NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE?

NO PROBLEM! HOW TO
BECOME A PHARMACIST
 WHAT IS A DOCTOR
OF PHARMACY?
A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is a professional-level
health care degree which is the first step to becoming a
licensed pharmacist. If you’re interested in becoming a
practicing pharmacist, then this resource is a must-read.

We’ll tell you how you can earn your Pharm.D. at

Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)—
even if you don’t hold a bachelor’s degree.
Let’s get started.

NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE? NO PROBLEM! HOW TO BECOME A PHARMACIST IN 2021 2

 TABLE OF CONTENTS:
CLICK BELOW TO SKIP TO A SPECIFIC SECTION OR SCROLL TO READ THE RESOURCE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

1. WHY ARE YOU 2. NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE 3. DIFFERENT PATHS 4. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN
INTERESTED IN NEEDED: PHARMACY TO THE SAME A PHARMACY SCHOOL
PHARMACY? SCHOOL PREREQUISITES DESTINATION (HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR
NAPLEX PASS RATE)

5. HOW TO GET INTO PHARMACY 6. FAST FORWARD: YOU 7. START YOUR PHARM.D.
SCHOOL AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR HAVE YOUR PHARM.D., AT NORTHEAST OHIO
PREREQUISITES NOW WHAT? MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
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WHY ARE YOU

INTERESTED IN
PHARMACY?
The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is unlike any other health care
degree, as you’ll soon discover, but it’s crucial that you consider your
“why” behind your interest in the field of pharmacy.

When deciding on a degree path, you should look for a field that
reflects your values, preferences, and personal goals. Ask yourself:

01
• Will I enjoy working in the field of pharmacy?
• Will a job in this field challenge me?
• Do I like caring for patients?
• Will I be able to contribute to the welfare of others and my community?

Finding a job that satisfies your personal motivation and needs is

key to long-term job satisfaction.

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PHARMACY? 4

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Economics are important both when considering the cost

of a Pharm.D. and when looking forward to the potential
earnings a job in pharmacy can produce.
• Will the degree I earn qualify me for a job that pays well?
• Will I get a reasonable return-on-investment that allows
me to pay off student loans, other education-related debt,
and live an enjoyable life?

Trends in the job market also come into play.

• Are pharmacy jobs in demand?
• Is the demand expected to grow, or is employment in this
field declining?
• Once I’m established in a job, can I earn additional degrees
that can lead to promotions, greater responsibility, and
greater earnings?

Let’s explore some of these questions below and help you

start your research!

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PHARMACY? 5

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PHARMACY OFFERS A UNIQUE HEALTH CARE CAREER

Perhaps your perception of a pharmacist evokes an image of a person in a white coat dispensing medication at a
retail pharmacy. You may be surprised to learn that pharmacists can specialize in different areas, work in different
environments, and perform an array of health care duties.

Today, becoming a pharmacist requires a doctoral degree known as Pharm.D. That program requires you to study
several STEM fields — science, computer technology, statistics, chemistry, physics — as well as anatomy and
physiology, psychology, and other health care subjects.

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PHARMACY? 6

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Depending on your personal preferences, you may decide to work as a community pharmacist in a retail drug store or
independently owned pharmacy. In that role you will dispense medications to retail customers, answer patient questions,
administer vaccinations, and serve as the medical professional that patients can visit without an appointment.

Ambulatory care pharmacists are often based in a clinic-based setting, helping to guide therapy selection and
working with patients and prescribers to provide comprehensive medication management – looking for ways to
optimize medication regimens for all medications – prescription, Over-the-counter, and herbal supplements, too.

Hospital pharmacists may be involved in direct patient care, rounding with physicians and other
interprofessional team members, but also may be involved in dispensing medications, working in various
subspecialties of oncology medications, investigational drugs, or inventory control.

Industry pharmacists work in yet another arena that can include research, marketing, development of clinical
drug trials, quality control, and drug safety, while consultant pharmacists work more directly with insurance
companies and health care facilities in a consultative role.

Finally, an informatics pharmacist looks at the data side of pharmacy, playing a cross-functional role between
the pharmacist and the way we deliver medications.

