Doctor of Pharmacy

A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is a professional doctor degree in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a first professional degree, and a prerequisite for licensing to exercise the profession of Pharmacist. The first PharmD program was established at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, California in 1950.^[1]

Africa

Algeria

In Algeria, Doctor of Pharmacy degree replaced the state's diploma of pharmacist in 2011, thus concepts on clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care were taught for the first time.

Ghana

Currently, Pharm.D is a 6- to 7-year course being offered in Ghana which started in the academic year 2012/2013 notably by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology leading to the award of doctor of pharmacy and a pharmacist licensure to operate. An aggregate of 06 in the WASSCE results is currently the acceptable cutoff point.

Kenya

The University of Nairobi offers a 6-8 year Pharmacist education program.^[2] During the first 4 years, students focus on studying Pharmaceutical science. The last two years are considered clinical residency in which students practice clinical pharmacy at various hospitals and community pharmacies before they graduate.

Morocco

PharmD is a program offered presently at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat^[3] and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca.^[4]

Nigeria

Presently, The University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State is the only institution offering the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree which commenced in 2001. It is a six-year undergraduate program. Prior to the commencement of the program, the university offered a five-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) degree program which commenced in 1970 but was gradually phased out in 2008. In the Pharm.D program, students are given extensive didactic preclinical/professional clinical preparation as well as clinical training in pharmaceutical care in various hospitals in the city. The government regulatory agency for pharmacy education, training and practice, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the national professional body of pharmacists, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), have envisaged that in the near future, Pharm.D degree will become the minimum educational qualification for fresh graduates of Nigeria's pharmacy schools to be registered/licensed to practice in the country.

South Africa

Since 2006, Pharm.D is a post-graduate course being offered by Rhodes University.^[5]

Tunisia

The Pharm.D program has been available in Tunisia since 1975.

Asia

Bangladesh

At present a five-year professional degree is offered in various public universities in Bangladesh. Previously, it was a four-year degree (Graduation) and a one-year degree (Post-Graduation) in Pharmacy is offered in numerous universities of Bangladesh. The study material is taught in English. The textbooks, exams as well as thesis are also provided in English. The universities are the University of Dhaka since 1964, Jahangirnagar University since 1982, University of Chittagong, Rajshahi University, Khulna University,Jagannath University,Pabna University of Science & Technology, Jessore University of Science & Technology and Noakhali Science & Technology University. All of these are government universities. There are also 20 private universities in Bangladesh offering pharmacy education. Among them BGC Trust University Bangladesh (BGCTUB), Southeast University (SEU), East West University,Northern University Bangladesh since 2003, Daffodil International University , University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC), Stamford University Bangladesh (SUB), Manarat International University (MIU), The University of Asia Pacific, International Islamic University Chittagong, North South University, ASA University Bangladesh (ASAUB) and University of Development Alternative (UODA) are the top rated private universities. It is the best for home and abroad students. The B.Pharm is completed in 4 years and the M.Pharm in one year. Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (PCB) is the Professional Regulatory Authority for Pharmacists in Bangladesh.

India

Pharm.D course introduced by the Government of India and the Pharmacy Council of India in 2008. The Pharm.D program is a pre-PhD, post-graduate professional doctoral program. It was introduced to improve clinical pharmacy services in India and it is the only pharmacy service which is in direct contact with patient health care system. The first batch of Pharm.D post baccalaureate students graduated in August 2011. The Pharm.D degree requires five years of classroom and hospital based didactic study (two years didactic post-baccalaureate course), followed by one year of internship training in addition to ongoing practicals and research project.^[6] With reference to Clarification on Pharm.D qualification,^[7] it is clarified to all universities that Pharm.D is a post graduate degree and passed out students can directly register for Ph.D From 2012

Nepal

Nepal started three years post baccalaureate Pharm.D in the year 2010 in Department of Pharmacy, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre. It is the first batch in Nepal pursuing the degree. The first batch is now currently involved in a 1 years internship at different well established teaching hospitals of Nepal. The students are enrolled in Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, College of Medical Sciences Bharatpur and KIST medical College, Lalitpur for their internship of 1 year. Kathmandu University has already enrolled the next two batches for further continuation of the Pharm D program.

