The pharmacist holds an applied, practical degree and dispenses drugs on physicians' orders. Professionals with this degree work with physicians, as consultants, recommending drugs and studying their effects. Both of these degrees are distinguished from the Ph.D. in pharmacology, a basic medical science degree, which requires a minimum of four years of graduate school and a research dissertation. Pharmacologists are usually on the faculties of medical schools, teaching and conducting independent research. There is no centralized application service to schools of pharmacy.
Schedules are highly variable from school to school.
There are 79 schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico. There are about 60 programs offering the P.A. in the United States. It is available to both college graduates and non-college graduates. This program stresses emergency medical training, giving physicals, taking histories, and providing prompt, first-contact medical care. There is no centralized application service to this graduate program.