Pharmaceuticals can be lifesavers for some and a benefit to public health. Becoming part of the team that dispenses drugs can help others live better lives while being financially rewarding and personally fulfilling for you.
You don’t have to get a Doctorate in Pharmacy to ensure that people who take drugs get the proper dosages and remain safe. In truth, there are a variety of careers other than pharmacists that deal with pharmaceuticals. These jobs range from those discovering and creating new pharmaceuticals to those aiding pharmacists in their day-to-day jobs.
Likewise, these careers require varying levels of education and training. If a doctorate isn’t of interest, you can pursue a degree at the associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s level that will help you pursue your desired pharmacy career.
Featured Programs
Find the right career in pharmacy by reading through this list of the top 30 pharmacy school online accredited programs. Can you get a pharmacy degree online? You bet!
Many of the programs listed below culminate with a pharmacy technician credential – and you don’t have to set foot on campus to get the credential, either. Becoming a pharmacist technician is a quick way to start working in this industry, with both certificate and degree programs available from schools around the country. Of course, there are many pharmacy online programs, too!
The Pharmacy School Admission Test (PCAT) is a standardized test designed to assess the academic readiness and scientific knowledge of potential pharmacy school students. The PCAT is often a requirement for admission to many pharmacy programs in the United States and Canada.
See Also: Accredited Online Colleges in Healthcare Management
What Will You Learn With Pharmacy-Related Degrees?
Pharmaceutical sciences is a broad and varied subject leading to many different careers that deal with the manufacturing, distributing, prescribing, and dispensing of these substances.
With that said, we’ll discuss what you’ll learn as a pharmacy technician, as this is the type of pharmacy program most often offered by schools on this list. During a pharmacy technician program, you’ll learn how to:
- screen prescription orders
- prepare prescriptions under the supervision of a pharmacist
- perform drug calculations
- assist pharmacists in other operational and administrative tasks
There are a few routes in which you can become a pharmacy technician. That might be completing a certificate program from a school of pharmacy that might require less than 20 credit hours for completion. Another option is earning an associate’s degree, which is usually a two-year program if you study full-time.
The type of program you select determines what skills you’ll be taught. But, regardless of the program, there are some common classes you’re likely to take while working to become a pharmacy technician. These might include, but are not limited to:
- pharmacy calculations
- pharmacy operations
- practical experience
Most programs also include coursework in patient care. You might also have to complete clinical rotations, depending on the program you select.
You may later go on to further education with a Pharm.D. degree or take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Whatever your future goals might be, starting a certificate or associate’s degree from a pharmaceutical school online gives you a solid foundation for building future success.
See also: Accredited Online Colleges in Clinical Research
What is the Job Outlook for a Pharmacy Technician?
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that job growth in this field will be about four percent through the end of the decade. This represents lower-than-average growth.
Don’t be discouraged by this, though. It’s still a positive rate of growth, and the BLS estimates that nearly 32,000 pharmacy technician jobs will be available now through the end of 2030.
Likewise, healthcare needs are ever present. People will always be sick and injuries will always be a part of daily life. Pharmaceuticals are part of the recovery process, so it stands to reason that jobs will be available for the foreseeable future.
You can make yourself a more attractive candidate for a pharmacy tech job, too. Maintaining a high GPA, getting a certificate, and completing a degree program will help make the case to potential employers that you have what it takes to fill the position with success. You can increase your chances of getting a higher-paying job by completing an online pharmaceutical degree at the bachelor’s level and participating in an externship or preceptorship, too.
Anything you can do to stand out from the crowd of applicants will help you rise to the top of the pile, so to speak, and will make it more likely that you’re the applicant that’s offered the job.
What Are the Best Online Pharmacy Schools?
Accredited Online College uses the most recent data from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics to rank pharmacy schools.
