Pharmacy Schools in Texas
The profession of pharmacy has evolved and become more complex in nature with the passage of time. It has advanced from its previous role in medication distribution into a patient-oriented model of pharmaceutical care. Pharmacists now play a crucial role in the implementation of patient-specific plans designed to improve therapeutic outcomes. Pharmacy schools in Texas produce graduates who are competent and trained to practice successfully in various areas related to pharmaceutical services.
Program Information
In the United States, the entry-level degree needed for professional pharmacy is the Pharmacy Doctorate (Pharm.D.). This degree program generally takes four years to complete. However, some schools also offer a 3-year track program. Students enrolled in online programs can proceed with the coursework at their own pace. In some schools, pre-pharmacy undergraduate prerequisite coursework is also offered that takes around two years to complete. In addition to this, graduate programs (M.S. and Ph.D.) are offered in the following areas:-
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Medicinal Chemistry
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Pharmaceutics
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Translational Sciences
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Health Outcomes and Pharmacy
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Pharmacology/Toxicology
These programs offer a competency-based and student-centered curriculum. Students will be instructed on the major areas of pharmaceutical practice including pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, drug development and registration, pharmacy practice, and medical ethics. Pharmacy schools in Texas collaborate with leading medical institutions and organizations to provide Pharmacy residency and fellowship programs.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements vary from school to school. In general, applicants are assessed based on their performance on the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), undergraduate CGPA, and recommendation letters. Along with academic credentials, consideration is given to extracurricular involvement, oral and written communication skills, community service, work experience in health care, and leadership potential of the applicant.
Employment Opportunities
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the demand for pharmacists is on the rise and that the employment of these professionals will increase by an anticipated amount of 25% from 2010 to 2020. A wide variety of patient care and research settings employ pharmacists including clinics, community pharmacies, hospitals, government foundations, managed-and long-term care facilities, non-profit organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry. 62 percent of pharmacists are employed by community pharmacies as stated by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Professionals related to the discipline of pharmacy can possibly earn respectable salaries. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics pharmacists earned a median annual wage of $116,670 in May 2012.
Pharmacy Practice In Texas
One of the eligibility requirements in order to be licensed as a pharmacist in Texas is to obtain a Pharm. D. degree from a school that is Board-approved and accredited by the ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education). ACPE has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy. Texas Pharmacist License is issued to those who take and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination as well as the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination.