• TexTs for reading Pharmaceutical Training in English-speaking countries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are educational requirements that are very well needed to become a Pharmacist. To start off this 6 year process, there has to be a 2 year completion of specific pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework followed by 4 years of professional academic studies. Most colleges have a pre-pharmacy program which allows students to work towards their Bachelor of Science. It is common that most people who pursue the career of a Pharmacist, normally gets a Bachelor’s degree. Before a person graduates a Pharmacy school, he/she must take three tests. The Pharmacy College Admissions test (PCAT), NAPLEX and MPJE. The primary goal is basically that every student graduates with a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD).

Attending Pharmacy school is like a process. There are multiple classes that are mandatory to be taken such as:

• Biology

• Organic Chemistry

• General Physics

• Public Speaking

• All Communications

• Anatomy

• Physiology

• Microbiology

• Biochemistry

• Pharmaceutical Care

• Pharmacology

• Pharmaceutics

• Toxicology

• Molecular Biology

• Humanities

• Economics

There are physical aspects as for training for pharmacy school besides taking classes, and memorizing information. There are certain additional requirements needed to be met before graduating. For instance, there is a certain amount of hours for community service. The community service will include working in hospitals, clinics, and retail.

The role of pharmacy education, pharmacist licensing and graduate continuing education vary from country to country and between regions/localities within countries. In most countries, prospective pharmacists study pharmacy at a pharmacy school or related institution. Upon graduation, they are licensed either nationally or by region to dispense medication of various types in the settings for which they have been trained.

In the United States, a pharmacist must complete 4 years of graduate level training at a pharmacy school, usually after receiving a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is not required as most pharmacy schools only require two years of undergraduate education and the completion of a list of prerequisites. Competition to obtain entry into pharmacy school, however, limits the number of students admitted without a bachelor’s degree. There are currently 116 accredited pharmacy schools in the United States, (late 2010 ) and 6 of these schools offer "accelerated" 3 year PharmD programs by attending school almost year round - with less breaks for summer and holidays. There also is one fully accredited "distance/online" 4 year PharmD program offered by Creighton University. Pharmacists receive a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) upon graduation, and licensure after passing the NAPLEX and MPJE.

The Strategic Plan of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

(Endorsed by the ACCP Board of Regents: November 12, 2010)

The strategic planning process of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy has typically occurred on a 3- to 5-year cycle. Every fourth or fifth year, ACCP has organized a major planning initiative that included a broad representation of its membership. These initiatives have served to update and create a new strategic plan, identify goals and objectives, and begin the process of developing action-oriented strategies to achieve the stated objectives.

The intention of the plan is to guide the organization for the next few years. Perhaps more focused than previous plans, it includes only three critical issues (previous plans have contained four to six critical issues). Expressed concisely, the plan concentrates on how ACCP will seek to develop, advance, and position clinical pharmacists within the current health care environment.

• Develop refers to the College’s provision of effective methods to help clinical pharmacists accomplish continuous professional development.

• Advance details ACCP’s efforts to achieve recognition of the value of clinical pharmacists by payers, regulators, and the scientific/professional community.

• Position refers to the College’s work with constituencies external to the profession to establish and affirm the credibility of clinical pharmacists as clinicians, educators, and researchers.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 1.1: Increase practitioner access to specialist certification, recertification, and other means of ensuring maintenance of competence.

Objective 1.1.1: By 2011, implement a plan to facilitate the recognition of at least three new specialties in the near future (2012–2013).

Objective 1.1.2: Facilitate recognition of additional new specialties (or subspecialties) in 2013–2015. By 2015, at least 12 clinical pharmacy specialties are recognized or are in the process of being recognized.

Objective 1.1.3: By 2012, develop a plan for recertifying newly recognized specialties.

Objective 1.1.4: By 2012, offer international educational programs to promote board certification outside North America in countries or regions with adequate infrastructure to support the development of clinical pharmacy specialists.

Objective 1.1.5: By 2012, Pharmacotherapy develops new journal features, supplements, or other offerings designed to promote the professional development of current and emerging specialists and subspecialists.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 1.2: Provide and promote expanded opportunities for educator, researcher, and scholar development.

Objective 1.2.1: By 2012, more than 750 members are actively enrolled in ACCP Academy programs, and the Academy has cumulatively enrolled more than 1000 participants, including graduates.

Objective 1.2.2: By 2011, determine whether collaboration with another professional organization should be pursued to expand ACCP Academy access.

Objective 1.2.3: By 2011, develop a feasibility plan for offering selected “advanced” ACCP Academy curricula exclusively for Academy graduates.

Objective 1.2.4: By 2012, develop educational offerings at ACCP Annual Meetings in collaboration with two additional specialty/subspecialty medical societies.