Each school of pharmacy program is scored individually. Each school’s score is compared to all other universities offering that degree to determine the final score that you see by each ranking. Accredited Online College considers several factors for these rankings. These include the affordability, student-to-faculty ratio, and the number of programs offered on-campus and online. For more information, see our methodology page.
Check out the best pharmaceutical schools online programs below. In the list, you’ll find many different options, including top choices for the cheapest online pharmacy school.
1. Barton County Community College
Our number one spot for the best pharmacist online college goes to Barton County Community College’s Pharmacy Technician Completion Certificate program.
After finishing this program, you’ll be able to confidently assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and other administrative duties that accompany running a pharmacy.
While this program provides students with all the knowledge necessary to perform the job, you’ll still have to complete the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians national certification exams.
The certificate completion program is 29 credit hours of coursework that can be finished in as little as two semesters. This includes an internship within a pharmacy. This is an entirely online program, and the school will work with you to find an approved pharmacy for the internship within your local community. This enables you to continue learning online, yet still get the much-needed experience of putting your learning to the test in a real-world setting.
2. Sinclair Community College
Sinclair Community College offers a one-year pharmacy technician technical certificate. It’s a quick way for you to get into a career.
The requirements for admission into this program are relatively minimal. Sinclair wants students who have a high school diploma or its equivalent, who are 18 years or older, and who are proficient in English. If you meet these criteria, then you’ll want to give this program a deeper look by visiting the school’s website, which is linked below.
This certificate program is 22-23 credit hours in duration. It requires that you complete 80 hours of simulated lab experience and 210 hours of practical experience in a pharmacy. Examples of classes included in this program are:
- Introduction to Healthcare Delivery
- Pharmacy Technician I & II
- Pharmacy Technician Directed Practice
- Pharmacy Technician Lab
3. Allen County Community College
With the Pharmacy Technician Associate of Applied Science degree from Allen County Community College, you’ll be prepared with the skillset to work as a pharmacy technician or within the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.
The program is four semesters in length and is comprised of 60 credit hours of coursework. You’ll learn the foundational knowledge necessary to be successful in aiding pharmacists while also exploring:
- business concepts
- operations of pharmacies
- other health-related concepts, such as nutrition
Those in the AAS program will take roughly 15 credit hours each semester. You will start taking classes related to pharmacy tech in the first semester and have the ability to participate in an internship in the fourth semester.
This school also has a Pharmacy Technician Certificate program that requires only 31 credit hours. It can be completed in two semesters of study.
4. University of Washington- Seattle Campus
With the Master of Pharmaceutical Bioengineering program from the University of Washington, you’ll be able to start a new career in biotechnology or enter into the pharmaceutical industry.
Like other graduate programs in this field, you will develop skills from many different fields, such as:
- molecular biology
- cellular biology
- pharmaceutics
This program explores topics in Drug Discovery and Design, Translational Pharmaceutics, and more. There’s also a core bioscience block, which you undertake in your first year of studies. The bioscience core consists of four classes:
- Molecular and Cellular Biology for Pharmaceutical Bioengineering I
- Pathophysiology for Pharmaceutical Bioengineering
- Pharmaceutics I and II.
In total, the PharBE program is 33 credit hours in length. You can also opt to participate in several seminars. These seminars meet once a week for two hours over the course of each semester.
5. Casper College
At number five on our list of the best online pharmacy schools is Casper College.
Students at Casper College can earn a Pharmacy Technology Associates Degree. It is available 70% online, so it’s a hybrid distance education program. It is the only accredited online program in Wyoming that’s available online and on campus. As an online student, you must go to the pharmacy simulation laboratory courses on campus.
You can also earn a Pharmacy Technology Certificate. Both the certificate and the degree program require that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Additionally, you need to have completed a medical terminology class, a chemistry class, and a biology class. You must also be enrolled in or have already completed a MATH 0920 class.
