The Importance of Choosing the Right Pharmacy Internship

Choosing an internship program is as vital as deciding on the right pharmacist school. Internships can provide a useful learning experience that gets careers off to the right start.

This is why it's wise to spend time studying what an internship can offer. Some programs are well established and give good all-round insights into pharmacy work. Others are more specialized and stress particular aspects of the pharmacy profession.

Qualifying conditions for a license

All pharmacy students must become interns. One of the qualifying conditions for a pharmacy license is 1,500 hours of internship. Students can usually complete these hours after the first year at pharmacist school, although some internship programs cover all four years of a Pharm.D. course.

Time of year

The internship programs are often over the summer period of May to August. They generally last 12 weeks.

Types of internship program

Internship programs cover most aspects of pharmacy work. For example:

Managed care
Business development, practice development, and strategic alliances
Pharmacy law and regulations
Health economics
Industrial marketing
Drug information
Veterinary pharmacy
Community pharmacy practice
Disease management

The internship providers

Many pharmaceutical manufacturers and chain drug stores have internship programs. They may work with pharmacist schools where they advertise their positions, or they may simply place notices on the Internet.

Either way, places are limited. Students therefore need to make applications well in advance if they want to exercise choice. They also need to bear in mind the practicalities of an internship program such as the location.

The advantages

Internship is not optional. As stated above, it's necessary for licensure. Nonetheless, internship is more than just a necessary part of a degree course: It's also a chance to work alongside experienced pharmacists and gain insights into the practical applications of pharmacy.

This is why it's helpful to have a positive attitude during an internship. Students should never hold back if they have questions about anything they see or do during an internship program.

In a good quality internship program, students have plenty of chances to ask questions anyway because the provider supplies a certain amount of training. Those programs spread over three or four summers may even ask a fourth year intern to act as mentor to first or second year students. This can help develop communication and teaching skills.

Other benefits

Generally, interns don't receive pay. Nonetheless, there may be other benefits. These can include:

A health and dental plan
Store discounts
Cellular phone deals
Low insurance schemes

What the internship provider expects

Most internship providers expect interns to work on different projects and provide all-round help. The providers keep this help, whether it's research-based or practical, at an appropriate level. After all, a student doesn't have the experience to tackle complex tasks no matter how confident they may feel.

Providers don't usually ask interns to do anything unreasonable or work excessive hours. It's not in their interest to alienate students when the vacancy rate for pharmacists is high and still rising.

Example of an internship program for a chain drug store

Many graduates of pharmacist schools start their careers at chain drug stores. The following shows what they can expect to learn and experience during a standard twelve-week internship program.