Getting Your PharmD: How Long is Pharmacy School?
Start your career faster with Pacific’s flexible pharmacy degree pathways.
Tour campus, talk to current students and faculty, and learn what it means to get your pharmacy degree at Pacific's School of Pharmacy Community Days this spring! Expert admissions counselors are available to help you craft that perfect pharmacy school application.
Opening doors to high-paying careers in medical research, community healthcare, and specializations in everything from LGBTQ+ issues to public health, a doctorate in pharmacy is ideal for those who want to make a tangible difference in the lives of those seeking care.
While not requiring as much time investment as medical school, the amount of time it takes to become a pharmacist can be intimidating for many considering the career.
However, new flexible pharmacy school programs—like those at Pacific—are available, providing both accelerated and extended pathways that allow you to take on a doctorate in pharmacy at the tempo that fits your schedule.
Attending pharmacy school is a big commitment, but how many years does it take to become a pharmacist? Let’s dive in.
How Long is Traditional Pharmacy School?
Normally, pharmacy school takes four years to complete, not including participation in optional internships or residencies.
Students who elect to pursue pharmacy residency programs can expect to add up to two more years to their education before beginning their career.
Many four-year pharmacy programs observe a period of no classes during summer, which allows students to pursue internship and observation opportunities.
Generally, pharmacy schooling cannot be sped up by an applicant's previous graduate or undergraduate degrees in related disciplines such as biology, chemistry, or associated healthcare pathways.
Can I Get My Pharmacy Degree Faster?
Absolutely!
Pacific is one of only a handful of schools to offer an accelerated three-year pharmacy degree option that can get you into your career faster.
Enabling doctorate in pharmacy graduates to enter the workforce one year earlier than most, the accelerated pathway allows you to quickly begin earning at a high level—pharmacists can earn up to $130,000—relatively soon after graduating.
Can I Attend Pharmacy School Part-Time?
Designed for working professionals who want to take the next step in their healthcare career, Pacific’s extended five-year PharmD pathway makes pharmacy school more accessible to more people.
This unique pathway empowers pharmacy students by letting them:
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Remain employed. Because the course load is spread out over more time for the five-year pathway, students can keep some amount of employment, allowing them to earn money while in school.
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Attend to family. Whether caring for small children, a loved one, or relatives, Pacific’s extended pathway doesn’t force you to be on campus full time, letting you spend more time with those close to you.
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Pursue dual-degrees. An education in pharmacy pairs well with joint-degrees in pharmaceutical science and also the healthcare management MBA, and the added time in Pacific’s extended pathway can enable you to explore them.
Do I Need Four Years of Undergrad to Apply to PharmD Programs?
Many pharmacist degree programs require the successful completion of an undergraduate degree, which can add at least four years to your education.
At Pacific, though, we primarily value the completion of prerequisite classes, so a bachelor’s degree is not required.
This means that, as long as you have taken the necessary courses in math, science, and humanities, you don’t need to spend extra time to complete a degree path.
Whether you complete these prerequisites at a local community college, through online school, or as night classes, you are qualified to apply and succeed in pharmacy school.
Applications for Pacific’s extended and accelerated PharmD pathways open this fall through PharmCAS! Take the time you need to get your materials ready with our rolling admissions deadline.