Qualitative research methods are being used more in health and pharmacy education. Thematic analysis is a common approach, but simply saying you did it doesn't mean the study was rigorous. To do a thorough thematic analysis, follow five steps: compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding. Nine practical recommendations are given to help researchers conduct rigorous thematic analyses. By using these standards, the quality of research publications will improve.