# Drug peddler 101, or: how to be a pharmacist

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-peddler-101-or-how-to-be-a-pharmacist/258435>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 5, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-peddler-101-or-how-to-be-a-pharmacist/258435 "2004-08-05T12:49:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-peddler-101-or-how-to-be-a-pharmacist/258435/1 "2004-08-05T12:49:36Z")

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I volunteer as a teacher of English as a second language to recent immigrants and other visitors to the US. In my class there’s a woman who was a pharmacist in Thailand, but is now working as a waitress. (she and her oncologist husband will be here for 2 years). The question is - what certification is needed for her to be able to work as a pharmacist here? If not as a pharmacist, then how about as a technician in a pharmacy? If the requirements vary by state, I’m looking for PA info.

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**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-peddler-101-or-how-to-be-a-pharmacist/258435/2 "2004-08-05T16:17:50Z")

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She will have to be registered as a pharmacist and may have to take the exam.

Google for state of PA web site.  
Start here: \<[http://www.dos.state.pa.us/DOS/site/default.asp](http://www.dos.state.pa.us/DOS/site/default.asp)\>  
Next stop: \<[http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432995](http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432995)\>  
You’re on your own from here on out.