Those who choose to enroll in the Pharmacy Technology major will take courses such as:
- Pharmacy Calculations
- Pharmacology I & II
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- American Heart Association BLS for the Provider
Students accepted into either of the school’s pharmacy technology programs are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA each semester and hold a “Technician-in-Training” permit.
6. North Dakota State College of Science
North Dakota State College of Science offers a Pharmacy Technician Associate of Applied Science program. They also have a Pharmacy Technician Certificate program. Both of these programs follow hybrid formats. This means that the majority of the work can be completed online. There are only occasional required visits to the school’s main campus.
The AAS program consists of 68 credit hours of coursework. Students applying to this program must:
- Be a high school graduate
- Be 18 years of age
- Have ACT or placement test results
NDSCS also recommends that you’ve taken algebra and chemistry while in high school.
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is comprised of 44 credit hours that can be completed in one year. This is a year shorter than the time needed for the AAS program. However, both programs include an eight-week internship that’s designed to help consolidate information learned throughout your studies. This internship takes place after all coursework requirements have been met.
7. State Fair Community College
State Fair Community College has designed its pharmacy technician programs for all types of students. If you’re looking for the bare minimum education required to be eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Board Examination, then you’ll want to select the Skills Certificate in Pharmacy Technician. It only requires 16 credit hours of work.
If you want more education, but don’t want to complete an associate’s degree, you’ll want to check out the 31.5-credit-hour Professional Certificate in Pharmacy Technician program.
The Associate of Applied Science in Health Care Specialist with an emphasis in Pharmacy Technician qualifies you to pursue a wider range of jobs in the health care industry. This degree includes 63.5 credit hours. You’ll take all the courses required of those in the Professional Certificate in Pharmacy Technician, along with others, for a well-rounded education.
8. St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University has an online Pharm.D. program that is clinically-oriented. As a student in this program, you’ll take courses in the sciences with experiential learning opportunities along the way. This includes medical outreach in the community as well as clinical rotations.
This is a four-year program. During your time in the program, you will:
- Explore the administrative components of pharmacy
- Learn how to be a professional
- Gain clinical skills
- Take courses in pharmaceutical sciences
The program includes 151 credits, with six elective credits and six immersion courses. There are 11 clinical rotations as well.
This is a hybrid program, so on-campus visits in Rochester, New York are required.
St. John Fisher is proud that the program is student-centered. During your time here, you will learn from experts in the field who will help empower you to engage in patient-centered practice.
9. Southeast Community College
The Pharmacy Technician Diploma program from Southeast Community College teaches you everything you need to excel as a pharmacy technician.
During this program, you’ll obtain experience in retail pharmacy, long-term care, and acute care. The school has an impressive post-graduation employment and continuing-education rate of 94%, based on the 2019 graduating class.
Students are typically able to complete this diploma in two semesters of study. Another bright point is that the entire program is only projected to cost $4,166. The diploma program features 31 credit hours of study, with seven credit hours dedicated to general education requirements.
Southeast Community College has ACPE accreditation (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education). It’s also accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
The program core consists of courses like:
- Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians
- Operations for Pharmacy Technicians
- Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians
- Pharmacy Law & Ethical Issues
- Clinical Education for Pharmacy Technicians
There are two start dates each year for the program: one in the fall and the other in the spring.
10. Vincennes University
Vincennes University offers a Pharmacy Technology Associate of Science Career/Tech that prepares you for entry-level management positions in pharmacies.
This ASCT program is composed of 60 credit hours that can be completed in four semesters of full-time study. Each semester, you will take between 12-17 credit hours of classes.
The school also offers a 33-credit-hour Pharmacy Technician Certificate of Graduation and a 23-credit-hour Pharmacy Technician Certificate of Program Completion. These are good options if you don’t want to pursue an associate’s degree at this time.
All Pharmacy Technology students enrolled at VU are expected to possess a CPR certification through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. You must provide verification of a Hepatitis B vaccination or the refusal of inoculation. The ASCT program does require practical experience, which is started in the second semester.
