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Tap pharmaceutical seminars with services designed for your business

Scrutinize pharmaceutical industry training that proposes one-size-fits-all programs. Instead, seek education and training personalized for your staff and business needs.

I recommend: Obtain pharmaceutical training courses that limit class size and provide customized training. The Center for Professional Innovation and Training offers high quality pharmaceutical seminars with limited class size to ensure personalized attention. Contact The Center for Professional Advancement for customized onsite pharmaceutical training. Review their upcoming public and online pharmaceutical courses.

Buy low-cost pharma education products that supply high-level instruction

Making the most of pharmaceutical education and training includes studying disease specific handbooks and educational materials. Invest in first-class merchandise at prices that fit your budget.

I recommend: Contact the Handbooks in Health Care Company to access an extensive array of affordable educational pocket guides that focus on scores of diseases and treatment options. Subscribe to the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education to stay informed of professional, pharma education, teaching methods, graduate and postgraduate pharmaceutical education, and more.

Search for certified or accredited pharmaceutical training classes

Find pharma education classes that meet industry educational standards. Focus on pharmaceutical course certificate education or accredited training programs.

I recommend: Contact RXTechSchool, a leading resource for pharmacy technician training and education. Call their toll-free number to attend online certification classes or to sign-up for continuing education. Contact Corexcel, a high-quality training program that connects learning with performance, to access their certified leadership, sales and customer service programs.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Making the most of pharmaceutical education and training also means that the pharmaceutical training programs you attend need to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, an organization that sets the educational standards for individuals in pharmacy careers.

1. Take the right pharmaceutical training courses.
2. Choose the institution and program that’s right for you.
3. Concentrate on getting valuable experience in the industry.

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Get pharmaceutical technical training

Complete this training in as little as two years. Take pharmacy tech classes to help prepare you for certification testing required for a career as a pharmacy technician. You can gain hands-on experience as well.

I recommend: Search PharmacySchoolsOnline to find pharmacy technical training, or find programs listed with the National Pharmacy Technician Association.

Acquire an engineering degree

Pharmaceutical companies use many facets of engineering. These companies employ process engineers, quality engineers, manufacturing engineers, applications engineers, mechanical engineers and validation engineers. Go to pharmaceutical seminars or get specific pharmaceutical training to further your expertise in that area.

I recommend: The best engineering programs are found at Harvey Mudd College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Cooper Union and Bucknell University.

Study to become a pharmaceutical sales representative

A bachelor's degree is almost always required for this kind of position. A degree in sales, marketing or business is ideal. It is very helpful to have minors in science, biology, chemistry or medicine and take pharmaceutical classes.

I recommend: Enter the best business programs at University of Pennsylvania, University of California at Berkley and the University of Michigan.

Use an MBA to work in pharmaceuticals

There are programs of study in pharmaceutical management and pharmaceutical business. One of these degrees will ensure a successful and high-paying job in upper level management or an executive position with pharmaceuticals. In addition to business classes, you will take science and pharmaceutical classes in this program or go to pharmaceutical seminars.

I recommend: Get an MBA from Ashland University, Regis University or DeVry.

Obtain a master's degree in clinical research

A master's degree in clinical research administration, a master of science in biology, a master's in biotechnology or a health services degree will all ensure a position with a pharmaceutical company. A master's degree gives you well-rounded pharma education and pharmaceutical training.

I recommend: University of California and Campbell University have reputable clinical research Master's programs. Get a Master of Science from Baylor University.

Work toward a PhD

A PhD in pharmaceutical sciences can ensure a stable career in a high-paying upper management level job with a pharmaceutical company. Become an executive, and truly make a difference in the medical industry with a PhD in chemistry, organic chemistry, oncology, stem cell science, or biomedicine.

I recommend: Get a pharmaceutical education in the doctoral programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Temple University or Northeastern University.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Specialize in one area.
• •  Work on getting internships during your summer breaks.
• •  Shadow an employee to see if this career is right for you.

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Join community forums or electronic discussion boards to stay up with the pharmaceutical industry

Connect with industry professionals to acquire the latest pharmaceutical education and training news and trends. Community forums provide up-to-date discussions on a variety of related pharma subjects.

I recommend: The forum at MedZilla, Inc. features thousands of posts on a wide range of topics to keep you informed of pharmaceutical industry developments. The career networking forum at BioSpace offer news related to pharmaceutical, biotech and health care professions. The Science Careers Forum, a service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, provides networking for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and science industry professionals.

Access periodicals that include pharma training and education articles

Read industry publications to keep abreast of developments in pharmaceutical education and training in the pharmacy field. Look for resources published weekly or monthly with information about business strategies, continuing education and other topics pertinent to the field.

I recommend: Sign up for a free subscription to Pharmacy Today, a top resource for professionals seeking pharma education. Study the latest information about new products, technology and trends in America’s Pharmacist, the official magazine of the National Community Pharmacist Association.

Register for pharmaceutical training courses that offer computer-based or in-person education

Participate in pharma education courses or pharmaceutical seminars that are online or in-person. Seriously consider programs that use interactive learning methods.

I recommend: Register for comprehensive activity-based seminars at The Training Registry. Contact Training-Classes.com to register for their Pharmaceutical Industry Overview, a web-based learning course for individuals who want to expand their pharma knowledge.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sign up to receive newsletters from top pharmaceutical businesses so you stay connected to company-specific trends in pharma training and education.

Action Steps
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Pharmaceutical technical training

Pharmaceutical technical training refers to additional education for pharmaceutical professionals who have earned their master's or PhDs. It can refer to continuing ed, seminars and three-to-five day programs to keep up with new findings in the industry. Pharmaceutical technical training also refers to two-year programs for pharmacy technicians.

I recommend: For example, Natoli's technical training program is for pharmaceutical professionals.

Pharmaceutical sales

Pharmaceuticals is an exclusive field because knowledge of drugs, drug reactions, side effects and research studies are especially necessary when bringing a drug to market. Sales people are trained specifically for selling pharmaceuticals. Salespeople in pharmaceuticals must be adept with the vocabulary of medicine. They need to understand how drugs work and be able to convey this doctors.

I recommend: The National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives has training programs and certification training programs for people who want to work in the industry as salesperson. It also provides continuing education for pharmaceutical salespeople because they must be up on all the latest findings and research.

Pharmaceutical sciences

The study of pharmaceutical sciences is very important to drug companies for developing medicines that save people's lives.

I recommend: The University of Chapel Hill's PhD program in pharmaceutical sciences describes the different science disciplines that are required for an education in pharmaceutical sciences.

Pharmaceutical engineering degree

Pharmaceutical companies rely on engineers for many applications including process, manufacturing, quality control and others.

I recommend: An example of such an engineering program is that of University of Rhode Island's undergraduate program in pharmaceutical engineering.

Specialization

Getting an advanced degree specializing in a particular area within the field of pharmaceuticals is another area of a pharmaceutical education.

I recommend: Northeastern University's Pharmaceutical Sciences Department offers Toxicology Specialization and Pharmacology Specialization--both examples of specializations within pharmaceutical education.

Pharmacist

A pharmacist prepares and dispenses drugs. This profession requires a high level of education with a curriculum that includes the study of biological, physical and chemical sciences, study of the mechanisms of drug action and clinical experience.

I recommend: All education for pharmacists requires PhD in pharmacy or a specialization within the study of pharmacy. A PhD is a doctor of philosophy and represents one of the highest levels in our educational system. An example of the education requirements necessary to become a pharmacist can be found on the University of California's School of Pharmacy website.