PharmD

PharmD, short for Doctor of Pharmacy, is a professional doctoral degree in pharmacy. It signifies the completion of a program designed to prepare graduates for patient care and medication management. In the United States, the PharmD is the entry-level degree required to practice as a pharmacist, a status that largely replaced the traditional Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) over the past few decades. The degree is awarded by colleges and schools of pharmacy that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Program structure typically involves pre-professional coursework followed by four years of professional study, for a total of about six years of postsecondary education. Some programs offer combined baccalaureate and PharmD or accelerated paths. Core content includes pharmacology, therapeutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacy practice, ethics, and clinical rotations in community, hospital, and other settings. Pharmacists graduate with training in medication safety, dispensing, and patient counseling, and they often specialize through post-graduate residencies or fellowships.

Licensure requires passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), along with any state-specific requirements such as jurisprudence exams or practical assessments.

Scope of practice for licensed pharmacists includes dispensing medications, providing patient counseling and immunizations, performing medication therapy management, and working as part of interprofessional healthcare teams in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, industry, academia, or regulatory bodies.

Global context: Many countries historically offered pharmacy degrees such as the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) or Doctor of Pharmacy in various formats. The PharmD is the predominant professional credential for clinical practice in the United States, while other nations differ in degree type and entry requirements. The PharmD is distinct from the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which is a research doctorate focused on original scholarly contributions rather than professional practice.