Pre-Pharmacy (PharmD)
What future students usually study in college, how to get ready in high school, and what the career looks like today. Every fact below names its source.
You become: a Pharmacist (PharmD). Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and provide information to patients about the drugs and their use. [1]
Last checked:
What it is
Pharmacists typically need a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy program. [1]
Pharm.D. programs usually take 4 years to finish, although some programs offer a 3-year option. [1]
Courses to take before applying
We did not find a current, named program list that we could verify, so only the BLS summary is shown here. Confirm each program’s own list.
- Admission requirements vary, but Pharm.D. programs typically require applicants to have at least 2 years of prerequisite undergraduate courses in subjects such as anatomy and physiology, physics, and statistics. [1]
Typical high school preparation
- Some Pharm.D. programs admit high school graduates into a 6-year program. [1]
Only what a cited source states is listed here.
Pre-Health Foundations: coming soon
The career today
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
The median annual wage for pharmacists was $140,910 in May 2025. [1]
Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. [1]
The typical entry-level education is a doctoral or professional degree. [1]
Getting licensed
All states require pharmacists to be licensed, although licensure requirements vary, and after completing their degree, prospective pharmacists typically must pass two exams to get a license. [1]
Exams on this path
Overview only. For dates, registration, rules and scoring, see each test maker's own site.
PCAT® (retired)
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) has been retired, and no further PCAT testing dates will be offered. [2]
NAPLEX® (licensure)
The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they receive their degree. [3]
The NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process and is used by the boards of pharmacy to assess a candidate's competence to practice as a pharmacist. [3]
NAPLEX® and PCAT® are registered trademarks of their owners. None of these organizations is affiliated with or endorses UpOnly Learning.
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
What are the requirements for pharmacy school?
Pharmacists typically need a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy program. [1]
Admission requirements vary, but Pharm.D. programs typically require applicants to have at least 2 years of prerequisite undergraduate courses in subjects such as anatomy and physiology, physics, and statistics. [1]
Is the PCAT still required?
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) has been retired, and no further PCAT testing dates will be offered. [2]
Your next step
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Pharmacists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm. OOH page last modified October 29, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Retirement of the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). https://www.aacp.org/resource/pcat-resources. no edition stated (footer © 2026). Checked .
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). NAPLEX. https://nabp.pharmacy/programs/examinations/naplex/. page last modified June 30, 2026. Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.