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Hey Fellow Misfit PharmDs! 👋🏻

My inbox has been exploding with messages after my newsletter 2 weeks ago about the Chili Pepper Index for PharmD careers. One message really stood out from Alex (name changed), who wrote:

Alex’s story hit home because it represents so many of you – brilliant, highly educated professionals who, for various reasons, aren’t pursuing or maintaining that RPh license.

And you know what?

That’s not just okay – it might be the best career decision you’ve ever made.

Let’s Talk About That License (or Lack Thereof)

Own Your Value Before Anyone Else Will

You have to own your value before anyone else will see it. Many PharmDs without their license feel like they’re carrying around a secret shame – like they’re somehow “less than” their licensed colleagues. Let me be crystal clear: Your PharmD degree isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a doctorate-level education that puts you in an elite category of healthcare professionals.
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You might not feel confident inside. That imposter syndrome might be screaming, “But I don’t have my license!” Your PharmD represents years of rigorous education, complex problem-solving training, and deep healthcare knowledge. But that value only becomes visible when you learn to frame it in terms of what matters to employers: solving their problems, driving their initiatives forward, and impacting their bottom line. That value exists whether or not you have those three letters after your name. And chances are, in many applications for non-trad jobs they won’t even think about it unless you bring it up.

Hiring managers aren’t sitting around trying to discover your hidden potential. They’re focused on one thing - solving their organization’s problems.

When a tech company needs someone who understands both healthcare systems and complex data analysis, they’re not looking for a license. They’re looking for someone who can translate medical complexity into business value. When a pharma company needs a medical writer who understands drug development inside and out, they’re not checking for your NAPLEX scores - they’re looking for your ability to synthesize complex clinical information.

Why Someone May Not Have Their RPh License

There are countless reasons why someone might not have their RPh license:

• You chose a different path right after graduation
• You’re navigating international credentials
• The NAPLEX timing hasn’t worked out yet
• You decided the traditional pharmacy path isn’t for you
• You let your license lapse because it wasn’t serving your career goals

None of these scenarios erase your doctorate-level education or diminish your value in today’s healthcare landscape.

Breaking News: Your Most Valuable Assets Aren’t Tied to a License

You earned a doctorate-level degree that puts you in the top 2% of educated professionals in the US. That’s your foundation. That’s your superpower. But let’s get specific about what employers are actually buying when they hire a PharmD - and why many of them couldn’t care less about your license status.

What your PharmD actually equipped you with:

• Complex problem-solving with incomplete data: You spent years analyzing patient cases where the full picture wasn’t clear. That’s exactly what businesses need - someone who can make strategic decisions with partial information.
• Risk assessment and mitigation: Every drug interaction you studied, every contraindication you memorized - that’s high-stakes risk management training that businesses pay top dollar for.
• Strategic decision-making under pressure: Those clinical rotations where you had to make quick decisions? That’s executive-level judgment in action.
• Cross-functional team leadership: You’ve coordinated with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. That’s the exact skill set needed for leading complex business initiatives.
• Technical analysis and evaluation: You can read a clinical trial and spot methodological flaws in minutes. Companies need that level of analytical rigor for everything from market research to product development.
• Healthcare systems expertise: You understand how healthcare actually works - the workflows, the pain points, the regulatory landscape. That’s invaluable for companies trying to innovate in healthcare.
• High-stakes project management: Every complex patient case you managed was essentially a high-stakes project with multiple moving parts, stakeholders, and critical outcomes.

Here’s what most PharmDs miss: These aren’t just “skills” - they’re solutions to expensive business problems. When a tech company is losing millions because they don’t understand healthcare workflow, your background becomes priceless. When a pharma company needs someone who can translate complex clinical data into market strategy, your training is exactly what they need.

The key is learning to package these abilities not as “things I learned in pharmacy school” but as “solutions to your business challenges.” Your PharmD trained you to solve complex problems in one of the most challenging industries in the world. That’s what employers are buying - not your license status.

The 2025 Landscape: Where PharmDs Are Thriving Without RPh Licenses

Here are just a 10 high-impact roles ($130K+) that want your doctorate-level expertise:

PHARMA 💊

• Medical Science Liaison ($200K)*
• Medical Writer ($160K)
• Drug Safety ($170K)

TECH 💻

• Product Manager ($200K + equity)
• Digital Health Lead ($220K)
• Analytics Director ($200K)

BUSINESS 📈

• Healthcare Consultant ($220K)
• Market Access ($220K)
• HEOR Lead ($180K)
• Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist ($130K + commission)

Important Note: Some MSL roles may require RPh licensure, but many don’t – focus on companies that value your PharmD expertise over the license.

Addressing the Pushback

Ahhhh, now it is time to bring on the resistance: the pushback you might face. Recently, a pharmacy school professor told me, “Jamie, some students aren’t taking their NAPLEX exam, and your posts may contribute to a false narrative that they don’t need their ‘pesky RPh license.’”

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Let me be clear: I’m not advocating against getting your license. The NAPLEX and licensure can be valuable tools in your career toolkit. But I am advocating for hope, options, and recognition that your value as a doctorate degree holder isn’t solely tied to a single license. I’m advocating for the thousands of you who earned the degree, but for one reason or another don’t have the license. You're not castoff, hopeless, and lost forever.