Pakistan

Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP) is the Professional Regulatory Authority for Pharmacists in Pakistan.^[8] A total of 34 universities (18 Public Sector and 16 Private Universities) are registered with Pharmacy Council of Pakistan for imparting Pharm.D program, 13 Institutes for Pharmacy Technician program, and about 18 institutes have obtained NOC for starting Pharm.D program.^[8] Earlier (before 2003) first pharmacy degree was a 4-years undergraduate B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) that focused mainly on drug manufacturing and pharmaceutics but later in 2004 Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pharmacy Council of Pakistan collaboratively prepared the syllabus and changed B.Pharm program to Pharm.D program. Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy) is an accelerated 5-year graduate-level professional degree in Pakistan. Admission requirement for Pharm.D is 12-years of schooling or HSSC (Higher Secondary School Certificate) in pre-medical subjects (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics etc.) or A-levels in similar subjects. Passing an aptitude test is mandatory for getting admission into Pharm.D program. As compared to B.Pharm, Pharm.D is a more clinical and research oriented program. A masters level research thesis/project is completed by students during final year of Pharm.D. Some pharmacy institutes have collaboration with hospitals for providing clinical clerkship during 4th & 5th Professional year. The Islamia University of Bahawalpur is one of them. In 2008, first batch completed Pharm.D program. Syllabus was revised again in 2013 by joint committee of HEC and PCP to reduce burden of students as well as enhancing core professional skills of young pharmacists. According to these guidelines upon completion of 5th professional year, a pharmacy graduate is required to undergo residency based training for a period of 1 year in any area instead of training in 4th professional year; at public or private Hospital, Pharmaceutical Industry, Community Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Research & Development and Public health recognized by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. The objective of the residency is to undergo a planned training on aspects of pharmacy practice under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Instead of accelerated 5-years Program now Pharm.D is a 6-years program according to joint committee guidelines which were implemented from 2012-onward. First 6-year program will complete Pharm.D.

Philippines

In the Philippines, only the Centro Escolar University and University of Makati offers the degree Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). The degree requires the completion of 52 units of formal course work and 36 units of clinical rotation done at the Makati Medical Center. It is a 2-year postbaccalaureate degree open to licensed pharmacists in the Philippines.

Thailand

In Thailand Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Care) program first curriculum in Asia was established at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University in 1992. The Pharm.D. Program (Pharmaceutical care or Industrial Pharmacy) is a six-year academic program.

Europe

Czech Republic and Slovakia

In both countries, the Pharm. D. (Pharmaciae doctor) diploma can be obtained by pharmacists who have previously graduated in pharmacy (Magister, Mgr.) (the undergraduate study of pharmacy takes five years). Applicants must defend a research or experimental thesis, and pass a rigorous examination. The PharmDr. title is highly prestigious and written in front of the name. It is different from the postgraduate Ph.D. diploma.

France

In France, Pharm.D studies can only be accessed through a competitive examination ("concours", with numerus clausus) happening at the end of the first year of health studies. Most candidates hold a Scientific Baccalaureate from the equivalent to high schools (lycée). In case of failure, it is possible to retry once. Yearly success rate depends on the university's current numerus clausus and the number or registered students, ranging from 10 to 30% bearing in mind that second-time participants are three to four times more likely to succeed than students trying for the first time.

In order to obtain the state diploma of "Doctor of Pharmacy", the studies last a minimum of six years, or nine years for students choosing residency (hospital pharmacy or medical biology). It is accessible through another competitive exam, even more selective. It lasts four years and gives another diploma of specialist like in medicine (DES for "diplôme d'études spécialisées" ). Students must specialise when entering the 5th year, and choose between dispensing pharmacy, pharmaceutical industry or hospital residency. In any case, a 12-month part-time hospital externship is mandatory during the fifth year, although some flexibility is possible for students choosing industry.

Sixth year for industry is generally dedicated to further specialisation with a former Professional Master's degree or a former Research Master's degree including internship.

In France, since the harmonization of European Union in September 2005, the student who chooses the industry/research orientation have a six-month period of part-time hospital externship, and 3 to 6 months of full-time training in a pharmaceutical industry or a research lab.

Hungary

In Hungary, pharmacists obtain their master's degree, after five years of study. In the fifth year, students must undergo a professional training, that lasts for two+two months (autumn and spring) in a public pharmacy and one month in a hospital. At the end of this period, the student must pass a nationwide exam to be legally entitled for practicing the profession of pharmacy, after acquiring the pharmacist work license. According to the new law in 2008, which is valid from 2009, all pharmacists, who have acquired the master's degree of Pharmacy, are entitled to the Doctor of Pharmacy.

Italy

In order to obtain the state diploma of "Doctor of Pharmacy", the studies last a minimum of 5 years, or 9 years for students choosing residency (hospital pharmacy, medical biology)or pharmacology. In Italy the Professional degree in Pharmacy last 5 years, which includes a 6-months professional training in a public pharmacy or hospital. At the end of this period, the student must pass a nationwide exam to be legally entitled for practising the profession of pharmacist. The subscription to "Pharmacists Order", or in Italian "Ordine dei Farmacisti", is required for working in private and public pharmacies or hospitals. It is not required if the pharmacist is working in a pharmaceutical company.

