Welcome to the Pre-Pharmacy Program

Description:

Iowa Western Community College offers the Pre-Pharmacy program to prepare students to transfer into a professional school of pharmacy. Iowa Western graduates will have acquired a broad foundation of knowledge in the sciences with an emphasis in advanced biology and chemistry. Graduates of this program are awarded an Associate in Science degree.

Although members of the Biological Sciences department make every effort to consult with various colleges and universities regarding transfer requirements, students are encouraged to consult catalogs, web sites and advisors at their chosen four-year institution during their freshman year.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the college is granted to all individuals who are high school graduates or the equivalent; however, some programs may require additional information for acceptance. We encourage you to review our Getting Started Checklist for specific requirements for admission.

Pharmacy School

Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee as well as the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).

The Pharm.D. program is a 4-year program. Some students go on to earn other graduate degrees in pharmaceutical sciences.

A license to practice pharmacy is required in all states. To obtain a license, the prospective pharmacist must graduate from a college of pharmacy that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and pass an examination. All States require the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), which tests pharmacy skills and knowledge, and 43 states and the District of Columbia require the Multi-State Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests pharmacy law.

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor and Statistics, most pharmacists work in community pharmacies that are either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, supermarket, department store, or mass merchandiser. Less than 25% work in hospitals. Other pharmacy job opportunities are found in clinics, mail-order pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, home health care agencies and research.

Scholarship Information

Iowa Western Community College has many scholarship opportunities available for new and continuing students. We encourage you to take a moment to explore these options by visiting our Scholarship Page - the few minutes it takes to fill out the application may literally pay off.