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PHARMACY? 7

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HEALTH CARE CAREERS PAY WELL

Your future income, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (in May 2019), reports that pharmacists earned a
median salary of $128,090 while the lowest and highest-paid earned $88,400 and $162,900, respectively. Wages at
these levels put pharmacists into the top 15 percent of all wage earners.

Median salaries also varied by the type of pharmacy job:

General merchandise stores $136,320

(Target, Walmart, etc.)

Food and beverage stores

$132,750
(Kroger, Publix, etc.)

Hospitals — state, local and private $129,740

Pharmacies and drug stores

$125,910
(Independents, CVS, Walgreens, etc.)

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PHARMACY? 8

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NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE
NEEDED: PHARMACY
SCHOOL PREREQUISITES
We said earlier that the Pharm.D. degree is unlike any other health
care degree, and here’s why. The Pharm.D. is the only advanced
health care degree you can earn without first having to go through

02
four or more years of college to earn a bachelor’s degree.

You read that right: you don’t need a bachelor’s

degree in order to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy.

NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE NEEDED: PHARMACY SCHOOL PREREQUISITES 9

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Students graduating from high school can apply to the Pharm.D. program without having to struggle through years
of education — from high school to bachelor’s degree to master’s degree to doctorate. You can move directly
from high school to a doctoral program in pharmacy.

However, the Pharm.D. does require that you take 60 semester hours of pre-professional courses to prepare you
for the Pharm.D. curriculum. You’re invited to take those classes at NEOMED, or you can take those classes at any
accredited school.

NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE NEEDED: PHARMACY SCHOOL PREREQUISITES 10

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PHARMACY SCHOOL
PRE-PROFESSIONAL PREREQUISITES
Applicants to the NEOMED pharmacy curriculum are
sometimes uncertain about which courses offered at their
colleges or universities will fulfill NEOMED’s pharmacy
school prerequisites.

Given that we have applicants from hundreds of colleges and

universities each year, it’s difficult to give specific, detailed
advice. Therefore, here is our best general advice to you:
You and your pre-health advisor at your current college
or university will have the best understanding of the
coursework available to you at your school. We suggest
you consult your pre-health advisor and select coursework
based on what would best prepare you for a clinical, doctoral
program of study at a professional health university.

Coursework from any regionally accredited institution of

higher education is acceptable regardless of instructional
mode (in-person, online, etc.)

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To find out more about pre-requisites for NEOMED, visit the detailed section of the website. But for now, here’s a little
bit about the courses you will need:

AN ATO M Y A ND PHY S IO LO GY COURSE (3 Semester Hours)

Guidance: Students should seek a one semester comprehensive anatomy and physiology (A&P) course of at least three
credit hours. If the school only has a two-semester sequence for A&P, we recommend the student takes both to get
coverage of all body systems. However, one course would fill the requirement.

M I C ROB I OLO GY C O U R S E (3 Semester Hours)

Guidance: Students should seek to complete a one semester microbiology course of at least three credit hours. A
laboratory component is encouraged, but not required.

B I O LO G Y & OT HER LIFE S C IENCE S SE QUE NCE (Courses With Labs — 8 Semester Hours)
I N ORG AN I C (GENER A L) C HEMI STRY SE QUE NCE (Courses With Labs — 8 Semester Hours)
ORG AN I C CHEMIS T R Y S EQ U EN CE (Courses With Labs — 8 Semester Hours)
Guidance: The guidance for each of these eight-hour prerequisites is identical. Students should select the two
courses that are required in sequence. All courses must include a lab. We expect that students will select from
coursework required of science majors or professional clinical school preparation such as pre-medicine study, and
we discourage students from selecting courses designed for specialized applied allied health majors, non-science
majors, or nursing majors.

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G E N E R A L PHY S IC S C O U R S E (3 Semester Hours)

Guidance: Students may select either an algebra-based physics or calculus-based physics course. We expect that
students will select from coursework required of science majors or professional clinical school preparation such as pre-
medicine study. Non-mathematics-based physics survey courses for non-science majors will not fulfill this competency.

B I O C H E M IS T R Y C O U R S E (3 Semester Hours)
Guidance: While a one semester Biochemistry course will fulfill the prerequisite requirements, we recommend that
students complete a two semester Biochemistry course (three credit hours per semester), and that students will select the
Biochemistry course that requires Organic Chemistry I and II as a prerequisite.