Here’s what I believe:

• Your PharmD education has intrinsic value beyond licensure
• Different career paths require different tools
• Not having a license doesn’t make you “less than”
• Your worth isn’t determined by a single exam or credential

The pushback you’ll face might come from:

• Traditional pharmacy educators
• Some healthcare employers
• Well-meaning family and friends
• Your own self-doubt

Remember: Innovation often faces resistance. The pharmacy profession is evolving, and not everyone is comfortable with that evolution. But your career belongs to you, not to tradition.

How to Think About Your Role Without a License

The key is shifting your mindset from “I don’t have a license” to “I have a doctorate in healthcare.” Here’s why that matters:

1. You’re More Adaptable: Without being tied to a license, you’re actually more free to pursue innovative roles
2. You Think Differently: Having opted out of traditional paths shows you’re willing to challenge conventions
3. You’re Forced to Innovate: No safety net means you’ll likely push harder to create unique opportunities

It’s Already Being Done

Let me share a story that changed how I think about the PharmD path. Meet Dr. Karen Brown, founder of KLEO, a contract research organization that’s transforming how clinical trials operate in the life sciences industry. When I first met Karen, she told me something that blew my mind: she never took the NAPLEX.

But here’s the thing – it wasn’t because she couldn’t. It was because she was too busy building KLEO, her vision for improving healthcare through better treatment options, communication, and the power of technology and data. While others were studying for their boards, she was creating a full-service consulting practice that now supports clinical trial activity at local research sites and provides strategic guidance to life sciences companies.

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When I first heard her story, I didn’t actually know you could choose not to take the NAPLEX! But Karen’s choice wasn’t about avoiding something – it was about pursuing something else. By intentionally stepping away from traditional pharmacy, she was declaring her commitment to clinical research and innovation.

Boo ya! That’s what I call owning your path.

The Biggest Hurdle? It’s Between Your Ears

Let’s talk about something that’s holding many of you back more than any external factor: your own mindset.

I’ve seen it hundreds of times – brilliant PharmDs diminishing their worth because they don’t have those three little letters after their name. They apologize for their career path, take lower-paying positions than they deserve, or worse, stay stuck in roles that drain their spirit.

Here’s the truth: This likely won’t be an overnight success story, especially if you’ve been out of work for a while or are working exclusively in tech roles. But how you view and present yourself will make the biggest difference in which roles consider you.

Think about it:

• If you act apologetic about your path, employers will question it too
• If you downplay your doctorate, others will overlook its value
• If you focus on what you lack, you’ll miss seeing what you offer

The solution? Start acting like the confident PharmD you are – right now, before the perfect job offer, before the ideal salary, before external validation. Because here’s the secret: The roles and opportunities you want are already out there. They’re just waiting for you to show up as the professional you are. 💪🏻

Building Your Bridge (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Look, I know those massive career change checklists can feel overwhelming. Instead of throwing a hundred tasks at you, let’s focus on one thing you can do this week that actually moves the needle.

This Week’s Focus: Own Your Story

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Write down your “why” – not why you don’t have a license, but why you’re seeking something different
2. Look at your LinkedIn profile and remove any apologetic language about your career path
3. Connect with ONE person (just one!) who’s doing something interesting outside traditional pharmacy

That’s it. Three simple steps. No overwhelming project plans. No massive to-do lists. Just three steps that help you start owning your story.

Your Quick Win for This Week

Instead of a huge action plan, I’m giving you ONE task: Change your LinkedIn headline from something like “PharmD Graduate” or “Pharmacy Professional” to something that reflects where you’re going.

For example:

• “Healthcare Innovation Specialist | PharmD”
• “Clinical Research Professional | PharmD”
• “Healthcare Technology Enthusiast | PharmD”

This small change does two huge things:

1. It tells the world what you’re about (not just what degree you have)
2. It helps you start seeing yourself differently

That’s it. One change. But it’s a change that puts you in the driver’s seat of your story. I’ve met too many of you who haven’t taken the NAPLEX and are working for pittance tech wages, feeling stuck and undervalued. It’s time you stepped into your true earning power. Your PharmD isn’t just a degree – it’s your ticket to the career you actually want. Let’s make it happen. 🚀

In coming weeks we will tackle additional steps. But for now, just focus on this one thing. Sometimes the smallest steps lead to the biggest transformations.

Remember: Your PharmD isn’t limited to traditional pharmacy. In fact, 2025 might be your year to prove that the absence of a license isn’t a limitation – it’s liberation. And speaking for myself the last $1.2 million in revenue I generated for myself came from doing work that didn’t relate to a RPh license at all. I’m not preaching something I haven’t lived myself, you guys.

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With grit and gratitude,
​Jamie

P.S. 🚀 My flagship PharmD HQ cohort 1 closed last week with 50 PharmDs loving the content. If you are bummed you missed it an eager to get in on the next launch, register your interest here. PharmD HQ is your springboard to understand all the non-trad opportunities out there plus what is the best one for you. See you on the inside! 👋🏻

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