subject: What To Expect As A Career Pharmacist [print this page] So what exactly do pharmacists do? Pharmacists play the important role of prescribing medication to patients. This also includes providing in-depth information about drugs and assist patients understand instructions given to them by doctors. They also monitor patient's health progress to ensure that medications are working properly and safely.
Educational Requirements
To enter into this career, one requires a a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, also known as Pharm.D. Pharmacy programs are usually four years long and must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
To gain admission one must have at least two years of college study with courses including math, chemistry, biology, physics, humanities and social sciences. Applicants generally have to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test. Doctor of Pharmacy programs include coursework in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology (effects of drugs on the body), toxicology and pharmacy administration.
Additional Requirements
In the U.S., pharmacists must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Most states also require graduates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), a test of pharmacy law, also administered by the NABP. Other states administer another exam that tests knowledge of pharmacy law.
Several states also require additional state-specific exams. All states, except California, grant license transfers from other states. Pharmacists must have scientific aptitude and good communication skills and be detail-oriented.
Employment Facts
Pharmacists held about 300,000 jobs in 2009. More than half worked in community pharmacies 62 per cent. Most were salaried employees, but some were self employed. Almost a quarter worked in hospitals. The rest worked in clinics, mail order and Internet pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, physicians' offices, or for the Federal government
Advancement of Pharmacists:
Pharmacists working in independent pharmacies may become owners or part-owners after they gain experience and secure the necessary capital. Those in chain drugstores may be promoted to pharmacy supervisors or store managers, then to district or regional managers and eventually to executive positions at the headquarters.
Hospital pharmacists may be promoted to supervisory positions. Those who work in the pharmaceutical industry may advance in areas including marketing, sales, research, or quality control.
Job Outlook
Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Pharmacists in the US is as follows.
* Department stores: $99,050
* Grocery stores: $95,000
* Pharmacies and drug stores: $94,640
* General medical and surgical hospitals: $93,640
Core duties of a pharmacist include:
* Advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications;
* Advise patients and answer questions about prescription drugs, including questions about possible side effects and interactions among different drugs;
* Monitor the health and progress of patients in response to drug therapy;
* Provide information and make recommendations about over-the-counter drugs;
* Give advice about diet, exercise, or stress management;
* Help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure;
* Advise patients about durable medical equipment and home health care supplies.
