OBJECTIVE：To establish the talent training mode for pharmaceutical specialty in retail pharmacies based on modern apprenticeship，and improve the teaching quality of pharmacy major in vocational colleges. METHODS：According to the basic content of talent training program，the contents including the talent training goal orientation，the recruitment mode，the teaching plan formulation，the curriculum system development，the teaching arrangement，the length of schooling and the certificate acquisition were studied to analyze the feasibility of carrying out the modern apprenticeship of pharmaceutical specialty in retail pharmacies. RESULTS：Pharmaceutical talents should master the necessary medicine theory，knowledge of relevant laws，regulations and stores management；the trained people could be an enterprise recruitment of employees，enrolled high school students or the two-screening-students；the practical skills training should be highlighted，both sides of school and enterprise should work together to develop the teaching plan formulation；and the curriculum development committee was established to determine the level of knowledge and ability that the retail pharmacies must know and to give the formation of the course；double subject education，double tutor teaching，work and study alternation were used in the teaching implementation；and flexible educational system was designed. CONCLUSIONS：The establishment of talent training mode for pharmaceutical specialty in retail pharmacies based on modern apprenticeship can improve the teaching quality of pharmacy major in vocational colleges. However，the establishment of course system should consider the sustainable development of students，and cautiously set targeted courses based on the characteristics of talents requirements in retail pharmacies.