C ALC UL U S C O U R S E (3 Semester Hours)

Guidance: There is no specific level of calculus course required. Any course listed in the calculus area of study higher
than precalculus will suffice. This may include calculus for mathematics majors, business majors, engineering majors,
etc. Calculus placement assumes a high-level mastery of college algebra content, essential to pharmacy success.

STAT I S T I CS C O U R S E (3 Semester Hours)

Guidance: Students should complete a statistics course that focuses on the basic understanding of descriptive statistics,
statistical methods, and how to perform and interpret basic statistical procedures. We discourage students from choosing
a statistics course that is math-based but would encourage a biostatistics course related to the health field.

NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE NEEDED: PHARMACY SCHOOL PREREQUISITES 13

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E N G L I S H C O MPO S IT IO N S EQ UE NCE (6 Semester Hours)

Guidance: To prepare for a career as a professional health practitioner, all candidates must demonstrate excellent
proficiency in all forms of English language-based communication, both verbal and written, as evidenced by
successful completion of an English Composition I and II sequence. We do not accept literature courses unless they
are composition-based, though they can still fulfill the General Education requirement.

G E N E R A L EDU C AT IO N A ND/OR ADDI TI ONAL SCI E NCE (12 Semester Hours)

Guidance: Any coursework not used to meet another prerequisite may suffice. Students may elect to complete other
science coursework in the areas that are helpful for entering the Pharm.D. program such as Biochemistry II, a full-
year sequence of Anatomy & Physiology, Immunology, and others.

NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE NEEDED: PHARMACY SCHOOL PREREQUISITES 14

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DIFFERENT PATHS TO
THE SAME DESTINATION
Many paths can lead to your Pharm.D. degree. Let’s break

03
down the steps involved for high school students, college
students, and those looking for a career change.

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME DESTINATION 15

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F O R H I G H S C HO O L S T U DENT S
If you’re enrolled in high school, you can apply during your senior year to receive Early Assurance, which means
NEOMED gives you a provisional admission to the Pharm.D. program.

NEOMED’s Early Assurance Program also lets you decide when you’ll be ready to begin study in NEOMED’s
pharmacy program. You may choose any of the following plans:
• 2+4. A two-year program of study as an undergraduate student to complete your 60 semester hours of
preprofessional prerequisite courses for six years to earn your degree. Tip: if you’re concerned about the cost of
school, this is the path for you!
• 3+4. A three-year program of study as an undergraduate student to complete your 60 semester hours of
preprofessional prerequisite courses for seven years to earn your degree.
• 4+4. A four-year program of study as an undergraduate student to complete your 60 semester hours of
preprofessional prerequisite courses as part of a four-year bachelor’s degree for eight years to degree.

W H O SH OU LD A PPLY ?
NEOMED’s Early Assurance program gives students the option to complete the pre-professional coursework at a local
college, university, or at NEOMED. We encourage students who have not yet enrolled at an undergraduate college or
university to apply. Our typical applicants include:
• Students who elected College Credit Plus coursework while in high school to accelerate their time-to-goal.
• Those who want flexibility around when to start pharmacy school.
• Serious students committed to becoming a pharmacist who seek a clear and easy-to-understand path to reaching that goal.

Find out more detailed information here about test scores, GPA and application requirements.
Application deadline: June 1, 2021

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME DESTINATION 16

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E A RLY A SS U R A NC E FO R T R A DI TI ONAL COLLE G E STUDE NTS

You can secure a seat in NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy school as a college freshman or sophomore. Apply to
NEOMED during your first or second year of undergraduate work to reserve a seat upon completion of required
coursework at your undergraduate institution.

This path is open to students from most any community college, college, or university seeking to complete only the
prerequisite courses (60 credit hours) or to complete a four-year degree. Early Assurance is a great alternative for
students looking for some curricular flexibility while still having the benefit of a reserved seat in pharmacy school.

