Why Should I Apply for a Pharmacy Residency?

Completing a pharmacy residency after graduation is a great way to begin a career in clinical pharmacy. A residency is a postgraduate training program, which allows the resident to perform as a licensed practitioner while training under the supervision of an experienced pharmacist preceptor. The cornerstones of any PGY1 pharmacy residency include direct patient care and practice management. During a residency program, the resident is able to develop skills and competence in providing pharmaceutical care to a variety of patients in various hospital settings, thus accelerating growth beyond entry-level experience. Residency training gives pharmacists a competitive advantage in the job market because trends in health systems increasingly require residency training for clinical positions. In addition, many networking opportunities are available to pharmacy residents. Completing a residency gives the resident an opportunity to better define their career goals and gain perspective on the areas of care that most interest them.