Netherlands

The education of pharmacists in the Netherlands requires a minimum of six years of university study. EU-harmonisation has led to division into three bachelor and three master years. A bachelor title is, however, not used at all professionally. The Dutch consider the educational level of their current (M.Sc.) degree in pharmacy to be comparable to the PharmD title in use in the United States. Before the harmonization a four-year Master of Science was superseded by two more years of university education preparing for pharmacy practice. To become a hospital pharmacist, a four-year residency program has to be completed after that.

Portugal

In Portugal, pharmacy studies consists of four years of basic school, five years of preparatory school, and three years of high school, where afterward the student is submitted to nationwide exams. The process is the same for every degree the student chooses, from medicine to engineering. The student takes the master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (equivalent to the PharmD program) in one of the nine Pharmacy faculties with their own respective numerous clausus which comprises a six-year rigorous study (5 with the uniformities in EU teaching). Finished the degree, the academic title of Doctor of Pharmacy is issued. The graduate can then enroll in the regulatory institution for the Pharmacist profession in Portugal called, "Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society" or, in Portuguese, "Ordem dos Farmacêuticos". After the enrollment, the title of Pharmacist is issued. Afterwards, Pharmacists can start their career in a limitless number of professional areas that range from community pharmacies, drug development, fundamental or applied research, biotechnology to areas such as forensic sciences, toxicology, regulatory affairs, clinical analysis, law enforcement (scientific police), bromatology, drug marketing, regulatory authorities, university teachers, etc. The Pharmacists can also choose to become a specialist in one of following areas of activity: Pharmaceutical Industry, Regulatory Affairs, Hospital Pharmacy, and Clinical Analysis. Each specialization requires an additional 5-year professional study program guided by a tutor in the respective area of knowledge. This training includes regular evaluations by the professional competent authority ("Ordem dos Farmacêuticos"), which also requires an exam at the end of the 5-year training. After the success at the exam, the Pharmacist then becomes a specialist in its area of expertise.

Spain

In Spain, Pharmacy studies can be accessed after completing five and a half years of University College (with at least 6 months of initiation to Pharmacy Practice). The Licenciado en Farmacia or Grado en Farmacia (equivalent to the PharmD program) Spanish degree is the only title that allows to practice the profession of Pharmacy in Spain. To become a Hospital Pharmacist a person with a degree in Pharmacy must enter a selection process (national selection process called FIR) to initiate a Pharmacy Residency period of professional training during 4 additional years (including one full year of advanced clinical practice in different medical wards). Apart from the professional degrees, like with any other university studies, Pharmacy degree allows to pursue an academic career by enrolling masters and doctorates programs (MSc and PhD) in several scientific fields (pharmaceutical technology, pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutics, biomedical sciences, cosmetics & pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical and organic chemistry, physical chemistry, food sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, public health, etc.). Masters usually lasts 1–2 years and PhD's no less than 4 years.

In summary, in Spain an entry-level pharmacy degree lasts 5 years and a Hospital Pharmacy Specialist needs 9.5 years of education and/or training. Hospital Pharmacy Residents are paid during their residency period. There are other residencies avalailable to pharmacists such as Medical Biology, Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Radiopharmacy, Pharmaceutical Analysis, and Industrial Pharmacy lasting from 2 to 4 years. Pharmacists usually work as retail pharmacists (private practice), hospital pharmacists, primary care pharmacists, medical biologists, scientists (private and public biomedical research institutions), as university professors (Pharmacy, Medicine, Biology, Food Sciences, Biochemistry, Veterinary, Nursing, etc.), and as technicians and executive managers (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and governmental institutions).

Middle East

Iran

In 1930 Tehran University changed the Pharmacy degree from Masters to doctorate, and the duration of the study was increased to 5 years. Graduates need to present and defend their theses in different fields of pharmacy, and this adds another year to their studies, and generally after 6 years students can graduate as Doctor in Pharmacy. The master's degree in Pharmacy was available in Tehran University since 1926.

