online pharmd degree programs in Arizona

Becoming a pharmacist is a rewarding career that takes effort and dedication. However, it comes with specific degree requirements, mainly the PharmD. The PharmD is a six-year program that grants you the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. This program increases your earning potential and allows you to open a franchise or work for yourself. In Arizona, there are currently 7,000 people employed in this rewarding field.

Average Pharmacist Salary in Arizona

Overall, pharmacists can enjoy a lucrative, fast-paced career and enhance their quality of life. The average mean salary for a pharmacist in Arizona is 120,880. Comparatively, the national average is $128,570. Arizona is a leading state when it comes to matching the national average. The cost of living is slightly higher than the U.S. average due to its recent growth in popularity.

Arizona Requirements for Pharmacists

According to the Pharmacy Board of Arizona, there are a few ways you can obtain a license in the state. After schooling, you may take the licensor examination, and once passed, the board then approves it for pharmacists. However, the board may also license a pharmacist without the licensure examination if someone already holds a board-approved license from another jurisdiction.

Becoming a New Pharmacist

Arizona requires that everyone become licensed to become a pharmacist to maintain legality and keep would-be pharmacists up-to-date to sustain public trust. To do so, it imposes the following requirements:

Providing a transcript from an approved college of pharmacy
Passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
Clearing a background and fingerprint check

After you have passed all the necessary tests, you will finalize the process by filling out your application for licensing and paying the required fees to be considered for approval.

Transferring Your License from Another State

If you’re a licensed pharmacist in another jurisdiction or state, you can transfer it to Arizona after meeting the below requirements:

Obtain a license by taking the NAPLEX exam
Have a driver’s license in good standing in the original state of licensure
Passing a board-approved jurisprudence examination
Being a U.S citizen or permanent resident (green card) or valid U.S. passport.

If you are a foreign transfer student, 1500 hours of internship is required

Schools that Offer PharmD in Arizona

To obtain your PharmD in Arizona, there are two accredited schools to choose from that are reasonably priced, especially if attending school in person is essential to you. The significant difference between the two is the number of different programs associated with pharmacy. Midwestern University- Glendale, located in Glendale, AZ, offers one program, a doctorate in pharmacy. The second school, the University of Arizona, has two campuses in Tucson and Phoenix and offers an array of degrees in pharmacy research and clinical study, all the way to being a Master of Public Health.

Midwestern University

The College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus is a college that offers an accredited year around the three-year program, and it prepares students for entry into the pharmacy profession. Students should fill out their applications before May 1st because intake into the program begins in June with a small class size of 133 students, and you are strongly encouraged to apply early.

Statistics Midwestern University prides itself on its 90% Graduation Rate for students who participate in the program and an impressive 88.57% First Time Pass Rate on NAPLEX.

On-Campus tuition costs at Midwestern University are not the only financial consideration you will have to make. Costs vary from year to year. However, all three years will cost you 64,334 in paid tuition. Below is a small list of costs to consider fitting into your budget for this three-year program every semester.

Lab/Technology Fee ($300)
Annual service fee ($702)
Travel ($300)

The Dual Acceptance Program is the easiest way of keeping costs low. It’s the process of planning early by attending a school that is an affiliated college or university and then transferring to Midwestern University’s College of Pharmacy to finish the rest of your three-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.

General Requirements to enroll in Midwestern University’s Pharmacy

Two years of prerequisite coursework
Preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
Preferred minimum science GPA of 2.50
GPA lower than 2.75, a Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) will be administered.

If you’re interested in attending Midwestern University, visit them here to learn more about enrollment options and eligibility.

Arizona University – R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

A top-ranked program by U.S. News and World Report, Arizona University’s PharmD curriculum provides above the national average placement into residency programs. In addition, you can choose from two locations to take your PharmD, Tucson and Phoenix.