11. Southwestern Oregon Community College
Our list of pharmacy online colleges continues with Southwestern Oregon Community College, which offers a Pharmacy Technician Certificate of Completion program.
Prior to being eligible to apply to this program, you must have taken and completed a course or placement test in:
- computer basics
- basic mathematics
- academic literacy
This program includes 52 credit hours. You will be able to finish your coursework in around three semesters of full-time study.
Once accepted into this program, you’ll gain the necessary knowledge to function as a pharmacy technician during the first semester of study, in courses such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Body Structures and Functions
- Introduction to Pharmacy: Practice and Law
There is also a required internship course. It must be scheduled three months prior to the last semester of study.
12. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
The first Doctor of Pharmacy degree program on this list is offered by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. You read that correctly – you can become a pharmacist through the completion of online coursework, coupled with practical experiences in pharmacies.
LECOM’s PharmD program takes four years to complete, although students willing to visit campus can complete the degree in an accelerated three-year format.
This degree is no walk in the park, but for the dedicated student, it eliminates the barriers of on-campus programs. In the first semester of study, you will take classes such as:
- Pharmacy Drugs and Healthcare
- Biochemistry I
- Physiology and Anatomy
- Pharmaceutical Calculations
During the fourth year of study, you’ll gain much of your practical experience by working in pharmacies.
13. Central Piedmont Community College
Complete your Associate in Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology from Central Piedmont Community College in just five semesters of study. You may also choose to complete the Diploma in Pharmacy Technology, which only requires three semesters of study. The AAS program requires that you complete 68-70 credit hours of coursework to earn your degree.
The Pharmacy Technology major consists of a wide variety of classes, including:
- Pharmacy Practice I
- Sterile Products
- Hospital Pharmacy
- Community Pharmacy
When it comes time to participate in a clinical experience, you must undergo routine drug testing and a criminal background check. If you’re someone with a history of criminal charges, then you may want to check with the school to assess your eligibility for the program.
14. University of South Florida
If you want to expand your knowledge in pharmaceuticals and foundational science to prepare for a Doctor of Pharmacy program, the Pre-Professional Pharmacy Graduate Certificate from the University of South Florida may be right for you.
To be eligible for admission, you must have already earned a bachelor’s degree in biological science or chemistry. You must also have at least a 3.0 GPA. The school does not require the completion and submission of tests such as the GRE, PCAT, or MCAT.
USF’s graduate certificate includes 15 credit hours of coursework. You must take at least three of the following courses:
- Basic Medical Immunology and Microbiology
- Basic Medical Biochemistry
- Basic Medical Physiology
- Basic Medical Pharmacology
- Basic Medical Anatomy
You can choose to complete all five of these courses or you may select from a list of other relevant courses.
15. Ultimate Medical Academy
With thorough coursework in pharmacy tech and 180 hours of on-site experience and training, the Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree from Ultimate Medical Academy sets you up for success. The degree is designed to be completed in as few as 18 months of full-time study.
Upon completion of this program, you’ll be able to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. In total, the associate’s degree includes 61.5 credit hours of coursework.
The core curriculum in this program is composed of 37.5 credit hours and includes classes such as:
- Pharmacology and Sterile Products & HIV/AIDS
- Anatomy & Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Drug/Dosage Interaction and Pharmacy Law & Ethics
Those enrolled in this program will also take 15 credit hours of general education courses and nine credit hours of elective courses.
16. Minnesota West Community & Technical College
If you’re changing careers or attending college for the first time, then you may need to start off at a slower pace to smooth your transition into higher education. If this sounds like you, then Minnesota West Community & Technical College’s Pharmacy Technician Certificate program may be an ideal option.
The first semester eases students into learning, with only one five-semester-credit class called Pharmacy Principles and Practices. The second semester of the program adds two additional classes, requiring you to take an additional five credit hours of courses.
