Have you ever had a cold and had to take to a Pharmacist? A pharmacist makes medications that are prescribed by a doctor or other healthcare person. They answer questions if people have questions about the medicine and when to take it or what’s in it. Pharmacists also help doctors to let them know how much medications the patient needs to take. I interviewed Sasha Mallon who is a Pharmacist at Walgreens in Emporia, Ks. My first question was, what age did you decide you wanted to be a Pharmacist? She said, “ I was 18, I had just graduated high school.”

The next question I asked was, why did you want to become a Pharmacist? She said, “I was very interested in science growing up. I knew I didn’t want to be a medical doctor due to the time commitment (that lifestyle was not what I wanted). I was looking for a similar career. After working as a technician at a local pharmacy, I fell in love with being able to help patients. They were typically quite friendly and open. They asked the pharmacist questions they wouldn’t ask their doctor. It seemed like a very good way to be connected with people in the community and help them. The schedule was much more flexible than that of a medical doctor from what I could tell at the time.”

Finally, I asked what the worst and best parts of being a Pharmacist? Her answer was, “Best: flexible schedule- able to work evenings, days, part time or full time, good pay, and being so accessible to help patients with healthcare and medication needs. Worst: Schedule sometimes interferes with family plans, the pressure to beat last years, last months, last week’s, etc numbers, and having to handle insurance claims.”

To become a Pharmacist you need to have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a college. Some programs include undergraduate coursework that is six years of school. If you take a professional pharmacy education it takes four years of school. You should take, biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, math, statistics, English, history, and economics.

To get into a PharmD Program you need three to four years of undergraduate pre-professional coursework, followed by four academic years in the professional program. Most students need four years to complete their prerequisite course. High school students who apply to “0-6” or “early assurance programs” must meet the college’s admission standards, which may include a minimum grade point average (GPA) or SAT or ACT score.

To get a license as a Pharmacist in the U.S  you have to, take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam. Then, take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam, a test of pharmacy law, if you want to practice in a state that requires it, or take the pharmacy law exam that is administered by the state in which you plan to work. Next, take any other test that may be required by your state. Then, complete the number of hours of practical experience your jurisdiction requires, many people meet this requirement while still in school. Finally, consent to a criminal background check if required.

After getting your degree and getting your license you can now get a job. When you get your job you need to use good communication skills and be precise about your math when making the medicine.

In conclusion, I hope this helped you decide if you want to become a Pharmacist or not. There is a lot of school, but I think it’s worth it because you get a good salary.