Prospective pharmacy students must to be mentally prepared to take part in an admissions process into the pharmacy schools in New Jersey that are highly selective and difficult.
Making the decision to pursue a career as a pharmacist is a significant choice that calls for a significant investment of time, effort, and preparation.
Before you make the decision to go to pharmacy school, you should first determine if this is a field that interests you by conducting research, gaining observational experience, and immersing yourself in the profession in whatever capacity is available to you.
Within the United States, pharmacy schools and universities can submit their applications to PharmCAS, which is a consolidated application process.
During the application round that took place in 2020-2021, there were 153 colleges and schools of pharmacy that took part in PharmCAS.
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In order to pursue a career as a pharmacist, what type of education is necessary?
In order to work as a pharmacist, one needs to have earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
A significant number of individuals begin their studies for the doctor of pharmacy degree after having completed only two or three years of undergraduate education.
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If you are interested in applying to a Pharm.D. program, you should search for one that has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Pay close attention to your performance in the required courses for your undergraduate degree, such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology, biology, calculus, and statistics. You should strive to earn high grades in these subjects.
In order to be considered for admission to Pharm.D. programs, candidates need to first take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). The PCAT is composed of seven distinct subtests that examine a candidate’s aptitude in the areas of writing, verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, as well as knowledge of biology and chemistry.
Pharm.D. programs require their students to complete coursework in a variety of academic areas, including the following:
- Chemistry applied to the development and study of pharmaceuticals is referred to as pharmaceutical chemistry.
- The study of pharmaceuticals that are derived from animals and plants is known as pharmacognosy.
- Pharmacology refers to the scientific study of how various medications affect the human body.
Pharm.D. programs also place an emphasis on the practice of pharmacy, which includes advising patients and dispensing medication, as well as the fundamentals of running a business.
Knowledge of accounting, merchandising, and legal issues can be useful for pharmacists because they are frequently responsible for managing a staff of technicians and may eventually open their own pharmacies. Since pharmacists are frequently responsible for managing a staff of technicians.
Students in pharmacy programs are required to conduct a significant amount of clinical training in a range of settings, including compounding pharmacies, community pharmacies, and hospital pharmacies.
They are also required to complete long-term clinical rotations in institutions such as hospitals, physician offices, and pharmaceutical businesses near the end of their respective studies.
Students get the opportunity to work directly with patients, physicians and other healthcare professionals, as well as pharmacists who work in industry and research when they participate in clinical rotations.
Pharmacy schools in New Jersey
As of the year 2020, the state will be home to 9,830 working pharmacists who bring in an annual pay of 124,690 dollars, on average.
The future is not looking very bright for pharmacists working in the state of New Jersey. In spite of the growing need for prescription medications, the state is experiencing a loss of career opportunities for pharmacists due to the consolidation of pharmacies, which results in a reduction in the number of available pharmacy positions.
It is necessary to graduate from one of the two pharmacy schools in the state with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in order to become a licensed pharmacist in the state.
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We have ranked the pharmacy schools in New Jersey based on their performance on the NAPLEX to assist you in obtaining the most beneficial educational experience possible from the limited options available.
Our Ranking Methodology
Our primary criterion for ranking the New Jersey pharmacy schools was how well each school did on the NAPLEX examination.
In order to become a licensed pharmacist, passing the licensure exam is a necessary and significant step along the way.
A strong showing on the NAPLEX is a strong indicator of a school’s favorable educational outcome, which may be achieved by providing a learning environment that is conducive to learning and robust academic support provided by the school’s personnel.
Every school in the state received a comprehensive score based on its NAPLEX performance during the past four years, with 40% of the weight going to the year 2020, 30% to 2019, 20% to 2018, and 10% to 2017.
2022 Ranking of ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Schools in New Jersey
See below for top pharmacy schools in New Jersey;
#1. Rutgers University
Ranking Score: 89.49%
Location: New Brunswick
Accreditation: ACPE
About the College: The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (EMSOP), which is affiliated with Rutgers University, is dedicated to making significant contributions to the fields of science and pharmacy through the implementation of forward-thinking research-oriented laboratories and pedagogical practices in its academic programs.
