How to Apply for Pharmacy School

This is a video featuring Dr. Jacob Hanaie, Director of In-Patient Pharmacy of Los Angeles,, discussing the application package which is put together as part of the pharmacy school application submission process. He indicates that the generic application will be accompanied by letters of recommendation, personal statements for each school to which you apply, along with a resume.

Dr. Jacob Hanaie, the Director of In-Patient Pharmacy Los Angeles, discusses how to pick a pharmacy school and which are the best in the nation. USC School of Pharmacy and UCSF, two of the best in the nation, are located in California. Although different rankings let you know how good a pharmacy school might be, you also need to do your own research to see how well their program will work for you. AACP.org contains rankings for various schools across the nation that is useful to check. In addition to the school's reputation, each school is known for a specific niche within the field of pharmacy, e.g., USC is known for networking, retail and clinical pharmacy, while YCSF is strong in research and the hospital setting.

Dr. Jacob Hanaie, the Director of In-Patient Pharmacy Los Angeles, discusses the board exam for a pharmacist's license that is necessary to practice in the field. After receiving your Pharm D, you will need to take two board exams: the national exam and a state specific exam that focuses on the laws within the jurisdiction where you will be practicing. In California, for example, the state specific exam is the CPJE exam. More information is available about this exam on the California Board of Pharmacy website, pharmacy.ca.gov. More information about the NAPLEX exam, the national exam required of all pharmacist candidates, is available at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy website, nabp.net.

In this video uploaded via YouTube Dr. Jacob Hanaie explains some prerequisites for Pharmacy Schools, including specific a website, aacp.org, which includes specific information about prerequisites for all schools. He explains about the exam how it works in California as well as how it may differ in other states.

Dr. Jacob Hanaie, the Director of In-Patient Pharmacy Los Angeles, discusses the work involved in the pharmaceutical field. Traditional pharmacy work is referred to as retail pharmacy, in which the pharmacist works with a physician to dispense medications as part of a total treatment plan. Inpatient pharmacists work within a hospital setting to assist in the management patient care. Inpatient pharmacists make rounds, make rounds, review lab work and write prescriptions to adjust medications as needed. It is more hands on and clinical in nature than retail pharmacy. Ambulatory care pharmacy is a rapidly growing field in which the pharmacist is managing chronically ill patients over a long period of time with other health care providers such as nurse practitioners and physicians, e.g., diabetics. Managed care pharmacists work with pharmaceutical companies in their research or outreach programs. While you are in school, try to focus on and do internships within the areas you think you would like to focus on in your career. Other pharmaceutical areas that are growing include pharmacists who focus on the areas of infectious disease, asthma, diabetes and coumadin clinics.