Jordan

In Jordan, the Pharm.D. program is offered by the University of Jordan and Jordan University of Science and Technology at the undergraduate level. This program is not to be confused with the BSc. in Pharmacy program even though both programs are still offered today. Students complete 5 years of academical work and 1 year of clinical practice to earn the degree. This program is offered at public universities only: at the University of Jordan and Jordan University of Science and Technology. The University of Jordan calls this degree BSc. in Doctor of Pharmacy, which is granted after a successful completion of 216 credit hours.^[9] The Jordan University of Science and Technology has a similar credit hour requirement and calls the degree BSc. of Doctor of Pharmacy degree.^[10]

Lebanon

In Lebanon, the first Doctor of Pharmacy degree was awarded by the Lebanese University Faculty of Pharmacy (upon a decree by the Lebanese government) to its graduating class of 19 students in 1992. The program was first established by Dr. Anwar Bikhazi, a Pharmacy graduate of the American University of Beirut with a PhD from the University of Michigan. The 6-year entry level PharmD program at the Lebanese University adopted the US PharmD curriculum and training. Enrollment into the program is highly competitive with an average admission rate of 20% of applicants. This is one of the leading PharmD programs in the Middle East, which was followed by other similar programs in Lebanon and neighboring countries, such as the ones provided by the Lebanese American University and Beirut Arab University. Another leading pharmacy program is the unique 5-year curriculum Pharm. D. degree offered by Saint Joseph University.

Qatar

In Qatar, pharmacy degrees are offered by the new College of Pharmacy at the Qatar University. Students were accepted into the 5-year BSc (Pharm) program commencing in 2007. Students will be accepted into the final year of the 6-year PharmD program in 2011. Accordingly, the first graduates of the PharmD program are expected in 2012. The program adopts a Canadian curriculum and received early accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) in February 2009. This is the first international program to undergo review and receive accreditation by this sole Canadian accreditation agency.

palestine

at alnajah and birzeit university

Saudi Arabia

Started in 2001 at King Abdulaziz University, then in 2005 at Ibn-Sina National College, then 2006 at KFU, then 2007 at Qassim University. In 2008, KSU College of Pharmacy at Riyadh, College of Pharmacy at Kharj, and Taif University, In 2009 at almaarefa college started their PharmD programs. The degree duration in Saudi Arabia is six years in total, including one academic year of clinical rotations.

According to the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, if a student graduates with a (minimum six years) PharmD degree, then the graduate has the chance to further develop himself. This can be achieved by taking an Accredited Residency Training Program that is at least one year long (for a total of seven years, minimum). Upon successfully completing both the Residency program and the PharmD, the graduate can apply for Professional Equivalent (only equivalent in practice) to the master's degree in Pharmacy.

The Pharm.D degree is now offered by almost all pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia. This is a transitional period as this degree will replace the conventional Bachelor of pharmacy degree in near future and the old bachelor's degree will be phased out.

United Arab Emirates

The Doctor of Pharmacy program was started in the year 2008 by the College of Pharmacy, at Gulf Medical University, Ajman. The first university in UAE to offer Pharm. D. after approval by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in UAE. This course is a professional practice degree specialized in advanced clinical practice. Pharm. D. program is five and half year undergraduate program after higher secondary school certificate and three years for B.Pharm graduates. As part of the course the college offers introductory Community Pharmacy Training and Advance Pharmacy Practice Experiential training with clinical and multi-specialty rotations. This undergraduate degree program is offered for students who completed 12 years of school after their British A level (School leaving qualification), Grade 12 or 12th standard (Indian System) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Students with TOEFL or an IELTS qualification are eligible for admission. The Pharm. D. graduates can secure jobs as Clinical pharmacists in hospitals, Community pharmacists in large chain stores, in Medical insurance companies, in Clinical Research organizations and Pharmaceutical industries. On successful completion, Pharm. D. graduates can also pursue further education for Masters (MS) and Ph.D. Two batches of students have successfully graduated after the Pharm. D. course.

North America

Canada

Currently in Canada, the BPharm (and not PharmD) is the minimum qualification required to practice pharmacy. In Canada the PharmD program is offered in both English and French, and as a first professional degree as well as a postgraduate degree. Students enrolled in the program must have graduated from a CCAPP (Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs) or an ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) school with an accredited teaching program or must have passed the PEBC (Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada) Evaluating and Qualifying examinations.

As of 2007, the PharmD professional degree program in French is offered at the Université de Montréal and, as of 2011, at the Université Laval. The Université de Montréal was the first Canadian university to offer the PharmD program as a first professional degree instead of the BPharm in pharmacy. In 2013, the University of Alberta would be offering a PharmD as a post-professional degree, and a BPharm is required for admission into the program. The University of Toronto replaced their entry-level BPharm curriculum with an entry-to-practice PharmD curriculum in 2011, with approval being granted in 2013.

