In this article, we quickly look at the best pharmacy schools in Massachusetts, not just that, we also consider the different programs and the entry requirements for pharmacy schools in Massachusetts.
One of the best places for pharmacists to study and work is Massachusetts. It has at least four separate pharmacy schools, to start.
Every year, fresh students are welcome at each one because they are all accredited. The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, generally known as MCPHS University, is the parent organization of two of these colleges.
To learn more about these universities and their pharmacy program, continue reading.
Pharmacist’s Salary In Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a pharmacist makes roughly $121,605 per year.
In Massachusetts, pharmacists play a variety of tasks, including helping patients discover the prescription that best meets their needs and giving advice on the potential negative effects and hazards of taking medications.
They are also in charge of monitoring medicine inventory, checking prescriptions for errors before they are filled by the doctor or pharmacist, and informing patients about which medications are more affordable or more expensive.
How To Become A Licensed Pharmacist In Massachusetts
According to Massachusetts’ Pharmacist License board, to practice pharmacy in the state of Massachusetts, you need a license.
Requirements are:
- Applicants must pass the NAPLEX and the MPJE
- Applicants must have 1500 internship hours
- Candidates must hold a diploma from a pharmacy school that is recognized.
- Candidates must not have any criminal history
- The minimum age requirement for applicants is 18.
Other Requirements
- $421 charge
- Copy of birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license with a passport-style photo
- Use Professional Credential Services to submit an application.
Additional requirements apply to foreign graduates and non-US citizens:
- Must pass FPGEE
- Must pass TOEFL
Massachusetts also allows licensure by reciprocity.
Pharmacists in Massachusetts must complete 15 CE (continuing education) credits annually to keep their licenses active. Pharmacy legislation must be the subject of two credits.
The List of Best Pharmacy Schools In Massachusetts
The national ACPE accreditation is accepted as the benchmark for the state of Massachusetts. Through initial and subsequent periodic examinations, a professional degree program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is determined to meet defined criteria and educational standards, and this is known as ACPE accreditation.
All of the programs that ACPE accredits must adhere to all 25 of its accreditation standards. There are now 4 ACPE-accredited schools in the state of Massachusetts that provide the PharmD.
1 MCPHS University – Boston
Future medical experts have been trained at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) for about 200 years.
They are in a unique position to offer an innovative, interprofessional collaborative education that better prepares students to join the integrative team-based care models of today’s healthcare system due to their single-minded focus on healthcare and extensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate healthcare programs.
Students can benefit from the most efficient clinical and non-clinical experiences possible thanks to long-standing ties with major medical and research institutions in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, throughout New England, and around the world.
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Admission: You can apply to MCPHS as a first-year student if you are a current high school senior or have already graduated but did not go to college.
Additionally, it is simple to get started because first-year student applications to MCPHS are always free.
Don’t forget to complete the university-specific questions in the Member Profile, which also includes an additional short essay, when adding MCPHS to your list of schools you’re applying to.
You can use the MCPHS Internal Application to apply to MCPHS as a first-year applicant if you do not intend to finish the Common Application.
Your guidance counselor or another school employee needs to provide official transcripts from each secondary school you’ve attended.
If available, the first quarter of your senior year’s grades should be submitted with your application.
One letter of recommendation is required, preferably from a math or science teacher or guidance counselor. But if you’d like, you can offer more than one recommendation.
If you want to apply to the Direct Entry or Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy programs, use this application.
The expedited PharmD program accepts applicants with a bachelor’s degree or the necessary number of college courses and prerequisites.
Transfer requirements include a grade of C or above in the courses taken at a college or institution that has regional accreditation.
Science and math courses done more than ten years ago won’t be accepted toward matriculation at MCPHS. The PCAT is not necessary for admission to MCPHS.
2 MCPHS University – Worcester
You participate in patients’ daily lives and important healthcare moments as a pharmacist.
This program, one of only a few of its kind in the United States, can help you advance from your prior bachelor’s degree or acquire enough credits to finish your degree in only 34 months so that you can start working as a pharmacist and responsible healthcare professional.
You will have the chance to work with qualified professionals in this full-time accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at both the Worcester and Manchester campuses through clinical experiences in the immersive laboratories and through clinical rotations accessible at a large number of qualified clinical sites across New England.
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3 Northeastern University
A Northeastern PharmD degree offers students the individualized attention of a small school supported by the resources of a large university.
More than 120 linked hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, commercial firms, and governmental organizations provide students unparalleled chances for innovative and participatory learning through their renowned cooperative education model (co-op).
The internships are full-time, paid jobs that give students the contacts and professional experience they need to start their careers.
A program that is exclusive to US pharmacy schools, cooperative education (Co-op), allows students to complete up to 48 weeks of full-time practical training to meet the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) requirement set forth by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
Students have access to skilled clinicians and researchers thanks to the school’s affiliation with numerous top practice sites in metropolitan Boston and across the country.
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If you are a high school senior currently enrolled in classes or have recently graduated but have not yet started college, you are eligible to apply to Northeastern University as a freshman.
The Doctor of Pharmaceutical program offers a foundation in fundamental sciences and focused liberal arts courses, a thorough, integrated professional course curriculum, and substantial professional work experience that prepares students for employment in a range of pharmacy practice settings.
To apply for Pharm.D. program,
- Complete a PHARMCAS application
- It’s not required to take the PCAT Exam (Pharmacy College Admission Test). Direct submission of scores to PharmCAS is possible (use PCAT score code 104)
- Bachelor’s degree must be earned (in any profession or major) by the summer of 2022.
