Online Pharmacy Degree Programs

You can complete a campus or online pharmacy degree depending on your schedule and specific career goals. However, it is likely that there will be more campus than online programs although some campus programs might offer a few select online courses.

An online degree in pharmacy can include one of various programs of studies that include Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs, pharmacy technician degrees, and pharmacy aide diplomas. As healthcare costs continue to increase, the need for trained pharmacists and pharmacy technicians also continues to increase. At the same time, more medical research is being conducted to meet the demands of health care needs. Thus the need for professionals who understand the importance, role and administration of medical drugs and treatments remains important. In order to be accepted into a pharmacy program, a two-to-four years college degree is required as a prerequisite for entry into a Pharm.D. Program. In addition, all states require pharmacists be licensed, and this potential pharmacists to take the and past the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam. In most states, the Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam may also be required.

Search for Pharmacy Degrees Online

Locate Campus Pharmacy Degree Programs in your area

Online Pharmacy Education and Training

The three main areas of study with online pharmacy degree programs:

• Pharmacy aides, also known as pharmacy assistants
• Pharmacy technicians
• Pharmacists

The pharmacy technician is responsible for pulling the medications from the shelves and also filling them. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the pharmacist to oversee everything and ensure that the technician fills the prescription accurately. Pharmacists also consult with patients and doctors to ensure that the correct treatment or medication is provided.

While there is no standard or set training requirement for pharmacy technicians, many states require pharmacy aids to have high school diploma at the minimum. Some pharmacy technicians attain on-the-job training, which generally lasts from three to twelve months. Formal training is also offered via technical colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools. This takes six months to two years to complete and includes course work and laboratory work.

There are no formal education requirements for pharmacy aides, but pharmacies prefer to hire employees with at least a high school diploma. Pharmacy aides can nonetheless receive informal on-the-job training that takes about three months to complete.

Students can earn a diploma, a certificate, or an associate’s degree, depending on the program of study. Online pharmacy courses may include pharmacy record keeping, pharmacy ethics and law, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, and pharmaceutical techniques.

After completing the required pharmacy courses, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants can take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. While this is voluntary in many states, many employers require one to be certified. Areas of study include:

• Pharmaceutical chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Pharmacology
• Food and Drug Law
• Pathophysiology
• Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

Campus or online pharmacy degree programs offer pharmacy classes in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, human anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, etc. In order to practice in the profession, pharmacists are required to have a Pharm.D. degree acquired from an accredited college or university.

Careers in Pharmacy

Pharmacy jobs are available in local and chain pharmacies, hospitals, pharmacies in supermarkets, retail outlets, health care institutions, clinics, etc. While pharmacy aides perform the basic administrative and clerical tasks such as updating paperwork, answering phone calls, stocking shelves, and handling transactions, the pharmacy technicians are responsible for performing higher-level duties.

These duties include assisting the pharmacist in charge to prepare prescriptions, receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, and labeling bottles, and provide customer service, as well as other administrative tasks. Pharmacists are ultimately responsible for filling prescriptions, dispensing medications, counseling patients on usage, and providing feedback to their doctors.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

With a campus or online pharmacy degree, pharmacists earn above average with a median income of over $100,500. As reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for pharmacists in 2008 was $106,410. The middle 50% earned between $92,670 and $121,310 a year. The lowest 10% earned below than $77,390, while the highest 10% earned more than $131,440 a year.

Pharmacy technicians generally earn more than pharmacy aides. In 2008, the median hourly income for pharmacy technicians was $13.32. The middle 50% earned between $10.95 and $15.88 and the lowest 10% earned less than $9.27, and the highest 10% earned more than $18.98. For pharmacy aides it was $9.66 and the middle 50% earned between $8.47 and $11.62. The lowest 10% earned less than $7.69, while the highest 10% earned more than $14.26.

According to the BLS, the median hourly wages of wage and salary pharmacy aides is around $9.66 an hour. The BLS also reports that the employment of pharmacists is expected to grow by 17% between 2008 and 2018 while the employment of pharmacy technicians and aides is expected to increase by 25% during the same time period, making a a campus or online pharmacy degree an option to consider if this is your area of interest.

Online pharmacy degree programs and health care administration degree programs