Pharmacists must understand the use, clinical effects, and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties. The goal of pharmacy care is to maximize positive health care outcomes and improve patients’ quality of life with minimum risk. Pharmacists may work in healthcare settings (hospital, nursing home, clinic, etc.) or in retail settings.
You must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited pharmacy institution and pass a state licensure exam. It is possible to enter a PharmD program upon completion of prerequisites before earning an undergraduate degree, but many PharmD programs prefer or require applicants to have a BA or BS first.
Profession OverviewThis is a list of common pre-pharmacy requirements and the Kalamazoo College course equivalents. The course prerequisites vary across programs. This list does not include all courses that may be required by pharmacy schools. Additionally, schools have differing policies for accepting AP/IB credits to fulfill prerequisites. Students are responsible for verifying the prerequisite coursework and policies of the schools to which they plan to apply. Helpful resources include the Pharmacy School Admission Requirements (PSAR), and individual school websites.
Prerequisites for students starting at K Fall 2023 or before.* BIOL 123 while this course is not a pharmacy school requirement, BIOL 123 is strongly recommended to first-year students, as it includes physiology and is required for the Biology major.
** BIOL 222 and *** BIOL 376 may not meet the admissions criteria of your intended program. If the program you are preparing for has prerequisites that K College doesn’t offer, most commonly human anatomy and physiology, you may take them at Western Michigan University under our inter-institutional enrollment arrangement. Please contact the Registrar’s office a K College for the policy, procedure, and forms. This is done on a space-available basis so plan ahead and make your arrangements early. The cost is included in your K tuition and the grades will appear on your K transcript and be calculated into your K GPA.
Prerequisites for students starting at K Fall 2024 or after.* BIOL 2XX/3XX with Lab. Be sure that the course you select has a laboratory component.
** BIOL 222 and *** BIOL 376 may not meet the admissions criteria of your intended program. If the program you are preparing for has prerequisites that K College doesn’t offer, most commonly human anatomy and physiology, you may take them at Western Michigan University under our inter-institutional enrollment arrangement. Please contact the Registrar’s office a K College for the policy, procedure, and forms. This is done on a space-available basis so plan ahead and make your arrangements early. The cost is included in your K tuition and the grades will appear on your K transcript and be calculated into your K GPA.
The average GPA of matriculants to PharmD programs was a 3.3 (PharmCAS Report) for the 2018-2019 cycle. Schools vary widely in the minimum PCAT score they will consider, so consult individual program information for specifics. Many schools also encourage or require that applicants have paid or volunteer experience working with patients in a pharmacy or health-related setting. The AACP’s FAQs about Pharmacy Admissions provides additional information that may be of interest.
Most PharmD programs require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Students should read through all information on the PCAT website prior to submitting an application to test. Not all pharmacy schools require the PCAT.
Length: 4 hours
Sections: Five sections:
Scores: Scores range from 200-600.
Cost: The registration fee is $210 which includes the exam and scores sent to the three recipients you verify during registration (PharmCAS counts as 1 recipient). Sending scores to additional non-PharmCAS schools after registration will cost $20 for each recipient.
PCAT Prep Resources: There are a variety of PCAT prep resources, each differing in both cost and teaching style.
School SelectionNumber of schools: Students typically apply to between 5-8 pharmacy schools.
Factors to consider:
Additional resources for school selection:
Most pharmacy degree programs in the U.S. participate in the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) for admission. Designed for first-year professional pharmacy degree applicants, PharmCAS offers a simple, efficient process to apply to multiple colleges and schools of pharmacy using a single web-based application. The PharmCAS application opens in July for enrollment in the following year. School deadlines vary from September (for early decision) to November 1st through March 1st. PharmCAS provides detailed information on the application process.
Applications for PharmCAS are reviewed on a rolling basis. We recommend applying as early in the cycle as possible.
The PharmCAS web application is only one step in the pharmacy admissions process. Pharm.D. programs may also require you to submit a secondary application or supplemental information. Required information may include a high school transcript, photo, fee, additional essays, and possibly other information. Some schools may send secondaries to applicants after reviewing their primary application, while others post secondary materials on their website for all applicants to submit. Review the individual school requirements on the PharmCAS School Directory to determine which programs require secondary materials and how they want the materials to be submitted. If a pharmacy school sends a you a secondary after review of your primary application, a 2-week turnaround is recommended for submitting the secondary application.
Pharmacy schools typically require between 3-4 recommendation letters. At least one of your letters be from a science faculty member and one be from a PI or research supervisor (if you participated in research). Some programs may require a letter from a pharmacist. The other letters should be made up of professional references who can write compellingly about your personal qualities that will contribute to a successful career in pharmacy. Students should check each school’s requirements to ensure you have the required letters. PharmCAS will accept up to 4 recommendation letters.
The interview is one of the most important elements in the healthcare professions application process. When a school invites you to an interview, they are indicating an interest in selecting you for their school based on your application. The interview gives both of you the opportunity to exchange information to determine if you are a good “fit” for each other.
Pharmacy schools require personal interviews with applicants to assess qualities such as self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and ability to overcome challenges. Be prepared to discuss why you wish to pursue a career in pharmacy and the experiences that have motivated you.
What to Expect at a Pharmacy School Interview
The interview is one of the most important elements in the healthcare professions application process. When a school invites you to an interview, they are indicating an interest in selecting you for their school based on your application. The interview gives both of you the opportunity to exchange information to determine if you are a good “fit” for each other.
Pharmacy schools require personal interviews with applicants to assess qualities such as self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and ability to overcome challenges. Be prepared to discuss why you wish to pursue a career in pharmacy and the experiences that have motivated you.
How to Prepare
Your interview prep should be different based on the type of interview the school employs. In general, you should always:
Resources
