Learn About Being a Pharmacist

Do you want to be a pharmacist? It’s a career that could lead you to many interesting opportunities. Here are some of the things that pharmacy schools offer:
-pharmacist assistant- This program teaches you how to work in an office setting and help patients with their prescriptions. You will also learn about drug interactions and other medical procedures.
-pharmacist- A pharmacist is responsible for dispensing medication and performing other medical tasks in a pharmacies. They may also be involved in providing care to patients.
-pharmacist assistant- This program doesn’t require a Pharmacist degree, but it does require passing an exam which covers the same topics as the Pharmacist position.
-medical assistant- A medical assistant is sometimes called a “personal physician” aide. They help doctors by taking care of patient needs such as administering medications and providing support during consultations and surgeries.

What does a pharmacist do?

Pharmacists are responsible for the safe and effective use of medications. They help to diagnose and treat diseases by performing a variety of tasks, including ordering and receiving prescriptions, dispensing medication, and monitoring patient health. Pharmacists also work to ensure that drugs are available when needed and that patients have access to information about their medications.

A pharmacist is a clinical professional with expertise in various medications, including what they treat, their interactions and how to properly prescribe them. Some of the duties pharmacists typically have include:

• Working with physicians to discuss potential compatibilities or incompatibilities

• Managing and maintaining an accurate inventory of a pharmacy’s medications

• Providing information to help patients better understand what their prescribed medications do and how to take them properly

• Assisting patients in solving pharmaceutical challenges such as identifying medication with damaged labels

• Recommending over-the-counter medical solutions to minor health issues

Average salary

Pharmacists are generally paid an hourly wage as opposed to an annual salary. Their exact wage can vary widely depending on regional factors, their certifications, any areas of specialization and their chosen work environment. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.

• Common salary in the U.S.: $53.47 per hour

• Some salaries range from $22.40 to $94.85 per year.

Pharmacist requirements

Becoming a pharmacist requires specific clinical and academic training. Before they can practice, pharmacists in the U.S. are required to have a doctorate in pharmacy (a PharmD) and undergo a clinical training period.

Education

Many pharmacists choose to complete a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, pre-med, biology or another related field. These courses teach the pharmacist the fundamentals of working in a scientific mind frame, which will help prepare the pharmacist for their graduate education. After completing their undergraduate degree, pharmacists must earn a master’s degree and a doctorate. Pharmacy students must earn a doctoral degree in pharmacy (a PharmD) to practice in most states.

Training

Pharmacists often complete a clinical residency period working with practicing pharmacists to be eligible to earn their pharmacy license. This training period is in place to ensure that a pharmacist has experience actively working within a pharmaceutical setting with supervision. The training period’s length will vary depending on the state a pharmacist chooses to work in, but they usually last for roughly two years.

Certifications

To practice pharmacy in the U.S., a pharmacist must become licensed in their state. Every state has a unique process for becoming licensed, though they usually involve having graduated from an accredited pharmacy doctoral program, earning a certain number of clinical practice hours and passing the NAPLEX exam to demonstrate a pharmacist’s knowledge of a state’s particular pharmaceutical laws and regulations.

Skills

An effective pharmacist will need strong interpersonal skills. Some of the most important skills for a pharmacist to master include:

Clinical pharmaceutical knowledge

Pharmacists must maintain a vast and comprehensive understanding of their field. A pharmacist must possess in-depth knowledge of current clinical theories and how particular medications are used.

Accuracy

Pharmacists work in a sensitive industry. If distributed or used improperly, pharmaceuticals can be harmful or deadly to those who consume them. A pharmacist must be able to accurately disperse the proper medications to a patient, depending on their needs. They will need to provide the patient with an accurate and comprehensive description of the appropriate method of use and any potential medication interactions or risks.

Communication skills

A pharmacist must be able to accurately communicate a medication’s proper uses and risks to a patient to ensure that a patient does not accidentally misuse their prescription, which may be potentially dangerous.

Problem-solving skills

Pharmacists analyze how various drugs and medical applications interact with the human body to help them determine which pharmaceutical solutions are best. Having effective problem-solving skills allows a pharmacist to be able to provide the best possible solutions to a patient to account for their unique situation.

Pharmacist work environment

Pharmacists work in pharmacies of all kinds, including those found in general hospitals, government organizations, clinics and private stores. Pharmacists generally work business hours every weekday and do not often work evenings or weekends, though some establishments may require it.

How to become a pharmacist

You can follow these general steps to become a pharmacist:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.

Pharmacists in the U.S. are required to have bachelor’s and master’s degrees before enrolling in their pharmacy doctoral program. Although there are no strict requirements for what subjects these degrees must be, pharmacy students tend to earn their degrees in pre-med, chemistry or another related field, as these degrees provide useful skills and knowledge for their doctoral degree program.

2. Earn a doctorate.

After graduating from their master’s program, pharmacists are required to earn a doctorate in pharmacy. Generally, practicing pharmacists choose to earn a PharmD, which is a doctorate program for general pharmacist studies without a specific specialization.

3. Complete a pharmaceutical residency.

After earning a doctorate in pharmacy, many pharmacists are required to undergo a two-year training or residency period, during which they practice working in a pharmaceutical environment under strong supervision.

4. Take the NAPLEX.

Upon completion of a pharmaceutical residency period, a pharmacist must acquire a license to practice in their state. Every state has its own licensing requirements, but they typically require the pharmacist to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensing Exam. The NAPLEX demonstrates a general understanding of pharmacy as well as the particular laws and regulations surrounding medicine and pharmacy in their state. After earning a state pharmacy license, a pharmacist will be prepared to start their search for a position in a pharmacy.

Pharmacist job description example

Caddy Corner Pharmacy in downtown Jacksonville is looking for a new pharmacist to join our establishment. The ideal candidate has vast and comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical laws and practices. You should be comfortable working with physicians’ records to determine the best and most compatible medical treatments for patients. You will also provide general medical advice to our pharmacy’s customers, such as over-the-counter medical recommendations.

Our pharmacy is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and the pharmacist will be required to work five shifts of eight hours each week. A doctorate in pharmacy is required as well as an accredited pharmaceutical residency of at least two years. All applicants must be licensed to practice pharmacy in the state of Florida.