both the PTCB and NHA exams.
What Are the Easiest Pharmacy Schools to Get Into?
Below is a list of top most accessible pharmacy schools to get into. These schools require at least 2.5GPA and a solid PCAT score.
A more significant percentage of programs require undergraduate schooling. However, there are some pharmacy schools that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. That means admission into the pharmacy college will more than likely require an interview before accepting a student.
We got our data from reliable sources, testimonials, interviews, and contacting individual schools.
#1. South College School of Pharmacy
Tuition: $18,046.00 (In-state); $29,127.00( out-of-state)
Acceptance rate: 100.0%
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee. SCSP is one of the top pharmacy schools available in the country. This school offers a variety of programs and has over 400 student enrollment.
Students in this school study in a well equipped medical center and are exposed to a real-world medical experience to gain the knowledge needed to become quality pharmacists.
Admission into this school is not difficult. The entry requirements are Interview, PCAT, and a minimum GPA of 2.7.
#2. Texas Southern University
Tuition: $18,000 per year
Acceptance rate: 56.6%
TSU is listed as one of the most accessible pharmacy schools. The school is accredited and offers various programs through the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS).
The College provides students with the knowledge and skills that they need to improve the health and well-being of local, state, national and global communities.
Getting into TSU is not difficult compared to other pharmacy schools. You need a good GPA and PCAT, pass your interview, and submit a winning application to gain entry.
#3. South Dakota State University
Tuition: $14,750.25
Acceptance rate: 33.3%
South Dakota State University pharmacy program is nationally recognized for excellence. This school is easy to gain admission because of the low population in South Dakota.
The College features a vast array of academic programs that prepare students to provide high-quality patient-centered care. To gain entry, you need an excellent PCAT score with a minimum GPA of 2.7.
#4. Purdue University
Tuition: $9,208.00
Acceptance rate: 26.3%
Purdue University consistently ranks among the top pharmacy schools in the country. The school College of Pharmacy offers different programs leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees.
With an acceptance rate of 26.3%, you can tell that the school is considerably easy to gain entry. The requirements include a minimum of 3.3GPA, Interview, PharmCAS, Supplemental Application.
#5. Oregon State University
Tuition: $14,256(In-State); $24,552(Out-of-State)
Acceptance rate: 11.8%
Oregon State University is a leading research institution and is listed as the most accessible pharmacy school to get into in the US. This is because the school has a relatively low-cost tuition fee.
The university college of pharmacy has a good reputation with a perfect student-teacher ratio. Additionally, the school has a reasonable graduation rate with a high employment percentage.
To gain admission into OSU college of pharmacy, you must pass the Interview, PCAT and possess a minimum GPA of 2.75.
If you are seeking a distant-learning option, you can consider the best pharmacy tech online schools in the world.
How Much Do Pharmacist Earn?
The annual earnings of pharmacists generally depend on where they work; Professionals who work in outpatient services and in hospitals may earn higher than those in supermarkets or pharmaceutical shops.
On average, pharmacists make $121,500 annually, according to the most recent data published in the Occupational Outlook Manual of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earn an average of $89,790, while the highest 10% earn more than $154,040.
Job Outlook For Pharmacist?
The Bureau of Labour Statistics speculates that pharmacist employment will grow 7% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.
Conclusion
Taking up a career as a pharmacist is a great choice to make. However, before enrolling in any Pharmacy school, you must learn about the requirements.
Pharmacy schools generally are very competitive, but some are easy to gain entry. We have highlighted the most accessible pharmacy schools in this article. You can choose the one that best fits your demand.
Easiest Pharmacy Schools to Get Into-Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest pharmacy schools to get into requiring a GPA of 2.5 and above and a solid PCAT score.
It takes 6 to 8 years to get a degree in pharmacy.
Pharmacists make up to $121,500 annually, according to BLS
Pharmacy form a greater part of healthcare and is in demand.
References
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