SCCM Resource Library-Pharmacy Fellowships in Critical Care

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The pathway to becoming a pharmacist in the United States comprises several educational stages, beginning with three to four years of undergraduate prerequisites, followed by a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Graduates must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) for licensure. Post-licensure, pharmacists can opt for postgraduate residency training, which includes a generalist first year (PGY1) and a specialized second year (PGY2) in areas like critical care. Residency programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and while not mandatory, they are often preferred for specialized practice.<br /><br />Additionally, pharmacists can pursue fellowship programs, which can follow the completion of a PharmD or residency training. Unlike ASHP-accredited residencies, fellowships lack standardized accreditation, which results in varied scopes and durations. Critical care pharmacy fellowships, such as those offered by the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center at LUCOP, provide specialized research and academic training. These programs focus on cultivating skills in research, teaching, and professional service, with an emphasis on independent research and specialized knowledge beyond typical clinical practice.<br /><br />Fellowships aim to prepare pharmacists for academic and research roles, enhancing expertise gained during residency. Notable programs include the UGA fellowship, which offers training in education, research, and clinical practice, and the CIBS/LUCOP fellowship, which emphasizes research coordination and participation in trials for critical illness, underlining their commitment to addressing long-term complications in critical care patients.<br /><br />Both residencies and fellowships in critical care pharmacy offer pharmacists opportunities to advance their careers, either through specialized clinical training or through research and academia-focused fellowships.

Asset Subtitle

Pharmacology, Professional Development and Education, 2025, 0:06:00

Asset Caption

"This article was first published in the Winter 2025 issue of Critical Connections.

The pathway to a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree in the United States includes undergraduate education followed by a PharmD professional program, then passing licensing examinations. Following licensure, pharmacists have the option to complete one or two years of postgraduate residency training. Although pharmacy residency training is not mandated, many employers require or at least prefer residency training for a pharmacist to practice in specialized areas such as critical care or academia.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry’s only newsmagazine, provides information on cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team."

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Professional Development and Education

Knowledge Area Pharmacology

Tag Fellowship Training

Year 2025

Keywords

pharmacist education

Doctor of Pharmacy

NAPLEX

MPJE

postgraduate residency

ASHP accreditation

critical care pharmacy

fellowship programs

research and academia

clinical training

Article

Professional Development and Education

Fellowship Training

Pharmacology

2025

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