Pharmacy residency program (PGY1)

The purpose of this PGY1 pharmacy residency program is to build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to contribute to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete this PGY1 program will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy, and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two residencies.

This residency program aims to train pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care across a variety of practice settings (e.g., ambulatory care, acute care, critical care, pharmacy benefit management, and pharmacy operations), participate as a member of the health care team, and provide education of patients, health professionals and themselves. In addition, residents will learn to perform self-monitoring and demonstrate leadership through contributions to performance improvement. Residents will be encouraged to develop an approach to the profession that can lead to life-long learning and career satisfaction.

The residency program consists of an orientation, four core rotations, four longitudinal rotations, and four elective rotations. Core and elective rotations are typically 6 weeks in duration. Longitudinal experiences begin after orientation and last the duration of the year.

Required Core Rotations:

• Acute Care Medicine
• Critical Care
• Patient Aligned Care Team (may be assigned to offsite community-based clinic)
• Specialty Clinics

Required Longitudinal Learning Rotations

• Research/Quality Improvement Project
• Practice Management
• VA Pharmacy Teaching and Precepting Certificate
• Staffing

Elective Rotations*

• Outpatient Pharmacy Operations**
• Inpatient Pharmacy Operations**
• Advanced Acute Care Medicine
• Advanced PACT
• Anticoagulation
• Home Based Primary Care
• Emergency Medicine
• Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Inpatient Psychiatry
• Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury
• Community Living Center (Nursing Home)
• Oncology
• Medication Safety
• Pharmacy Administration

*Two-week rotation in Leadership and pharmacy management will be incorporated into one elective rotation.

**Selective required (must choose one operations rotation).

• Period of Appointment: 12 months, July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
• Estimated Stipend: $ 56,522 (based on 2025-2026 stipend)
• Health/Dental/Vision/Life insurance options
• Authorized Absence and registration support to attend select professional meetings such as ASHP Midyear or CSHP Annual Seminar and South-West VA Residents Conference (or similar)
• Thirteen (13) days annual leave (“vacation”) accrued 4 hours every 2 weeks.
• Thirteen (13) days sick leave accrued 4 hours every 2 weeks.
• Eleven (11) paid holidays.
• Centralized office workspace with access to up-to-date personal computer and desk
• Lab coat, scrub allotment and laundry service
• Free on-site parking
• Per-diem (moonlighting) opportunities (contingent on funding)

• Pharmacist license in one of the States of the United States by October 28th of the residency year.
• The applicant is highly encouraged to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the California or Multistate Pharmacist Jurisprudence Examination (CPJE or MPJE) prior to entering the residency program (July 1st).
• Failure to obtain licensure within 120 days of residency start may result in termination from the program.

• Possess or in the process of obtaining a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from an accredited school or college of pharmacy.
• Eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in any state.
• United States citizenship with proof of naturalization if naturalized at the time of application.
• Male Trainees: Registration for Selective Service prior to end of 25th birthday or by the time of application submission, whichever comes first.
• Participation in the ASHP Residency Matching Program

Application deadline: January 2, 2026 @11:59 PM EST

Register with ASHP Resident Matching Program

Online submission to the program thru PhORCAS™ (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application)

• Official school of pharmacy transcript (sent directly to PHORCAS™)
• Personal statement/letter of intent specifically addressing why you desire to do a residency with the VALB.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three (3) letters of recommendation (standardized reference form in PhORCAS™).
• Supplemental information (http://www.va.gov/vaforms/): VA Application for Health Professions Trainees (Form # 10-2850D)

Southern California Residency Showcase 
September 26, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Yorba Linda Community Center

ASHP Midyear, Las Vegas 
December 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Booth #6523

VA Long Beach VIRTUAL Open House 
November 12, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
November 17, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sign up