W H O SH OU LD A PPLY ?
We have designed the Early Assurance pathway to pharmacy school at NEOMED for undergraduate students who
know they want to pursue a career in pharmacy by obtaining their Pharm.D. degree. Successful candidates may
benefit from reserving a seat in pharmacy school and having access to exclusive mentorship opportunities.
We encourage students that have been enrolled at an undergraduate college or university for at least one semester
following high school graduation and who have established a GPA by completing at least one semester of college
coursework to apply. Our typical applicants include:
• Students committed to pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree through a clear and easy-to-understand path
• Students with a strong interest in attending NEOMED
• First or second year college students who have some experience with the pharmacy profession through a co-curricular
program such as NEOMED’s Pathways to Pharmacy, have shadowed a pharmacist, or work as a pharmacy technician

Find out more detailed information here about test scores, GPA and application requirements.
Pharm Direct Application deadline: June 1, 2021

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME DESTINATION 17

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F O R C AR E E R C HA NGER S
We encourage people looking to change their career path
to pharmacy to apply for the Pharm.D. degree. If you have
worked in a health care field, it’s likely you’ve already
completed some of the 60 hours of pre-professional work
that can give you a head start. If you come from another
field, you may still find some of the college courses you took
can be used. We will consider classes you’ve taken within the
past seven years.

The facts outlined above for traditional college students apply

equally to those seeking a new career. Upon completing the
pre-professional coursework, career changers should apply
via PharmCAS.

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME DESTINATION 18

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN

A PHARMACY SCHOOL
(HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR
NAPLEX PASS RATE)
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) must

04
accredit all colleges and universities that offer the Pharm.D. degree.
The ACPE first accredited NEOMED’s pharmacy programs for the
2010-2011 school year. Today, that accreditation is still in effect
and joins accreditations from other agencies including the Higher
Learning Commission (HLC).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PHARMACY SCHOOL (HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR NAPLEX PASS RATE) 19
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While your personal preferences and economics play a big role in choosing a college for your Pharm.D. degree, the most
objective information to consider are the various outcomes past Pharm.D. students have achieved. Favorable outcomes
are what students expect from their investment of time, energy, and money, and NEOMED is proud that its Pharm.D.
program has served as the launch pad for so many successful pharmacists.

NEO MED GRADUATI ON RATE S FROM PHARM .D. P ROG RAM

2020 (n=87) 2019 (n=74) 2018 (n=80)

Graduated in 4 years 83.00% 78.00% 86.00%

Delayed graduation 8.00% 11.00% 6.00%

Withdrew/Dismissed 6.00% 11.00% 8.00%

Graduation Rate 94.00% 89.00% 92.00%

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PHARMACY SCHOOL (HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR NAPLEX PASS RATE) 20
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Students working toward their Pharm.D. degree must take and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination
(NAPLEX). Scores on NAPLEX relate directly to the effectiveness of the Pharm.D. curriculum, those who teach it, the
resources available to students, and the overall learning environment. The NAPLEX pass rate is a measure of those factors.

NEOMED students have turned in substantially better first-time scores on the exam than local and national averages.
Beyond the statistics shown here, NEOMED students have matched or exceeded national NAPLEX pass rates in each of
the past 10 years.

NAPLE X FI RST-TI M E PASSI NG RATE S

2019 2018 2017

NEOMED 93.75% 98.57% 92.00%

National 88.34% 89.46% 87.95%

Ohio 92.14% 93.96% 91.26%

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PHARMACY SCHOOL (HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR NAPLEX PASS RATE) 21
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Being able to find a job once you’ve completed your Pharm.D. degree is the best final assessment of what to look for in a
pharmacy school. As you can see, all but a tiny fraction of Pharm.D. graduates found employment as a pharmacist or
continued with additional post-grad work. For a national view of demand for pharmacists, visit the Pharmacy Demand
Report to learn which geographies have the greatest demand for Pharm.D. graduates.

JOB PLACE ME NT OUTCOM E S

2019 (n=67) 2018 (n=70) 2017 (n=77)

Practicing as a Pharmacist 64.20% 60.00% 68.80%

Employed in a Pharmacy-Related Field or Position 2.90% 0.00% 2.60%

Post Graduate Education 30.00% 38.60% 23.40%

Placement being sought or unknown 2.90% 1.40% 4.20%

Location

Ohio 82.10% 90.50% 87.70%

Out of state 7.50% 9.80% 12.30%

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PHARMACY SCHOOL (HINT: CHECK OUT THEIR NAPLEX PASS RATE) 22
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HOW TO GET INTO

PHARMACY SCHOOL
AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR
PREREQUISITES

05
Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) gives you
a structured way to apply for the Pharm.D. Visit PharmCAS
to begin the application process.

