The BS in Pharmacy is NOT BS: 5 Steps to Your Dream Gig Without a PharmD Degree

Full Disclosure: Fair warning: I’m mentioning some of my own products below.

Let’s say, hypothetically, that the person holding this vial and syringe is a pharmacist in the photo above. (And let’s not discuss her technique or her being out of the flow hood — but if you caught that, kudos!)

Quick! Can you tell if she has a BS degree in pharmacy, or a PharmD, or both?

A: Nope.

So, why should a BS or PharmD matter when applying to a job?

A: It shouldn’t.

A long time ago, pharmacists went to school for 4 years to become a licensed pharmacist via a Bachelor of Science or BS degree. Then, a 5 year BS degree. Then, back in the late 1980s and 1990s, pharmacy schools went from a 5-year BS program to a 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for the most part. (Or, you can have an undergraduate degree and then go on to pharmacy school now — but we’re not going to discuss that in this article.)

So, subsequently, there are both 5-year BS Pharmacists and 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree holders, (or both like me) that are licensed registered pharmacists out in practice right now (assuming they passed the respective law exam and/or NAPLEX in their respective jurisdictions, of course).

Some pharmacists that hold a BS in pharmacy only contend/complain that most job openings have ‘PharmD only’ as a requirement for application — the application doesn’t mention a BS pharmacist or registered pharmacist as an option.

I’m calling the OTHER BS on this one!

There is absolutely NO REASON why a BS pharmacist with at least 5-7+ years of experience in the field shouldn’t go after their dream job and apply for a new gig. And, since the BS in pharmacy disappeared decades ago now, there can only be few, if any BS pharmacists out there with fewer than 10 years of experience.

My own story: I originally graduated at the time when the conversions were happening from 5 to 6-year programs, so, I went out into the world with BS and practiced for a while, then I decided to go back and complete my PharmD. Technically, I have both degrees.

But, I’m also here to say that I didn’t let a BS-only degree hold me back from trying different nontraditional jobs with my career. My first few jobs beyond community practice pharmacy were attained with my BS in pharmacy ONLY. I was already established in the pharma and biotech industries with my BS in pharmacy, and THEN went back to school part-time for a PharmD.

Friends, I keep reading that a lot of pharmacists out there are desperate for a change right now, and with good reason. Our healthcare system has been borderline abused for the past 18 months. I completely understand this plight. However, don’t limit yourself if you think you can’t get a remote job, or a different career lattice in pharmacy just because you have a BS degree only. As a career coach, I’m just calling it what that is: BS!

How to Call BS on the PharmD Requirement in Job Postings

1. Network like a rock star — Actually, pharmacists are pretty decent at networking with each other. But you should also consider connecting to other professionals who are not in pharmacy — that’s generally where pharmacists aren’t as strong until they need a connection. You can do this through:
   * associations,
   * meetings,
   * project work,
   * civic leadership programs,
   * nonprofit work,
   * podcasts, and
   * social media right now.
   You also want to network BEFORE you need that network too. Help others before you need the help, and then when you’re ready for something new, engage your network to help you.
2. Create a cover letter they can’t say no to — match needs of the job description to your skills and experiences in a match needs cover letter. If you don’t know how to write one, listen to this podcast episode on how to write one, or read this book with a very detailed method on how to write a match needs cover letter. You MUST create a custom cover letter for EVERY job posting.
3. Bundle your cover letter and your resume — Upload ONE PDF to the machines. Skip the rest of the field formatting jazz if you can — it’s a complete waste of time right now, tedious, and if the company is serious about hiring good talent, they’re going to look at stuff that was uploaded anyway. This leads me to my next suggestion…
4. Skip the machines — If the online posting machines stop you from applying because you only have a BS degree, then skip the machines. Instead, use the power of online networking (LinkedIn and Google) to find someone at the company you want to apply to, reach out, introduce yourself and see if they’ll take your resume inside. Besides, you might be doing them a favor by recommending you, as many companies have hiring referral bonuses right now for employees. Win-win!
5. Polish your LinkedIn profile — Did you ever notice that the education section of your LI profile is way down on the page? Once the pharmacist box is checked — the recruiters aren’t going to look at which degree you got from where. They want a licensed pharmacist with rich experiences. So have a strong title, about section, and describe your past gigs and match those experiences to the job you want next.

As a career coach, I never, ever let a BS in pharmacy hold back a great candidate from applying to the next step in his or her career. The steps above have worked for me, even prior to having a PharmD — it just takes a little more hustle and tenacity. If you’ve already been a pharmacist, there’s nothing that can hold you back. Onward, and good luck!

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Erin L. Albert is a career coach, author, podcaster, and Kinetiq Health Pharmacy Benefit Practice Leader at Apex Benefits. Opinions are her own above.