Final answer:
To become a pharmacist, one must be of legal age, have good moral character, complete an internship, hold an appropriate degree, pass necessary exams, and have a clean professional record. Expertise in chemistry and biology is crucial to understanding drug effects and ensuring medication safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Career Focus: Pharmacist
To pursue a career as a pharmacist, you must fulfill a number of requirements which demonstrate your competency and reliability in the field. First and foremost, one must be at least 18 years of age and exhibit good moral character. A prospective pharmacist is required to complete an internship, typically involving 1500 hours of professional experience, which is a critical component to gain practical insights into the pharmaceutical industry.
Additionally, education plays a key role—graduating with a professional practice degree is essential, and in the United States, this often means obtaining a Doctorate in Pharmacy from an accredited pharmacy school, usually a four-year program. After education and internship, licensure is the final hurdle, requiring passing scores on exams like the NAPLEX and MPJE, with 75 being the minimum passing score. It is also important that the candidate has not had their pharmacist license previously restricted, suspended, revoked, or surrendered in another state. Professional conduct and a clean record are crucial to ensuring public trust in the practice of pharmacy.
Moreover, pharmacists must be knowledgeable in chemistry and biology to understand the effects of drugs and to provide safe and effective medication management and counseling to patients. Through education, internship, and licensure, pharmacists are empowered to support both physicians and patients in the use of medications.