HOW TO GET INTO PHARMACY SCHOOL AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR PREREQUISITES 23
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NEOMED recommends that Pharm.D. applicants meet the

following minimum qualifications.

• Present an overall college GPA of at least 2.5 for interview

consideration (as determined by PharmCAS calculations).
• Present a science GPA of at least 2.5 (as determined by
PharmCAS calculations).
• Earn no grade lower than a C- in any course intended to
fulfill a prerequisite.
• Complete the required 60 semester hours of prerequisite
coursework prior to matriculating. We encourage
candidates to apply for admission early and interview while
prerequisite coursework is in progress.
• Show interest in the pharmacy profession through
extracurricular activities, employment, or volunteer experience.
• Demonstrate leadership skills and abilities.

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W H AT M AKES A S T ELLA R PHARM.D. CANDI DATE ?

Pharmacy school at NEOMED is designed for students with an interest in advancing community health in Northeast
Ohio and beyond.

Our typical applications include those who are interested in:

1. Becoming leaders in the emerging field of pharmacy as an integral part of the health care team
2. Advancing community health in community pharmacy or clinical settings through NEOMED’s distinctive residency track
3. Developing skills outside of the classroom at one of NEOMED’s hundreds of clinical practice sites throughout
northeast Ohio
4. Changing the lives of the communities they serve, particularly medically underserved areas where they can make
the greatest impact on patients’ lives
5 . Challenging themselves with interprofessional coursework and hands-on experiences designed to prepare them to
excel as professionals at the top of their pharmacy license.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS AND

SKILLS YOU MUST HAVE TO SUCCEED IN THE PHARM.D. PROGRAM!

HOW TO GET INTO PHARMACY SCHOOL AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR PREREQUISITES 25
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W H AT A B OU T MY GPA?

You might be wondering, “How to get into pharmacy school

with a lower GPA?” NEOMED reviews every applicant and
offers interviews to those who qualify. Your GPA is one of
the most important factors we look at, but you may still be
admitted if your GPA is below 2.7.

Your work history, experiences, and other accomplishments

— such as taking chemistry, microbiology, and similar science
courses — may improve your chances of being admitted.

Finally, while NEOMED no longer uses the Pharmacy College

Admission Test (PCAT), if you have taken the test and scored
well, be sure to include your score as part of your application.

HOW TO GET INTO PHARMACY SCHOOL AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR PREREQUISITES 26
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YOU HAVE YOUR

PHARM.D. — NOW WHAT?
A career in pharmacy gives Pharm.D. holders access to a variety of
jobs ranging from community practice to providing consultative
services. According to PharmacyForMe.org, the career paths for
pharmacists fall into these divisions, but are not exclusive to:

• Community Pharmacies • University Professor

• Independent pharmacy • Long term care facilities (nursing
• Community health centers homes, rehab facilities, etc.)
• Veterinary pharmacy • In-home health care agencies

06
• Compounding pharmacies • Government
• Pharmaceutical companies • Mail order pharmacies
• Hospitals

Each of these diverse career paths connects you with other health care
workers and patients, and each gives you a constellation of things to
enjoy on a daily basis. Which one is right for you?

YOU HAVE YOUR PHARM.D. — NOW WHAT? 27

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START YOUR
PROFESSIONAL DEGREE
IN HEALTH CARE AT
NORTHEAST OHIO
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

07
The College of Pharmacy at NEOMED provides multiple
pathways for students interested in becoming a pharmacist
through our Pharm.D. degree program.

START YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN HEALTH CARE AT NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 28
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Students graduating from this program will have:

• A strong interprofessional education to provide a team-oriented approach to patient care.
• An understanding of and experience with the diverse patients to whom they will administer care.
• Skills necessary to provide patients with medication therapy management services.
• An opportunity to apply for and complete a pharmacy residency.

A career in pharmacy is unique because it appeals to everyone differently. Each career path offers different ways to
motivate you and capture your passion. Contact NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy to learn more about the Pharm.D.
curriculum and to explore your future career as a pharmacist!

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

EXPLORE OUR CURRICULUM

APPLY NOW

START YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN HEALTH CARE AT NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 29