- Two recommendation letters submission
4 Western New England University
Through cutting-edge PhD programs, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences trains tomorrow’s leaders in the health and wellness industries.
Students are prepared for active participation in their roles as “Pharmacy Educators” or “Occupational Therapy Leaders,” who are focused on the future of their professions, through their very personal educational experience.
Your education in the theoretical and practical components of your future health professionals will be ensured by their interdisciplinary approach to teaching, but they also encourage the growth of leadership, professionalism, advocacy, and a dedication to community service.
A faculty made up of sympathetic professionals, informed academics, and caring role models who instruct in cutting-edge facilities serves as an example of these ideals.
In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, they are able to offer expedited degree programs like a 3+3 Health Studies/OTD degree by utilizing the university’s comprehensive curriculum.
For students who see a career in business administration or organizational leadership, the COPHS also offers dual pharmacy/business degrees in partnership with the College of Business.
The doctor of pharmacy degree at Western New England University will prepare you to take on the evolving role of the pharmacist in the future.
In addition to learning about the technical, social, and administrative aspects of pharmacy, you will also gain the leadership abilities necessary to work in the healthcare industry.
Their program makes use of the most up-to-date techniques to improve learning and provides you with hands-on experience in cutting-edge labs, varied pharmacy environments, and community service opportunities.
After completing this program, you will be a highly qualified pharmacy practitioner who is ready to give care to a patient population that is becoming more diverse in a variety of settings.
Benefits of The Pharm.D Program Western New England University:
The doctor of pharmacy program promotes professionalism, critical thinking abilities, and a dedication to leadership, community involvement, and lifelong learning.
A maximum of 75 students can enroll in the four-year PharmD program for each entering cohort.
Your instructors will know your name and care about your academic achievement because of the 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and small laboratory classes, which are hallmarks of a Western New England University education.
PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MS in Organizational Leadership dual degrees are also available to students.
A competency-based framework, integrated material and instruction, problem-based learning whenever appropriate, integrated technology, and woven experiential learning are all features of the program.
Strong scientific foundations (in the biological, pharmacological, social and administrative, and therapeutic sciences) and professional abilities will be developed gradually through this program.
Learners have several opportunities to demonstrate and use these skills in progressively more complex ways during pharmacy practice experiences.
With the help of the Doctor of Pharmacy tablet program, students will be able to rent tablets and use them for both didactic and experiential learning in all facets of the learning process.
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Admission: For incoming PY1 students, the Doctor of Pharmacy program will be made available as a full-time, online distance pathway.
This will enable them to pursue a career in pharmacy while spending little time on campus. Read more.
For high school seniors who are certain they want to pursue a profession in pharmacy, the 0–6 Doctor of Pharmacy program has been created.
The following qualifications should have been satisfactorily completed by applicants:
- 4 English units
- 4 units of math, which can be pre-calculus, algebra I and II, geometry, or any course that lays a strong basis for calculus.
- 2 units of laboratory science, including biology and chemistry. It is advised to take a laboratory in physics.
- 1 unit of American history.
FAQs
How many pharmacy schools are in Massachusetts?
There are now 4 ACPE-accredited schools in the state of Massachusetts that provide the PharmD.
How do I become a pharmacist in Massachusetts?
To practice pharmacy in the state of Massachusetts, you need a license.
- The NAPLEX must be passed.
- The MPJE Must Be Passed.
- 1500 hours should have been spent interning.
- You should possess a degree from a pharmacy school with accreditation.
- You should be free of any criminal history.
- At least 18 years of age is required.
- You ought to be a person of good morals.
How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician in Massachusetts?
A training course approved by the Board. 500 hours must have been worked as a pharmacy technician trainee.
Is 2 Months enough to study for PCAT?
Fortunately, enrolling in a PCAT prep course is not necessary; instead, you can achieve your desired score by self-studying for two to four months using PCAT prep books, online prep resources, practice tests, and questions. Many of these goods are quite reasonably priced.
Is the PCAT all multiple-choice?
192 multiple-choice questions and one writing assignment are included on the PCAT.
It consists of five subtests, which are administered in the following order: One essay question, and 30 minutes of writing.
There is one prompt or problem in this section that needs a written response or justification.
Is the PCAT on paper or computer?
The test is divided into five sections and has 192 multiple-choice questions and one writing subject.
The exam lasts roughly four hours, with a quick break provided in the middle. A computer-based test (CBT) methodology is used exclusively to administer the PCAT.
What are the steps to becoming a pharmacist?
- Take science courses in college.
- Pass the test for admission to the pharmacy school.
- Obtain a doctorate in pharmacy.
- Develop important skills.
- To practice medicine in your state, apply for a license.
- Obtain the necessary training.
How do I get my pharmacy tech license in MA?
In Massachusetts, pharmacy technicians are subject to regulation. To become licensed and qualified, a candidate must either complete 500 hours of paid work as a pharmacy technician or pass the PTCB or ExCPT exam.
Once finished, an application must be sent to the Massachusetts State Board of Pharmacy along with proof of exam success.
How do I become a certified pharmacy technician in Massachusetts?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) national certification exam or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) are two Board-approved exams that you must have passed in order to become a pharmacy technician in Massachusetts.
Does Massachusetts require pharmacy technicians certified?
A certified pharmacist is directly responsible for overseeing pharmacy technicians at work. They carry
pharmacy-related duties in accordance with legal requirements.
In order to work, pharmacy technicians in Massachusetts must register with the government. What are your thoughts about these pharmacy schools in Massachusetts? Please leave a comment below.