How To Become A Pharmacist In Ohio – The PharmD Degree

Being a pharmacist is a rewarding, fast-paced career that is more than just dispensing medications– it’s being a leader in public human health and its safety. At any crucial time in life, pharmacists have played an intricate role in keeping things in line, so people can receive the complete medical care they need. Doctors, Nurses and pharmacists all work together to bring a patient back to a state of homeostasis. If it weren’t for all three, nothing in a hospital could get done for quality patient care.

Pharmacists work in hospitals, covering the retail sector, including big box stores, popular drug store chains, and private pharmacy clinics. Constituting medicines and ensuring each patient receives the proper medication are top priorities. Still, when you receive your Doctorate in Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), you can catapult your career to scientific research, product development and designing public health and safety guidelines.

Ohio’s Pharmacy Licensing Requirements

Becoming a pharmacist in Ohio can be an easy process if there is accurate information and the right schools are in place to help you succeed. The State of Ohio’s Board of Pharmacy supports and updates its graduates and current pharmacy license holders on the formal requirements of each type of license they issue. Here is a letter they’ve written to potential Ohio pharmacists.

State of Ohio Board Of Pharmacy licensure requirements:

  • Submit fingerprints for the Ohio Board and FBI background checks at the WebCheck provider and must be completed before you can be approved to test
  • Submit an Ohio pharmacist license application 30-days before your graduation date
  • Register for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) to test your competence in drug therapy, dispensing medications and providing drug information
  • Register for the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) to assess your application of laws and regulations to the specific place you’re practicing
  • Graduate from your accredited Pharm.D. program with a letter showing successful completion of 1,740 academic hours
  • Purchase your NAPLEX and MPJE and schedule your exams with Pearson Vue

Average Pharmacist Salary in Ohio

 The number of pharmacists per the population of 11.7 million people shows a well-served area. There are 12,810 licensed pharmacists in Ohio. In addition, the annual mean wage of a pharmacist in Ohio is  $120,580 or $57.97 an hour compared to the national average of $128,50, which is considerably lower than the rest of the states. However, the caveat is that Ohio’s cost of living ranks 17.4% lower than the rest of the country and shows positive future job growth.

Ohio’s In-State Schools With A Pharm.D. Program

Ohio is a state that has many options to take a Pharm.D. program with 6 ACPE accredited campuses, your access to a quality facility is plentiful. Many states in the country barely have one accredited school, so if Ohio has been on your list of places to live, you might consider one of their many options.

University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy

University of CincinnatiJames L. Winkle College of Pharmacy (UC), located in Ohio, touts a small class size, rigorous curriculum and experiential learning. The pharmacy program is community-based, offering peer mentoring and access to direct patient care so that you can explore the many facets of pharmacy in the Greater Cincinnati area. This college is top-rated, and they do show favor towards those that can academically prove themselves. The preferred GPA is a minimum of 3.0, and they like to see that you’ve demonstrated leadership in your school and community.

Taking pre-pharmacy courses at UC gives you an upper hand as it gives you a guaranteed interview if you have a 3.5 GPA, score above 70 on the PCAT and earn a “C” or better in your prerequisite courses. In addition, they mention having an easier transition into pharmacy school because you’re already familiar with UC. If you are transferring, you should speak with admissions to ensure you have the right course equivalents.

Early Assurance Program: The Connections to Pharmacy- Early Assurance Program gives qualified high school seniors a minimum weighted GPA of 3.5 and a minimum ACT score of 26 access to apply for the prestigious pharmacy program.

UC’s graduate program tuition runs $1,221 per credit hour for residential students, and non-residents will pay $1,867 per credit hour. Of course, these figures will not include housing costs, books and fees. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, and their website has a scholarship search function that connects you with money to fund your education.

University of Toledo

University of Toledo (UToledo) gives students a shorter path to earn a Pharm.D. degree in six short years than the typical seven to eight-year course students. They pride themselves on excellent statistical scores and are rated higher than the national average for revered pharmacy programs. Ideally, you’ll spend your first two years on UToledo’s Main Campus to immerse yourself in student life. Then you’ll spend the next four years at the professional Health Sciences Campus.

Pathways To A Pharm.D. at UToledo

  • Contingent Admission- qualified high school seniors are offered direct access to attend their first two years. You must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and provide an essay of your goals and intentions for the program and a phone interview. International Students will need to provide a TOEFL score.
  • Early Admission- high school students who have completed one year at UToledo that did not receive contingent admission will be admitted into the Pharmacy program. A GPA of 3.75 or higher in Science is required, and a comprehensive interview will be performed.
  • Traditional- Any college student who meets the admission requirements may apply to the program after two years of prerequisite coursework.

Tuition at UToledo runs $8,019.84 for Fall and Spring in-state students, while out-of-state residents pay $13,589. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, so don’t hesitate to jump on your FAFSA application to see what scholarships and grants you can use toward tuition.

Ohio’s Online Schools With A Pharm.D. Program

Finding an accredited college online is difficult. Most schools are scrambling to ask for accreditation as the world changes the way it likes to learn. However, there is one school you can apply for where you can release the worry of the program not being approved like you will with most of the Pharm.D. programs marketed to potential students.

St. John Fisher College

In partnership with Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, New York, houses a highly regarded pharmacy program cultivated by St. John Fisher College. This program has utilized the past 16 years to get ahead of the game, providing state-of-the-art learning flexibility with their online doctoral degree. The environments they inspire are all-inclusive, engaging and embrace many different learning styles. 

Highlights of attending St. John Fisher College’s Pharm.D. program

  • ACPE Accreditation: St. John Fisher College’s Doctorate of Pharmacy program offered online is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
  • Experience: You will have over 2,000 hours of clinical study and hands-on patient care, giving you more than 11 clinical rotations and a jump start on your career.
  • Testing: You won’t need to take the PCAT.
  • Employment Rate: It’s reported that 100% of students are currently employed.
  • Technology: Round-the-clock technical support plus course recordings for class flexibility and easy scheduling.
  • Learning Style: One of the first ACPE accredited schools to have an online Pharm.D. program.

St. John Fisher College tries to prepare its students for an educational investment which is why it’s wise to check out their Cost of Attendance Worksheet, as it helps you plan to make a comfortable, stress-free life for yourself while you attend school. Instead of charging students one large lump sum every year, you can expect to pay $1,130 per credit hour, which is comparable and, a lot of times, lower than many top universities in the country. In addition, financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify, so get a head start today.

Basic Admission Requirements for St. John Fisher College

  • Official transcripts sent from your school to show completion of prerequisite courses
  • Grades no lower than a “C.”
  • Two letters of recommendation showing professional competency
  • Admission interviews with faculty or staff can be done virtually or in-person
  • Complete 62 semester hours of prerequisite courses
  • Background Check
  • International applicants must submit TOEFL scores

Having the flexibility of taking classes when making and making your daily schedule fit around your unique lifestyle. St. Eless and St. John Fisher College make it easy to achieve that from the comfort of your own home by obtaining your Pharm.D. Get a jump start on your plans and apply for St. John Fisher College’s Pharm.D. program.

Planning Your New Career As A Pharmacist

As the world continues to change, so too is how we learn and take on information. Obtaining your degree in person at a University campus can be highly rewarding, giving you experiences you may not have otherwise. However, the list of options for obtaining a Doctorate in Pharmacy continues to grow as new schools apply for accreditation, and more online options begin to pour in.

College Listings