AboutBarbara Judge Expertise Outpatient pharmacy and general health. I have recently completed a Pharmceutical Care Certificate Program offered by Purdue University (Spring 1999 completion). I have personal experience dealing with terminally ill persons and their needs, as well as their families` needs. I graduated in 1984 from Pharmacy School and have been a Licensed Pharmacist since then. I have 18 years retail pharmacy experience. Prior to my pharmacy training I have 3 years hospital experience as a Nurse`s Aide.
Expert: Barbara Judge Date: 2/19/2008 Subject: Hospital Pharmacy
Question HI, I am a junior in high school and i hear that you have to be good in chemistry, biology and anatomy to become a pharmacist. well i must say that i can't stand chemistrty or biology, but i feel i will like anatomy. i really want to become a pharmacist though. i have looked up all types of pharmacist and i think i want to become a hospital pharmacist. my question is what excatly do i have to major in to become to hospital pharmacist, and how many years roughly will it take me to become a hospital pharmacist? even though i hate chemistry and biology is it rare that someone like me will be able to succeed in becoming a pharmacist, because i really want to be one!
Thank You.
Answer I would recommend that you check in your state with your states licensing board to see if they have a shadowing program for high school students. Pharmacy school is a 6 year program. In most programs you with take 6 to 8 semesters of college chemistry, 2 semesters of biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, 2 semesters of physics, 4-6 semester of classes dedicated to the differentiation of every type of drug, as well as various general education and professional electives. If you really don't like chemistry you will probably find pharmacy school difficult. Everything about drugs is based on organic chemistry. I would still recommend you shadow a pharmacist for a day if that is allowable where you live. That gives you the best chance to see what the job is really like.
