In the State of California, the pharmacy profession is regulated by the Board of Pharmacy, a division of the Department of Consumer Affairs. As is the case in many states, it takes a lot to become a pharmacist in California, but once you're in, surely the rewards will be many. In this guide, we'll take you step by step through the process of getting and keeping in good standing your California pharmacist license.

Obtaining a License

Generally speaking, to become a California pharmacist you need education, tests, an internship, and finally, a submitted application. Let's take a look at those steps in a bit more detail.

• Before anything else, you'll need to successfully complete an educational program in the pharmaceutical field. In California, this means holding a Bachelor's of Science from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and it can be either in-state or out-of-state. To perform a search for accredited programs throughout the United States, check out this site.

• You'll also need to work for 1500 hours as an “intern pharmacist.” Usually, this is done as part of your educational program – it is standard in pharmacy schools to incorporate internships into your coursework. Again, the hours can be obtained either in the state of California or out-of-state, but must comport with the requirements set by your school.

• In California, the application to take the examinations required is part and parcel of the application to be admitted as a pharmacist. You can take a look at the entire application here. You're going to be taking two exams – the NAPLEX, which is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and covers general pharmaceutical knowledge and procedures, and the California Pharmacist Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the law in California on pharmaceutical work. You can read a detailed FAQ on these exams, including how much it costs to take them, here.

• Note that along with that application, you'll be submitted a 2x2 passport photo, a transcript of your educational program (which must be fully completed prior to examination), and a fingerprinting permission form. The total application cost, without counting the exam fees, is 200 dollars.

Graduates of foreign pharmacy schools must be certified by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee, which requires a separate examination in lieu of the NAPLEX. Learn more about this here.

Because the educational requirements are not California specific, you may follow the same application process if you already have a pharmaceutical license obtained in another state, but you will need to provide proof and verification of that license. You will also have to register for and successfully pass the California Pharmacist Jurisprudence Exam, to ensure that you understand the CA-specific law.

Maintaining a License

Unlike in many states, California pharmacist licenses do not all expire on the same day. Rather, you will be given a unique expiration date when you obtain your license. Expiration occurs every two years. Renewal can be completed online for a fee of 207 dollars, but note that you must complete 30 hours of continuing education, which must be certified or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or the Pharmacy Foundation of California (PFC). California does not mandate that you take any specific courses or class types. Check out the full renewal application at this link.

All disciplinary proceedings and so-called “enforcement actions” are handled directly by the Board of Pharmacy. These actions can be begun by a complaint by a member of the public, or be initiated by the Board itself if it sees any “red flags” in your record. The Board reserves the right to suspend your license, revoke it, or issue a public reprimand, and in some cases can refer cases to appropriate legal authorities for further prosecution. The state of California has helpfully provided a guide to the ethical guidelines and decision-making involved in being pharmacist, which you can review here.