The PharmD degree is also offered as a postgraduate degree at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. However, by the year 2020, most, if not all Canadian Pharmacy schools will have changed their Entry-To-Practice programs that awarded successful graduates with a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences to Entry-To-Practice PharmD as the scope of practice for pharmacists continue to expand and change. Once this change is implemented, UBC will no longer have a separate 2-year PharmD Program that is currently offered.

On January 23, 2013, the government of Ontario approved the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo applications for the entry-to-practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Students graduating in 2015 will be the first cohort under this new undergraduate PharmD program.

United States

Pharmacy is a health science and profession that melds chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology and other biomedical sciences together. The practice of pharmacy in the US is administered by an appropriately educated and licensed individual charged with ensuring the effective and safe use of drugs used throughout all aspects of patient care. In the United States, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is a postgraduate professional degree that offers opportunities in research, teaching, clinical practice, industry, manufacturing, judicial, and a multitude of other areas.

After completing the required prerequisites or obtaining a transferable bachelor's degree, pharmacy school is another four years (2–4 years of undergraduate + 4 years professional doctorate program = 6–8 years total, some year-round accelerated Pharmacy Schools are only 5–7 years (2–4 years undergraduate + 3 years accelerated professional doctorate). Most schools require students to take an entrance test^[11] (PCAT) and complete 90 credit hours of university coursework in the sciences, mathematics, composition, and humanities before entry into the Pharm.D. program. Due to the extensive admission requirements and highly competitive nature of the field, many pharmacy students complete a bachelor's degree before entry to pharmacy school.

Estimated timeline: 4 years undergraduate + 3–4 years pharmacy doctorate = 7–8 years total for PharmD degree. An ACPE Accredited doctorate of pharmacy (Pharm D) is currently the only degree accepted by the National Associate of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to be eligible to "sit" for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Previously the United States had a 5-year bachelor's degree in pharmacy. For BS Pharmacy graduates currently licensed in the U.S, there are few highly ranked U.S Universities offering doctorate degree programs. These programs are fully accredited by ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) but only available to current BS Pharmacy graduates with a U.S license to practice pharmacy.

Some institutions still offer 6-year accelerated PharmD programs (similar to 6-year MD programs).

The current Pharm.D. degree curriculum is considerably different from that of the prior BS in pharmacy. It now includes extensive didactic clinical preparation, hands-on clinical practice experience in a wider array of healthcare settings, and a greater emphasis on clinical pharmacy practice pertaining to pharmacotherapy optimization. Requirements in the US to becoming a pharmacist include: graduating from a Doctor of Pharmacy from an ACPE accredited program, conducting a specified number of hours in internship under a licensed pharmacist (i.e. 1800 hours in some states), passing the NAPLEX, and passing a Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE).

Residency is an option that is typically 1–2 years in length. A residency is useful; especially for new graduates who do not yet have adequate patient care experience and are seeking accelerated experiential training.

South America

Brazil

In Brazil the title of pharmacist is awarded after completion of certified graduate studies; while the term PharmD is not formally regulated it can be used and is commonly added to the graduate's professional license (issued by the regional pharmacy (Conselho Regional de Farmacia). By law, graduates in Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine and Veterinarian Medicine upon receiving their license may use the title of Doctor before their name. In the past, those degrees were awarded as doctorate and the tradition still remains.

Many Universities award sub-titles or co-titles including Biochemist and Industrial pharmacyst. University of São Paulo and few others have awarded specialization titles for many years for their Pharmacy and Biochemistry graduate students, including toxicological and clinical analysis, food and nutrition and industrial pharmacy which are also equivalent to different degrees in the US and Europe.

Whereas Bachelor of Pharmacy takes a minimum of 4 years, the Pharmacist-Biochemist degree is completed by 4 and 1/2 years of full-time studies with at least 720 hours of internship. The student can opt to get the degree during evening and it takes 6 years with Saturday classes (full day) and also at least 720 hrs of internship.

Although many Universities granted a degree of Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Doctor in Pharmacy after completion of original research dissertation, those are not professional but a post-graduated course and do not grant permission to work as pharmacist.

Chile

In Chile, the title of Pharmacist (Quimico Farmaceutico) is granted after completing 10 or 11 semesters of full-time studies in an accredited University. The Pharmacist degree is a Professional Degree, awarded after finishing 5 years of study (Bachelor in Pharmacy), and then finish an internship of 6 months on the specialization area of the student (Pharmaceutical Lab, Community Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy).

The pharmacist can get a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSc), of 2 years, or a Doctorate in Pharmacology (PhD), of 4 years after finished the Bachelor, but these are Academic Degrees, needed for scientific career on investigation, but are not required to work in other professional areas.

References