Classes in the program include:
- Medical Terminology in Healthcare
- Externship – Retail or Externship – Hospital
The school’s website states that the completion of these classes enables you to sit for the certification exam as a pharmacy technician. And with an externship component, you’ll have the opportunity to get hands-on learning in a pharmacy setting.
17. Northwest Iowa Community College
Many states, including Iowa, require that pharmacy technicians sit for a national certification examination. To be eligible to sit for a certification examination, you must complete coursework that teaches the foundational knowledge necessary to function as a pharmacy technician.
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate from Northwest Iowa Community College is a short program that provides this foundational knowledge. The certificate program is made up of three classes covering an introduction, pharmacology, and a practicum.
The school also offers a Pharmacy Technician Diploma that is 32 credit hours in length. The program takes two semesters to complete, with students earning 15 credits in the fall and 17 credits in the spring. During the first semester, you will take classes like:
- Introduction to Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Terminology
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Math Fundamentals
- Public Speaking
18. Rasmussen College
With a skills-based curriculum and practicum experience, the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program from Rasmussen College will prepare you for your first day on the job.
This program consists of 38 credit hours spread out over 10 courses. Twelve courses may sound like a lot to take on, but these classes can be completed in only nine months of study.
The curriculum consists of eight credit hours of general education and 30 credit hours of core coursework. The core curriculum features courses such as:
- Career Development
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Foundations of Pharmacy Practice
- Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
Two classes compose the general education curriculum: Introduction to Communication and Structure & Function of the Human Body. Applicants to this program should note that the program is available in several states:
- Florida
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
Some of the programs in these states are available on campus or online.
19. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Those specifically interested in learning about how drugs affect the mind will want to check out the Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Master of Arts in Psychopharmacology program. The school is looking for applicants with an undergraduate degree in a similar discipline, such as:
- applied behavior analysis
- marriage and family therapy
- mental health counseling
Applicants are also expected to have taken a class in abnormal psychology and research methods or basic statistics with a grade of B or greater.
The MA in Psychopharmacology is expected to take you 18 months to complete. Examples of classes featured in the program include:
- Anatomy I: Medical Anatomy and Physiology
- Diagnostic Methods I: Advanced Physical Assessment
- Diagnostic Methods III: Laboratory Testing, Neuroimaging, and Electrophysiology
20. North Central State College
Another accredited online pharmacy school to consider is North Central State College. This school’s Pharmacy Technician Certificate is offered in conjunction with the Pioneer Career and Technology Center. This program is open to students two times per year in the fall and the spring.
The program is split into two sections:
- Pharmacy Tech Training Part A
- Pharmacy Tech Training Part B
Part A focuses on the knowledge and theoretical aspects of being a pharmacy technician, and it consists of eight credit hours of coursework and eight lecture hours.
Part B of the program is designed to be more hands-on. You will complete 20 hours of practical clinical experience at a local pharmacy. During Part B, you will also learn the operations side of running a pharmacy and will participate in mock pharmacy tech certification exams. These mock exams are designed to prepare you to pass the actual exams on your first attempt.
21. Michigan State University
Specifically geared toward the laboratory professional, Michigan State University’s Master of Science in Integrative Pharmacology is ideal for individuals striving for leadership roles in their organization. The program is designed to teach you pharmacology principles while also focusing on the development of administrative and organizational skills.
The program includes 31 credit hours and takes students an average of two years to complete. The core curriculum is made up of eight classes, including:
- Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions
- Experimental Design and Data Analysis
- Communications for Biomedical Researchers
- Capstone Literature Review
You can also explore topics of interest through one of MSU’s more than 20 elective courses. You can study:
- Pharmacogenomics
- Neurotoxicology
- Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Tropical Medicine Pharmacology
- The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations
Those interested in this program should also check out the school’s online Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology.
22. North Central Missouri College
For an almost entirely online program, the Pharmacy Technician Associate’s at North Central Missouri College offers great value and a top-notch education.
