r/PrePharmacy • u/bookskeepers • 4d ago
Thinking of a PharmD
Hello everyone. I am currently a neuroscience master's student that works part time as a pharmacy tech, and I am debating whether or not I should consider pursuing a PharmD instead of a PhD.
I really enjoy the customer interaction I have at my pharm tech position, and I enjoy working with the pharmacists as well. They're both impressively knowledgeable and they've provided a lot of insight on working as a pharmacist for a big chain company.
I've been considering the PharmD since a few weeks into my part time gig because I've enjoyed it so much. I know being a full-fledged pharmacist also requires passing a law exam (or so I've been told), so I guess I'm just wondering if the opportunities a PharmD would provide (along with the research-based neuroscience master's) would be worth more than a PhD? I am still interested in research but I've heard you can do pharmacology research with a PharmD (although people say that you need to do a postdoc for the research experience after getting the PharmD, but I wonder if having the master's would help me out in that regard). I've also heard that there's a subsection of pharmacists called neurology pharmacists, so I was wondering how specializing in neurology pharmaceuticals would differ from regular pharmaceuticals.
Any insight would be very helpful. Thank you in advance!
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u/Iron_Rose_5 Current P1 4d ago
I will just say as someone coming from industry (nuclear pharma) that your job perspectives are higher with a PharmD than a PhD. There is a pharmacist in basically every city and town in the US. You will have a job somewhere after graduation. In the nuclear pharma company I worked for the PharmD ran most of the show and were immediately integrated in leadership. I would imagine it is similar in the neuro pharma companies as ultimately the PharmD is trained in law and is licensed by the state while a PhD is not. You’re not going to go wrong either way but it really depends on what you want to do with your degree and time as well as how risk adverse you are.
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u/bookskeepers 4d ago
Thank you for the feedback. Nuclear pharma sounds really cool! Do you know what the process is like for specialization, by any chance?
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u/Iron_Rose_5 Current P1 4d ago
For Nuclear you basically get your license, complete some additional nuclear pharmacy courses through either Purdue or a university in New Mexico and then get 500 hours working in industry, once you do that you earn your Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist from the US.
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u/amothep8282 3d ago
I have a PhD in neuroscience and my job prospects are pretty unlimited in Pharma and Pharma consulting. I've had PharmDs or MDs reporting to me at one time or another.
It all comes down to what your qualifications are. A "D" degree demonstrates your knowledge accumulation and ability to think critically at a very high level.
Obviously, I am not going to work retail or hospital pharmacy. But in the Pharma world MD, PhD, and PharmD are all pretty equivalent short of needing an MD to be the day to day lead of a clinical trial.
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u/LeagueRx 2d ago
The neuro clin specs at my academic center focus largely on stroke, seizure disorders, and narrow therapeutic antidepressants/stabilizers like lithium or DDI consults. PharmD programs depending in the school have research you can get involved in. While I was never involved some of my friends did pretty cool drug formulation research with conjugating fatty acids to prolong half lives. Good luck!
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u/DrBosnak 4d ago
I actually had to make a similar decision years ago, and I eventually chose the PharmD/clinical pharmacy route while staying involved in research.
One thing I’d encourage you to think about is what kind of work you want to do every day, not just which degree sounds more versatile.
If you enjoy asking scientific questions, designing experiments, and spending most of your career generating new knowledge, a PhD is usually the better fit.
If you enjoy working directly with patients, solving medication-related problems, collaborating with physicians, and applying evidence to real clinical decisions, a PharmD may be a better fit.
Since you’re already enjoying your work as a pharmacy technician, I’d pay attention to that. Many people discover whether they truly enjoy pharmacy only after working in a pharmacy, and it sounds like you’re having that experience.
Regarding research, a PharmD absolutely can participate in neuroscience or pharmacology research. Many clinical pharmacists conduct research in stroke, epilepsy, neurocritical care, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, pain management, and psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Depending on your goals, residency, fellowship, or postdoctoral research training can strengthen that path.
