Background

• A pharmacist is a professional with advanced knowledge about prescription medications. Each day, pharmacists fill prescriptions for patients, ensure that drugs are dispensed correctly and provide education to patients about how best to use the drug prescribed by their doctor.
  
  

Identification

• The PharmD. degree is also called a Doctor of Pharmacy. Unlike other fields, there is no baccalaureate or Bachelor of Pharmacy degree offered in the United States,
  
  

Time Frame

• The PharmD. program requires four years of study to complete. Prior to entering the program, most schools require applicants to have two or three years of undergraduate study in areas like biology, chemistry, physics and calculus.
  
  

Locations

• Approximately 92 schools in the United States offer PharmD. programs and are registered with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
  
  

Features

• During the first three years of a PharmD. program, students typically learn the fundamental science needed for success in the field as well as detailed information about how the human body works. The final year of the program usually involves clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
  
  

Compensation

• In October 2009, workers that held PharmD. degrees earned an average of between $97,901 and $122,471, according to Payscale.com.