Sometimes, studying complex subjects such as pharmacy requires that you focus intensely for a short period. Consequently, NCMC breaks up the four core-curriculum pharmacy courses in the spring semester of the odd-numbered year. This means you will take two of the core-curriculum courses in the first eight weeks and the other two in the last eight weeks of the semester.
This program is comprised of 67 credit hours of coursework. The courses are spread over two academic years. The program does require travel to the main campus occasionally for the laboratory component of certain classes.
Your studies at NCMC conclude with an internship. To be eligible for this experience, you must complete each course with a grade C or better.
23. Concordia University- Wisconsin
The ambitious learner looking for a dual-degree program may find the perfect fit in Concordia University’s Doctor of Pharmacy and MBA Dual Degree program.
As is the case for most doctorate degrees, business classes are not a major part of pharmacy studies. This is where the MBA can set you apart from others. If you want to start your own pharmacy upon graduation, ou may find this dual program of particular benefit to your future aspirations.
There are more than 15 MBA concentrations to choose from, including:
- Health Care Administration
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability Management and Analytics
- Management Information Systems
Up to 19 credit hours of coursework count toward both degrees at once, which accounts for major time and cost savings when compared to pursuing the degrees separately.
24. American National University
The Pharmacy Technician Associate of Science program from American National University ensures that you graduate with the competence to start working immediately after graduation. The school accomplishes this by requiring that your complete two externship experiences, each accounting for 120 hours. This means that when you graduate, you will have accumulated over 240 hours of hands-on clinical experience. This is the kind of practical knowledge you need to get the job you want.
The AS core curriculum focuses on nine areas that are essential for pharmacy technicians, including:
- Pharmacology
- Dosage and Calculations of Medications
- Health Care Law and Ethics
- Diseases of the Human Body
- Chemistry
- Pharmacy systems and operations
While the majority of the program is asynchronous, there are required synchronous portions, meaning that students will have to tune in at specific times to watch lectures.
25.Creighton University
Creighton University is a pioneer in teaching pharmacy via distance learning, as it was the first accredited institution to offer a full-time, online Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Classes at Creighton are taught in semesters, and a variety of mediums are used to present material. This includes:
- discussion boards
- web conferencing
- distance-teaching software
Becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy extends much further than the theoretical knowledge learned in books. That’s why this program also requires that you complete eight, five-week clinical experiences before graduation.
You will be required to travel to Creighton’s campus a few times throughout the program. However, each visit is only for two-week sessions that occur during the summer semester. The rest of the coursework is asynchronous, with the exception of a few classes that are taught live and require virtual attendance at specific times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Be a Competitive Applicant to a Basic Pharmacy Program?
Whether or not you’ll be a competitive applicant depends on your professional and educational background, as well as the specific program you choose.
Many of the schools on our list of the top 30 accredited online colleges in pharmacy offer pharmacy technician programs. Becoming a pharmacy technician is also one of the least educationally intensive routes to entering pharmacy. This means pharmacy technician programs also have some of the least demanding admission requirements.
Whether you want to pursue a pharmacy technician certificate or associate’s degree, almost every program you’ll find will require that its applicants have obtained a high school diploma or GED. Some of the programs on this list require that you also submit ACT or SAT scores. Alternatively, you might be asked take school placement exams. These test scores will help the admission team determine how successful you’ll be in their program.
Furthermore, you might have to fulfill certain prerequisite requirements. For example, you might need to take certain math or science courses prior to being admitted to a pharmacy tech program.
Your success is important to accredited schools, too, as most require that students maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout their studies. So, you have the dual task of ensuring you meet admissions requirements and maintaining high educational standards throughout your studies.
More advanced degree programs in pharmacy have more stringent requirements. For example, if you apply to a bachelor’s degree program, you might have to submit a personal statement or statement of purpose. Likewise, if you’ve already taken some college classes, you’ll need to provide transcripts from every college you’ve attended. In many cases, bachelor’s degree programs have a higher GPA expectation, too. For example, you might have to maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout the program.
