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BECOMING A PHARMACIST
What is the PCAT
What next?

Now that you’ve graduated college, you’ve decided to take the PCAT

(Pharmacy College Admission Test) and become a pharmacist. What do you need to do to prepare? Where do you take the PCAT? Can the PCAT be taken online? All are questions that need to be answered before taking the next step. And while you are waiting for your test date, remember...PRACTICE!

But first, let’s take a better look at what you’re getting yourself into.

What Is The PCAT?

The PCAT, like the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and the DAT (Dental Admission Test), is a standardized test that prospective pharmacists are required to take before entering pharmacy college. The PCAT is given just three times a year at various colleges across the United States. The test includes five different categories including Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Biology, Chemistry and Reading Comprehension. Before going any further, let’s take a look at the different types of PCAT questions you will likely be hit with during the test:

Verbal Ability – This section measures the prospective pharmacist’s general, non-scientific word knowledge. It tests these things using analogies and antonyms (opposites). Time for this section: 35 minutes to answer 58 questions.

Quantitative Ability – This is a fancy way of saying the student will be tested on math, including: fractions, percentages, decimals, algebra, pre-calculus, geometry and probability and statistics. Time for this section: 50 minutes to answer 58 questions.

PCAT Biology – The student will be tested on general biology concepts including: general biology, microbiology and anatomy and physiology. Time for this section: 35 minutes to answer 58 questions.

PCAT Chemistry – the PCAT organic chemistry section tests the student on both general chemistry and organic chemistry. Time for this section: 35 minutes to answer 58 questions.

Reading Comprehension – Measures the student’s ability to interpret and understand relevant reading passages and scientific concepts. Time for this section: 50 minutes to answer 45 questions.

There is also a short writing topic (the ever-popular essay question). The prospective pharmacist is given 30 minutes to complete this section.

Now that you know what the PCAT is…what next?

You can’t just go in and take the test. You need to prepare. The best way to prepare is with our audio review materials that cover everything from medical microbiology to medical terminology. So…study, study, study for the PCAT is the first step in becoming a pharmacist.