The University of Arizona (UA) College of Pharmacy offers an Early Assurance Program for high school students, which allows them advanced admission into the PharmD program. While this is a fast-track initiative, it’s not for every student and is a highly structured and rigorous program with a detailed list of application review processes before acceptance.

Regular admission requirements for students not in the Early Assurance Program can be found here. The deadline to be considered for scholarships falls in early December for Fall class participation, so being on top of your dates is crucial if you want to be a part of this highly valued competitive program.

Prerequisites for the program include 62 units of prerequisite course work from an accredited college or university. Registration for courses to receive financial aid must have 90 units by July 1^st to be considered for loan eligibility. There are courses in science such as anatomy and Physiology and non-science requirements like statistics and English composition.

To be admitted into the program, there are additional non-academic essential qualifications to apply for the PharmD program:

Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
Expanded Immunization requirements
Certification that you can complete the required coursework without any accommodation.

Schools That Offer Online PharmD Programs

There is another approach when attending school to get your Doctorate in Pharmacy, and online schools are an excellent option for those who prefer distance learning, have a busy schedule, or need to move at their own pace.

Creighton University

Creighton University’s School of Pharmacy gives you the freedom to choose what works best for your lifestyle. Students of Creighton University can attend different Pathways to receive a degree, such as:

The Omaha Pathway is a full-time traditional campus setting for full-time students.
The Distance Pathway was created in 2001 and was the first accredited method to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy degree entirely online, with interactions occurring through conferencing and other media.
The Phoenix Hybrid Pathway, where students can now attend a state-of-the-art, high-tech facility in partnership with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Valleywise Health. They help underserved communities and give students an entry-level position to serve populations in AZ.

Tuition for a PharmD at Creighton University is $38,514 for years one-three and $58,318 for year four. However, tuition isn’t the only expenditure you need to budget for. Below are a few additional fees you’ll need to consider, which will bring your yearly total to roughly $63,662. In addition, financial aid might be required.

Living Allowance ($16,200)
Program Fee ($255)
Lab Fee ($300)
Travel ($1,300)
Books/Supplies ($2,068)
Health Insurance Loan Fees ($3,300)
Loan Fee’s ($1,600)

If you’re interested in an online or hybrid distance learning option, Creighton University may be the place to consider, so apply online. Preferred deadlines are in November for the following year, and the cycle opens mid-summer. Stay on track with these important dates so you don’t miss your enrollment chance.

St. John Fisher College

Another online option for those needing more flexibility is to attend St. John Fisher College to attain their PharmD degree. St. John Fisher is based in New York and prides itself on offering a completely comprehensive online PharmD program without the need for hybrid options.

While there are no dual degree options for eager high school students to get a head start, they offer more when it comes to hands-on experience, with 11 clinical rotations totaling 2,000 clinical hours and a healthy 151 credits. Students who graduate from St. John Fisher College come out of school with much experience.

The total cost for the program is $181,337, and you can expect to pay $1,130 per credit hour. You’ll still need to budget and consider expenses associated with living, room & board, clinicals, travel, and books.

Financial aid is offered to those who apply and qualify.

Admission requirements are still rigorous with online programs, so create a checklist for GPA and course hours. Courses students will be required to take range from biology, English, and economics to humanities to give a well-rounded education. If St. John Fisher College feels like the right school for you, don’t hesitate to apply.

Starting Your Rewarding Pharmacy Career

The four options covered give you a complete picture of the steps you need to take to get your PharmD in Arizona. However, remember that while many admission requirements are the same across the board in terms of credits and testing, there are still specific requirements you need to watch out for with each school.

The most economical option for Arizona students is the University of Arizona, as they offer many more scholarship opportunities and bridges to accelerate the program. However, out-of-state students suffer the burden of slightly inflated costs. While the online options are a little more on the pricy side, the upside is that there is more flexibility with the schedule.

Becoming a PharmD in Arizona is a rewarding career with room for advancing yourself in the workplace or the potential to start your own business.