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To get a good job as a pharmacist, is a pharmacy residency required ?
Senior in high school, 17 years old, almost in college about to major in Biology
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Mary’s Answer
Residency required if you want to excel in a career as a hospital pharmacist. It is not needed if you want to work in less clinical settings such as retail pharmacy
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
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Charlotte’s Answer
Hi Ifra,
No, a pharmacy residency isn’t required to get a good job, but it can be beneficial depending on your career goals.
If you’re planning to work in community or retail pharmacy (like CVS or Walgreens), you don’t need a residency. A Pharm.D. degree and passing your licensing exams (NAPLEX and MPJE) are enough.
However, if you want to work in clinical pharmacy (hospitals), specialty areas (like oncology), ambulatory care, or academia, a residency is often required or highly recommended. These positions need more advanced training, which residencies provide.
Residencies typically last 1-2 years and give hands-on clinical experience, but they’re competitive. If retail is your goal, you can skip it, but for specialized or clinical roles, it’s worth considering.
No, a pharmacy residency isn’t required to get a good job, but it can be beneficial depending on your career goals.
If you’re planning to work in community or retail pharmacy (like CVS or Walgreens), you don’t need a residency. A Pharm.D. degree and passing your licensing exams (NAPLEX and MPJE) are enough.
However, if you want to work in clinical pharmacy (hospitals), specialty areas (like oncology), ambulatory care, or academia, a residency is often required or highly recommended. These positions need more advanced training, which residencies provide.
Residencies typically last 1-2 years and give hands-on clinical experience, but they’re competitive. If retail is your goal, you can skip it, but for specialized or clinical roles, it’s worth considering.
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
The term "good" varies depending on who you ask.
A pharmacy residency offers a set program with various experiences and rotations. You can apply for one of these programs or create your own path by choosing specific rotations, internships, and volunteer work. Think about whether you want a ready-made program to explore different areas or if you prefer to customize your own experience.
Some people know exactly what they want and pursue it directly. Certain jobs may require a residency before hiring, so decide if that role interests you first.
A residency, or a tailored list of experiences, opens up options for different roles. This is important if you're unsure about your career path.
Decide if pharmacy is right for you first
Decide if the pharmacy job requires a residency
A pharmacy residency offers a set program with various experiences and rotations. You can apply for one of these programs or create your own path by choosing specific rotations, internships, and volunteer work. Think about whether you want a ready-made program to explore different areas or if you prefer to customize your own experience.
Some people know exactly what they want and pursue it directly. Certain jobs may require a residency before hiring, so decide if that role interests you first.
A residency, or a tailored list of experiences, opens up options for different roles. This is important if you're unsure about your career path.
Kevin recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Carrie’s Answer
Part of the answer will depend on what area of pharmacy you are interested in and what location you will be working. General retail pharmacy and long-term care do not require a residency and some staff hospital jobs also do not require a residency (location- and hospital-dependent) but may require you to pursue specialty certification when you are eligible (after working several years) or may not hire you without that certification. Clinical positions in hospital/ambulatory settings are more likely to require a 1-2 year residency and leadership positions are likely to require residency/board certification/additional degrees.
Think about what area of pharmacy interests you. If you want to specialize (infectious disease, emergency medicine, etc), you should plan to complete at least a one year residency, likely two. If you just want to work in a hospital and you are willing to move to a more rural area, you may not have to complete a residency but it would make you more competitive and open more doors.
I am a hospital pharmacist even though I chose not to complete a residency. I do not have the option of moving into one of the clinical specialist positions without board certification but I have found a niche that is a good blend of independence and clinical expertise by managing and staffing in our OR satellite pharmacy. I chose not to pursue a residency because I was willing to accept that some doors would be closed and I wanted to be done with school. I didn't mind needing to wait to get into a hospital job (it took around a year for me) and I wasn't driven to climb the career ladder. Full disclosure: at ten years in, I am finishing up a master's degree that I am hoping may open some more doors, but I don't feel that a residency was right for me.
You have time to explore and talk to pharmacists in the areas that interest you. I wasn't sure what I was going to do until it was time to apply to residencies in my fourth year of pharmacy school and I wasn't alone.
Think about what area of pharmacy interests you. If you want to specialize (infectious disease, emergency medicine, etc), you should plan to complete at least a one year residency, likely two. If you just want to work in a hospital and you are willing to move to a more rural area, you may not have to complete a residency but it would make you more competitive and open more doors.
I am a hospital pharmacist even though I chose not to complete a residency. I do not have the option of moving into one of the clinical specialist positions without board certification but I have found a niche that is a good blend of independence and clinical expertise by managing and staffing in our OR satellite pharmacy. I chose not to pursue a residency because I was willing to accept that some doors would be closed and I wanted to be done with school. I didn't mind needing to wait to get into a hospital job (it took around a year for me) and I wasn't driven to climb the career ladder. Full disclosure: at ten years in, I am finishing up a master's degree that I am hoping may open some more doors, but I don't feel that a residency was right for me.
You have time to explore and talk to pharmacists in the areas that interest you. I wasn't sure what I was going to do until it was time to apply to residencies in my fourth year of pharmacy school and I wasn't alone.
Updated
Katelyn’s Answer
Great question!
First of all, no, it is not required (such as it is in medicine). In fact, most pharmacists do not complete post graduation training and go straight into practice after completing their APPES (clinical work) in their final year of school.
It ultimately depends on your final goals.
Why would you? You want continued formalized mentored training rather than on the job training. You want a 'specialized' role that requires specific mentored training (eg. a clinical specialist focused on internal med rounding in a hospital on transplant floor).
Easier path to board certification (see BPS), which certifies specialty credentials. These are not required for PharmDs but are for some roles. Can earn alternatively with job work in field.
