How to Become a Pharmacologist

Getting the Appropriate Education

Earn a bachelor's degree in a related discipline. You can get a bachelor's degree in pharmacology, but many pharmacologists have bachelor's degrees in other scientific disciplines, such as biology and chemistry. 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.

Work an internship as a student. Internships can help you get hands-on experience in the pharmacology profession. You'll also get the opportunity to network with pharmacologists and find out what interests you most about the discipline. 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.

Choose a specialty. Drugs are used in many different areas of medicine, and for many different reasons. Most pharmacologists specialize in a narrower area so they can gain more in-depth knowledge. 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.

Supplement your science education with business courses. If you think you might want to work in pharmaceutical sales or management at some point in your pharmacology career, business and marketing classes may be beneficial. 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.

Consider a master's degree. You need a graduate degree if you want to work in pharmacology, but whether you need a master's degree depends on which educational path you choose. 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.

Get a Ph.D. or an M.D. Regardless of whether you decide to get a master's degree, you'll need a doctorate or medical degree to work as a certified pharmacologist. Choose the Ph.D. route if you want to work as a professor at a university. 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.

Completing Your Residency

Visit the website of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology (ABCP). If you want to work in the U.S., you can find a listing of residency and fellowship programs on the ABCP website, as well as tips for becoming a successful pharmacologist. If you live outside the United States, look for a similar professional board to find residency or fellowship opportunities in pharmacology.

Find an accredited program. To get the proper credit for your residency or fellowship training, the program typically must be accredited by a national medical board. Check the accreditation of any programs that spark your interest. 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.

Apply for a residency in your specialty. Once you've chosen programs that interest you, complete the application process. Typically you'll need to send full transcripts and reference letters in addition to the application form. 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.

Apply for additional fellowship training. After you've finished your residency, you may want to complete fellowship training to gain further experience in your chosen specialty. Fellowship training also may be necessary if you want to be certified in a particular specialty. 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.

Earn certification. After you satisfactorily complete your residency and any other training programs, you may have additional testing before you have the licenses or certifications you need to work as a pharmacologist. 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.

Finding Your Job

Take advantage of any resources at your school. Some pharmacology departments have placement programs that will help you find a job after graduation. Even if your school doesn't have a placement program, it probably has other career services you can use. 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.

Use online job boards. Professional societies, such as the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), often have job boards that list open positions in pharmacology. 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.

Check academic job boards. If you want to be a professor or work as a researcher for a university, check websites that focus on faculty positions listed by universities. You can also search openings posted by individual universities on their websites. 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.

Build a network of contacts in the field. As you complete your education and training, make a point to seek out and talk to pharmacologists who already have several years' experience. They can help you find your path in the industry. 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.

Consider alternative careers. Even though you may have your heart set on being a pharmacologist, there are many other opportunities available for someone who has a degree in pharmacology. 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.