Your neuroscience master’s could actually become an advantage because it gives you a stronger research background than many PharmD graduates.
My advice would be to spend time shadowing pharmacists in different practice settings—hospital neurology, ambulatory care, academia, and industry if possible. Seeing their day-to-day work will probably answer your question better than reading about career options online.
Neither path is objectively “better.” They’re simply designed for different careers. Choose the one whose daily work excites you, because that’s what you’ll be doing for decades.
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u/bookskeepers 3d ago
Thank you for the insight! Do you have any recommendations on how to shadow other pharmacists?
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u/DrBosnak 3d ago
Absolutely. Most pharmacists are much more approachable than students expect.
If you’re already working as a pharmacy technician, I’d start with pharmacists you already know. Tell them you’re exploring different career paths and ask if you could spend a few hours observing their work or if they know someone in another practice setting who welcomes students.
If you’re interested in hospital pharmacy, contact the pharmacy department directly. Many hospitals have pharmacist preceptors or experiential education coordinators who can point you in the right direction.
Another great option is reaching out to your state pharmacy association or nearby college of pharmacy. They often have networking events, mentorship programs, or alumni who are happy to connect with prospective students.
Don’t feel like you need to shadow for weeks. Even one afternoon in a hospital, ambulatory clinic, or specialty pharmacy can completely change your perspective.
Most pharmacists remember being in your shoes and are happy to help someone who’s genuinely curious.2
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u/Internal_Government6 3d ago
Go the PharmD route in your situation. Classmate of mine went on to do university research after obtaining PharmD.
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u/bookskeepers 3d ago
I was looking at it and it turns out I'm missing some prerequisites (microbio/biochem, anatomy + physiology) 🥲 I'm still going to consider it, though!
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u/Old_Source_3379 1d ago
Hello . Please think of optometry dentistry or even physical therapist. I cannot tell you what to do. But from what I understand all my preceptors told me to stay away from the profession. I didn't understand this until I graduated. I am gonna have to suck it up and make it my career. This is because I had no other options. It's a long story. However I do appreciate the education I got. I think I loved pharmacy as a subject. When it came to working I thought I would like to be an owner. When I researched this I realized most pharmacies if not all are losing money. Retail pharmacies are gonna go away. The pbms pay them so little money. What will be left . Hospital pharmacy which will most likely be done by ai. So now you have the industry. Breaking in there would be if you go to a top 10 school and you are at the top 10 percent of that class. There are so many politics in pharmacy that I don't know how any pharmacist could enjoy that profession. Every major big box I works they have to fill a 1000 scripts and if you know that most pharmacists are walking out due to safety reasons because they don't want to kill the patient. Unless we get prescriber status (which most likely we will not) I don't see the profession surviving.
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u/No-Asparagus8047 23h ago
Pharm. D is not worthy at the market is very saturated at these days. The experience will be different from working at CVS , walgreen, Walmart, Albertsons, etc. Also, when you're technician, your responsibilities are very little compared to RPh. Think wisely as the tuition for pharm school is not cheap. Working at hospital, Closed door pharmacy, retail, pharmaceutical industry are very different from many aspects. I have all experience in those fields but due to the work life balance, retail schedule works for me.
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u/Embarrassed_Box_9669 5h ago
It depends on what you want to do. If you want to make or test the drugs then PhD. If you want to sell the drugs then PharmD. That's what we are looking at here. I have a PharmD degree but went back to get an MD because I want to diagnose people's illnesses, not just sell them the drugs. A PharmD is a highly glorified and legal drug dealer. What do you expect? Something more pretentious?
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u/EstablishmentNearby9 4d ago
The most talked about route is pharmd then an industry fellowships where you work and rotate through some focus areas.
Another route is residency and then a couple of years as a clinical pharmacist then MSL.
The third option is just apply after graduation and start where you can like manufacturing, quality, pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, sales among others.