Every program and school is different, though, so as you browse our list of the top online pharmacy schools, take note of which schools seem of greatest interest to you, then take the time to investigate the exact requirements they have for admission.
See also: Accredited Online Colleges for Ultrasound Technicians
What Are the Requirements to Apply for an Advanced Pharmacy Degree Program?
If you’re applying to a master’s degree program, the requirements for admission are going to be different from those in a basic certificate program.
Most pharmacy technician master’s degree programs require that you have earned a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as pharmacy or biochemistry. Additionally, these programs may require you to submit references that can attest to you work ethic and character. Often these programs also want to view a sample of the your writing, whether that be through the submission of previous writings or by answering specific essay questions. Some schools also look for students with specific undergraduate GPAs, but you’ll have to check out the specific program requirements for the school to which you want to apply.
Additionally, you might need to meet with an admission team to make your case for being part of the program. In the meeting, you will be interviewed by several members of the faculty and asked questions that help shed light on your current level of knowledge and skills. You might also need relevant work experience to be admitted to an advanced program.
The Doctor of Pharmacy degrees on this list have relatively similar admission requirements to those of the master’s degree programs. Essentially, doctorate programs look for the completion of a bachelor’s degree, or at least the completion of pre-requisite coursework, a sample of the student’s writing, and the submission of letters of recommendation.
See also: Accredited Online Colleges for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
How Much Can I Earn With a Degree in Pharmacy?
Much like the specific admission requirements question, your salary upon graduation from an online college in pharmacy will depend on the degree and program you choose to pursue. The higher the level of education, the more money you’re likely to make.
Salaries will also vary depending on the state or region in which you decide to work, as shortages of trained personnel in states can drive up the salary. Pharmacy-related careers tend to pay more in urban areas, too, as opposed to those that choose to work in rural areas.
Let’s start by discussing the earning potential for those who decide to become pharmacy technicians.
In 2020, the most recent year for which there is data, there were an estimated 419,300 individuals employed as pharmacy technicians. They are reported to take home a median pay of $17.66 per hour, which calculates out to $36,740 per year.
Individuals who decide to go the extra mile to earn a Doctorate in Pharmacy and become a licensed pharmacist can expect to earn right at $128,570 per year. As of 2020, there were around 322,000 pharmacists in practice.
The pay range between these two careers is obviously very different, but the difference is due to the type of education and training.
On the one hand, a pharmacy technician might have one or two years of education under their belt. A pharmacist, though, has a Pharm.D., which is a type of doctorate. This degree takes around six years to complete.
Since a pharmacist has a greater degree of knowledge and training, and because they have more responsibilities than a pharmacy technician, it stands to reason that they have a much higher income.
Some of the programs on this list involve the business and marketing aspects of pharmaceuticals. Individuals who pursue these programs may want to consider a career as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Sales representatives, in general, are reported to earn a median income of $94,840, which is about $45.60 per hour. Not only is this a more lucrative career than being a pharmacy tech, but it’s also estimated that jobs in this field will grow at a slightly faster rate – five percent through 2030.
Likewise, pharmaceutical sales representatives may earn significantly more than sales representatives working in other industries. So, if you’re interested in sales and pharmaceuticals, it could be a career that’s a great fit.
Finally, those pursuing degrees in pharmacy may end up in a career as a medical scientist, whose job is to conduct research. In 2020, there were a reported 133,900 people employed as medical scientists. Around 25% of those employed as medical scientists report having a master’s degree, while 36% report having a doctorate. Medical scientists can expect to earn around $95,310 per year, or $45.82 per hour.
If you’re interested in pursuing higher education, then you should check out Accredited Online Colleges For Nursing and Accredited Online Colleges For Medical Assistant!