To view PDF files, click on yellow button to download Acrobat Reader. A pharmacy residency is an organized, directed, postgraduate training program in a defined area of pharmacy practice. Residencies exist primarily to train pharmacists in professional practice and management activities. Residencies provide experience in integrating pharmacy services with the comprehensive needs of individual practice setting and provide in-depth experiences leading to advanced practice skills and knowledge.
Residencies foster an ability to conceptualize new and improved pharmacy services.
Within a given residency program, there is considerable consistency in content for each resident. In addition, accreditation standards and program guidelines produced by national pharmacy associations provide considerable program content detail and foster consistency among programs. A residency is typically 12 months or longer in duration, and the resident's practice experiences are closely directed and evaluated by a qualified practitioner-preceptor. A residency may occur at any career point following an entry-level degree in pharmacy. Individuals planning practice-oriented careers are encouraged to complete all formal academic education before entry into residency.