The principles used in pharmacology overlap with those in many different biomedical sciences, so choose the major that most interests you and matches your particular skills and abilities. Requirements to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program may differ depending on the university. Typically you need to show demonstrated aptitude and ability in science classes such as biology and chemistry.
Once you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to get an entry-level job as a lab assistant, typically at a university research facility.
For example, if you love animals and want to study the effects of medications on treating animal diseases and conditions, you might decide to go into veterinary pharmacology. Generally speaking, you’ll want clinical pharmacology if you want to study the effects of drugs on the human body, and neuropharmacology if you want to study the effects of drugs on the human brain and nervous system.
Think in terms of the skills and knowledge you’ll need to do the work you want to do. It may be easier for you to get that education and training while you’re still in school than it will be after you’ve graduated.
If you’re planning on getting a Ph. D. in pharmacology, you’ll have to get a master’s degree first. However, you can get a professional degree, such as an M. D. or a Pharm. D. , straight out of undergrad. Even if you don’t have to get a master’s degree, it might help depending on what you want your specialty to be. For example, a master’s in public health could be beneficial if you want to work as a pharmacologist for the government.
Which educational path you choose also depends on how long you want to be in school (and how long you can afford to be in school). While you should expect to spend between 10 and 12 years in school after you graduate from high school, getting a bachelor’s degree and then an M. D. would take you the least amount of time.
If you live outside the United States, look for a similar professional board to find residency or fellowship opportunities in pharmacology.
Read up on the programs and their reputations before you commit to any particular one. Find the program that you think will best prepare you for the career you want in your particular specialty. You also want to pay attention to location. If you already know where you want to live and work, it makes sense to do your residency there.
Most residency programs will want to have an in-person interview with you before they admit you into the program. Start the application process as early as possible so you have plenty of time to interview, especially if you have other demands on your time. Residency programs typically last two or three years, depending on your specialty. Some may last as long as four years.
To find fellowship training programs, look on the website of your national medical board. You can also talk to pharmacologists you know to find out what they recommend. Fellowship training typically takes an additional one to two years beyond your residency.
Some countries may require licensing if you want to practice as a pharmacologist. You may have to take skills or knowledge tests. You typically have to pay a fee and prove you meet the eligibility requirements (such as education), as well as a background test. Even if you aren’t required to be licensed, certifications can increase your job prospects, particularly in narrow specialties. In addition to certifications, membership in professional societies and organizations will help you keep up-to-date with trends in pharmacology as well as giving you the opportunity to network with other pharmacologists.
Check with your school so that you can exhaust all the free services available to you before you start subscribing to job boards and employment services, which can get expensive.
You can access most of these job boards for free. Some of them may have a fee or may require you to register first. Some professional societies may only provide access to job boards to members.
There are several job boards that concentrate on university faculty and research positions. Try sciencecareers. org, which is run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Keep in touch with pharmacologists whose career paths mirror the one you have planned. They can give you tips and warn you about mistakes they made along the way.
Your best prospects are in other scientific fields as a scientist, writer, or researcher. You also have the option of teaching in the medical field. Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sales jobs may be available to you both for work while you’re a student and while you’re looking for the ideal pharmacologist position.