Why you wouldn't want to? You are over school and want to enter the workforce. Okay with entry level jobs or working up the ladder to positions (debatable if all specialized roles are still achievable without residency). Don't want to work 1-2 years at PGY salary (typically 1/3 to 1/2 pharmacist pay).
I would find a mentor at your school, in your neighborhood and talk about your goals.
First of all, no, it is not required (such as it is in medicine). In fact, most pharmacists do not complete post graduation training and go straight into practice after completing their APPES (clinical work) in their final year of school.
It ultimately depends on your final goals.
Why would you? You want continued formalized mentored training rather than on the job training. You want a 'specialized' role that requires specific mentored training (eg. a clinical specialist focused on internal med rounding in a hospital on transplant floor).
Easier path to board certification (see BPS), which certifies specialty credentials. These are not required for PharmDs but are for some roles. Can earn alternatively with job work in field.
Why you wouldn't want to? You are over school and want to enter the workforce. Okay with entry level jobs or working up the ladder to positions (debatable if all specialized roles are still achievable without residency). Don't want to work 1-2 years at PGY salary (typically 1/3 to 1/2 pharmacist pay).
I would find a mentor at your school, in your neighborhood and talk about your goals.
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Phil’s Answer
If you are looking at a clinical position or even hospital especially at larger institutions I would say you will likely need a residency.
Even more so as time goes on and more and more graduate pharmacists obtain residencies you may be competing with those who have one for positions that do not require a residency and not having one may be a strike against you.
I definitely agree at this time retail definitely does not need a residency but as more and more stores close and technology advances it may be “necessary” to compete with an overabundance of other RPhs especially if the role of the retail pharmacist changes as technology improves and pharmacy technicians are able to do more functions…ie if RPhs are able to be more clinical. TBH I cannot see this really happening soon as stores prioritize profit but who knows where that profit will come from in the future. My biggest concern would be competing with a large RPh pool due to all the closings.
No one can predict with certainty:the alleged supply of pharmacists has gone from being desperately short to too many (at that time due to all the new schools opening and closing retail locations) to predicting a Pharmaggedon of too few jobs and lower pay to that prediction moderating due to fewer people applying to pharmacy school.
I would say if you decide to attend pharmacy school keep an eye out for what you may like and be flexible on a residency based on your goals and market conditions at that time and future predicted market conditions (which as I mentioned above are often fluid). One issue with a Pharmacist career is we have a pretty specific education and it can be hard to use it towards a second career if it comes to that.
Also, try to balance what you might make vs your mental health/lifestyle goals and do not bury yourself in debt. From what I have seen in my area retail pay is decreasing while hospital pay is better than in the past. I have no experience with LTC. With RAD going out of business, Walgreens in deep trouble and closing a ton of stores and CVS also closing stores I am concerned about the future of the market. Hospitals are also being hurt by poor reimbursement which could also cause issues in the future with smaller (especially rural) facilities already feeling the squeeze.
Pharmacy can be a great career but I am concerned for opportunities and wages in a degree that requires a doctorate and possibly 1-2 years of residency
Even more so as time goes on and more and more graduate pharmacists obtain residencies you may be competing with those who have one for positions that do not require a residency and not having one may be a strike against you.
I definitely agree at this time retail definitely does not need a residency but as more and more stores close and technology advances it may be “necessary” to compete with an overabundance of other RPhs especially if the role of the retail pharmacist changes as technology improves and pharmacy technicians are able to do more functions…ie if RPhs are able to be more clinical. TBH I cannot see this really happening soon as stores prioritize profit but who knows where that profit will come from in the future. My biggest concern would be competing with a large RPh pool due to all the closings.
No one can predict with certainty:the alleged supply of pharmacists has gone from being desperately short to too many (at that time due to all the new schools opening and closing retail locations) to predicting a Pharmaggedon of too few jobs and lower pay to that prediction moderating due to fewer people applying to pharmacy school.
I would say if you decide to attend pharmacy school keep an eye out for what you may like and be flexible on a residency based on your goals and market conditions at that time and future predicted market conditions (which as I mentioned above are often fluid). One issue with a Pharmacist career is we have a pretty specific education and it can be hard to use it towards a second career if it comes to that.
Also, try to balance what you might make vs your mental health/lifestyle goals and do not bury yourself in debt. From what I have seen in my area retail pay is decreasing while hospital pay is better than in the past. I have no experience with LTC. With RAD going out of business, Walgreens in deep trouble and closing a ton of stores and CVS also closing stores I am concerned about the future of the market. Hospitals are also being hurt by poor reimbursement which could also cause issues in the future with smaller (especially rural) facilities already feeling the squeeze.
Pharmacy can be a great career but I am concerned for opportunities and wages in a degree that requires a doctorate and possibly 1-2 years of residency
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Doing a pharmacy residency is definitely a great way to grow your skills and open up career opportunities. But just as important is learning how to communicate, present yourself well, and build connections with others in the field. Knowing how to talk to people, share your ideas, and network can make a big difference in your career—sometimes even more than your credentials alone.
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Yolanda’s Answer
The field of pharmacy has changed dramatically over the years. I have been a pharmacist for over 20 years, and even though I love what I do, I would not advise the future generation to go into pharmacy. I say that because now you have to do at least 2 residencies to be competitive. Plus there are so many pharmacy schools now, that the market is overly saturated. To get a job you may have to move to the out skirts where no one wants to be. I would seriously reconsider your path. But don't take my word for it. Research the profession. Speak to other pharmacists. I would look into becoming a PA or nurse practitioner. Less time in school, better pay, and they are in demand. If you really want job security, look into the mental health profession. Hope this helps. Wish you the best.