The Emergency Medical Services Occupational Program has access to more than 1,800 clinical practice sites, giving its students the nation’s most extensive practical experience possible.
Information Regarding the Program EMSOP offers one of the PharmD programs in New Jersey that places the greatest emphasis on research.
This program also provides student pharmacists with the most advanced laboratory equipment and instructive classrooms.
After successfully completing the two-year pre-professional course, you will be able to enroll in this four-year PharmD program without any problems.
During this program, your coursework will be broken up into three years of patient-focused and result-oriented studies in pharmacy, as well as an introductory level of practical experience in practice settings; your final year of coursework will be devoted to advanced level pharmacy practices.
*EMSOP also provides students with the opportunity to earn a dual degree in addition to their PharmD: PharmD/MD, PharmD/MPH, PharmD/MBA, and PharmD/PhD.
#2. Fairleigh Dickinson University
Ranking Score: 83.41%
Location: Madison
Accreditation: ACPE
About the College: One of the most reputable pharmacy schools in New Jersey is Fairleigh Dickinson University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Science.
It is one of the few institutions in the state that provides students with the opportunity to earn a PharmD degree in addition to another degree in a specialized field of study.
This highly skilled teaching staff at this private school is responsible for providing a quality education to their students by utilizing the most advanced educational platforms and clinical tools available.
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Program Details: The curriculum of the 4-year PharmD program at Fairleigh’s school of pharmacy was established with creative learning solutions, and it was amalgamated with the most recent technology, worldwide standards, and a determined effort to advance the healthcare profession.
The academic work that must be completed during the first three years of professional training is split into two semesters, one in the fall and one in the spring. This coursework must cover foundational topics such as pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, integrated pharmacotherapy, and other pertinent topics.
During these same three years, you will also get the opportunity to participate in several fundamental pharmacy practice experiences. During the last and most important year of the program, you will complete a capstone project in pharmacy and get advanced training in five different practice settings.
Licensure – Passing the NAPLEX and MPJE in New Jersey
To become a licensed pharmacist in New Jersey, you must first apply to the state board. Thereafter, purchase the NAPLEX as well as MPJE from the NABP site. Take and pass both these exams to earn your status as a licensed pharmacist.
New Jersey Pharm.D. Graduates NAPLEX Performance (2017-2020)
When compared to other major states over the past four years, the number of pharmacy graduates from New Jersey who have taken the NAPLEX has been significantly lower.
Only 253 graduates were successful in passing the NAPLEX with an overall score of 80.07 percent in 2017. On the other hand, there were 216 people who graduated in 2020, but their performance has improved, as evidenced by the fact that they passed the exam with an above-average aggregate score of 84.40%.
Pharmacist Salary in in New Jersey
The average yearly pay for a pharmacist in the state of New Jersey is $124,690, which is much less than the national average compensation of $125,460 for pharmacists.
Also, the annual salary for part-time pharmacists in the state is $59.95, which is again lower than the national hourly average of $60.32 for full-time pharmacists.
Type: Salary
Hourly $59.95
Monthly: $10,390
Annual: $124,690
Pharmacist Job Outlook in New Jersey
In any case, New Jersey is one of the few states in the country where the job growth rate for pharmacists is among the lowest.
When looking at a period of 10 years, from 2018 to 2028, it is expected that the growth rate for jobs for pharmacists in the state would be at a dismal 2.83% in negative, which is significantly lower than the national growth rate of 2.14% in negative for the same time period.
By the year 2028, there will be 9,270 people working in the state’s pharmacies. There will be 400 employment openings available in the state each year, including new roles as well as positions to replace those that have been eliminated.
FAQs
- How many pharmacy schools are in NJ?
There are currently 2 schools in the state of New Jersey that offer the PharmD that are recognized as ACPE-accredited.
- How do I become a pharmacist in NJ?
To qualify for licensure in the state of New Jersey, the applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy, must have completed a sufficient amount of time in an approved experience program, and must have passed both the state Board of Pharmacy Licensure Examination and the Multistate Jurisprudence
- What is a good GPA for pharmacy school?
3.0
Most pharmacy programs prefer a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and commonly require a minimum “C” letter grade in required pre-requisite courses. If accessible, take pharmaceutical science related courses and try your best to do well.
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.