The basic requirement for pharmacists to be considered for registration is often an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy degree from a recognized university. In many countries, this involves a four- or five-year course to attain a bachelor of pharmacy or master of pharmacy degree.
In the United States since 2003, students must complete a doctor of pharmacy degree to become a licensed pharmacist, with a similar requirement being introduced in some other countries such as Canada and France. The doctor of pharmacy degree usually requires completion of four years at an accredited college of pharmacy after an undergraduate degree or other approved courses.
To practice as a pharmacist, registration with the country, state, or province's regulatory agency is required. There is often a requirement for the pharmacy graduate to have completed a certain number of hours of experience in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If the regulatory body governs an entire country, they will usually administer a written and oral examination to the prospective pharmacist prior to registration. If its jurisdiction is limited to a specific jurisdiction, such as a state or province, the required examination is administered by a national examining board.