Pharmacy Schools in Indiana

Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. This science is a mix of health sciences and chemical sciences. Those professionals who prepare and dispense drugs are called pharmacists. They are also responsible for safe and effective use of pharmaceutical medicines by patients.

Where Do Pharmacists Work?
Most pharmacists work in retail stores. Others may own their pharmacy stores. These pharmacists-entrepreneurs manage both the business aspect and the science aspect of pharmacy. Pharmacists also work for pharmaceutical companies where they research and test new medications. Pharmacists may also work for universities performing the same duties of research and testing.

Types Of Pharmacists
Pharmacists could be divided into the following categories:

• Consultant pharmacists
• Clinical pharmacists
• Community Pharmacists

Consultant pharmacists provide consultancy to insurance companies and healthcare facilities on how to make pharmacy services more efficient. Clinical pharmacists on the other hand work in hospitals. They make rounds with doctors and recommend medications to patients. They also help patients in the use of those medications and monitor patients' health. Community pharmacists work at local pharmacies in drug stores, retail stores, and grocery stores; and they dispense medication and answer questions.

Salary And Job Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that pharmacists earned a median yearly salary of $116,670 in May 2012. The number of pharmacy jobs is expected to grow at the rate of 14 percent, which is as fast as the average for all other professions from 2012 to 2022.

How To Become A Pharmacist
Since their main duty is to prepare and dispense medications to patients, pharmacists need to be highly qualified to perform their professional duties. Pharmacists hold a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The degree takes four years to finish and is a post-undergraduate degree, although there may be exceptions to the rule. In addition, pharmacists must also be licensed to practice. For that, they need to pass two exams.

Pharmacy Schools in Indiana
There are many pharmacy schools in Indiana. Whichever school you decide to join, make sure that it is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the national agency for the accreditation of pharmacy degree programs.

Admission Into Pharmacy Schools
Admission requirements could differ for each college. Some pharmacy colleges in Indiana may have pre-pharmacy requirements. These requirements are essentially prerequisite courses that potential applicants of a Pharm.D., program must complete in the first 2 years of their undergraduate study. Some of the pre-pharmacy courses may be titled as:

• Pharmacy orientation I, II
• Fundamentals of Biology I, II
• Calculus for the Life Sciences I, II
• Organic Chemistry I, II
• Human Design: Anatomy and Physiology I, II

Some of the courses taught to future pharmacists in the four years of college may be titled as:

• Basic Pharmaceutics I, II
• Pharmaceutical Calculations
• Biological Chemistry I, II
• Integrated Laboratory I, II, III, IV, V, VI
• Jurisprudence
• Parenteral products
• Institutional Pharmacy
• Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE)

Accredited pharmacy schools are producing pharmacists for an ever growing healthcare sector in the United States. An increasing aging population may lead to more medication being administered, so pharmacists may be in greater demand.