Hope1974 Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Hello. I graduated in 2011 with a PharmD. It's difficult to find a job as a pharmacist, due to the number of pharmacy schools we have now, and that continue to open. I'm considering PA school as a backup/career switch. I've searched for 1 year PA programs. Are there any programs you know of that are faster than 2 years? And, how is the PA market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benm93 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 or... you could move to a state where you can prescribe as a pharmacist. In NC you can if you do a residency, certificate program, etc to become a CPP (pharmacist practitioner) and you have similar scope as a PA/NP. Look into it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted February 25, 2013 Administrator Share Posted February 25, 2013 A1: You need to do more research into what PA school entails. A2: Go away, troll. Pick whichever answer suits you best. Or choose both of them if they both apply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benm93 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 and not saying it applies to all pharmacists, but the majority complain about the pt contact involved with giving a flu shot. Most of them are not cut out for being a PA. very different roles. If you are worried about jobs in the retail pharmacy market, do a residency and look into getting a hospital gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neurosurg PA-C Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I have not heard of any programs which are faster than 2 years. By the time you would complete a program you should definitely find something as a PharmD. If you have a overachieving personality and decide to become a PA, you would obviously be very marketable especially in certain fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicinePower Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 If you went to PA school you would dance through the pharmacology education with out having a crack a book. OK, maybe you'd have to crack it once or twice. Your knowledge of human physiology and medicine is expansive, so going PA would be simple. I know of no accelerated PA programs. Even if you are a foreign-trained MD (who lacks a US medical license) you cannot accelerate through PA school. Sorry, but them's the breaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 3 posters above really have little idea what they are talking about... It ain't Rev Ronin... Do some research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Stanford is less than 2 years. It's 21 mos now IIRC. YOU WILL NEED A LOT OF HCE beyond Pharmacy school rotations. ETA: faster not necessarily = easier.... Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsfelder0417 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 2 years for PA school is intense as it is. No way PA school could be condensed into 1 year. There is also no way you are going to gain admission telling ADCOMS that PA school is just a 'back up' career. This is an intense and competitive field to get into. Even as a PharmD you are not going to just waltz in one day and become a PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Savage Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 There are a few Pharm-D/PA combined programs (UW has one!) But you would have to build a time machine and go back to the last bit of your second year of pharm school. Sorry 21-32 months is the range for PA school for anyone... even my FMG neurosurgeon Classmate who could not get a US residency and could not remain (alive) in his native country... so his PA school was just as long as mine. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koppma Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Check this link out. It will tell you how long each program is. http://www.thepalife.com/physician-assistant-program-tuition-and-costs-estimated/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thepalife+%28The+Physician+Assistant+Life%29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallant Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 I am a pharmacist who has practiced in a clinical setting for several years as part of a health care team. I am also looking at attending Physician Assistant School, but I hardly see it as a "fallback." I'd give careful consideration as to why you are looking to make this change. I can sympathize with the oversaturation of the pharmacist market, but running to another career to "escape" is insulting to those who pursue the PA career with great passion and dedication to patient care. If an admission committee gets wind of your thoughts on a PA career as "fallback" you will have no chance for admission. Please be respectful of our fellow health care workers. We all work for the patient and we are all crucial to optimum care. A pharmacist can certainly bring a necessary skill set with him/her to PA school, but you still have to have the hunger to work as PA and understand what a PA does. Good luck. I know its rough out there for pharmacists. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBanner Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 4 year old thread, just fyi. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starbuck Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 On 2/24/2013 at 4:23 PM, rev ronin said: A1: You need to do more research into what PA school entails. A2: Go away, troll. Pick whichever answer suits you best. Or choose both of them if they both apply. why did you call him a troll for asking for help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starbuck Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 I am a Pharmacist as well with over 20 years of experience--15 years as a clinical pharmacist in busy hospitals and 4 years owning my own pharmacy. What I love about the PA profession is that you can work directly with patients which is missing from a Pharmacist career. I wish to become a PA and a 2 year program would be perfect. My question relates to UC Davis: will I have to take any pre-reqs or can I just apply to the program? I appreciate everyone's time and commitment to the PA career. Quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted April 6, 2021 Administrator Share Posted April 6, 2021 2 hours ago, starbuck said: why did you call him a troll for asking for help? Why did you respond to an 8 year old post? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkertdm Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 Just because I work “in the medical field” doesn’t mean I can skip whole years of an entire disciplines training. I’m a PA, can I skip the pre-reqs and first year of pharm school? No? How about PT school? Nursing school? Vet school? Don’t let the term “midlevel” or “assistant” fool you. Our training is no less (and no more) of a skilled highly trained profession than any other. Think about this: an electrician knows a lot about wiring. She might (and no doubt does) know a bit more than the average Joe about general construction. But I certainly wouldn’t let her start building houses, because there’s a lot of extra stuff in there. Also, I’ve know some clinical pharmacists who could give me an ebm, well written summary of statins or blood pressure meds…I’ve also known some I wouldn’t trust to give me dosing on Tylenol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAAdmission Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 3 hours ago, starbuck said: What I love about the PA profession is that you can work directly with patients That can be a blessing or a curse. The only worse people than patients are hospital administrators. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cideous Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 5 hours ago, CJAadmission said: That can be a blessing or a curse. The only worse people than patients are hospital administrators. LOL truth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotherperson Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 On 2/24/2013 at 10:44 PM, Joelseff said: Stanford is less than 2 years. It's 21 mos now IIRC. YOU WILL NEED A LOT OF HCE beyond Pharmacy school rotations. ETA: faster not necessarily = easier.... Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk I think Stanford switched to a 3 year program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, justanotherperson said: I think Stanford switched to a 3 year program Yup in 2018. I posted that in 2013 when it was 18 months and they were contemplating a 21 month program. Now its 3 years and you get a Masters. Edited April 16, 2021 by Joelseff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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