Pharmacist career path: How to Become a Pharmacist – Career Path and Job Description

How to Become a Pharmacist – Career Path and Job Description

Where Might You Work?

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for pharmacists as of May, 2018 was $126,120. However, many pharmacists earn considerably more than the median.

Pharmacists may find themselves working in drug stores, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, compounding pharmacies, the pharmacy departments of supermarkets and chain stores, or in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Some pharmacists may choose to work in academic settings or for the government.

Potential Career Paths

While dispensing medication is the primary role of a pharmacist, there are various career paths within the field. Some pharmacists may prefer a management role in pharmacy, while others would rather have a more active role with patients and healthcare providers. Pharmacists may work in a variety of retail or healthcare settings. Some pharmacists may work for the government or the armed forces, or in the pharmaceutical industry conducting research.

• Clinical Pharmacist:
  these pharmacists work directly with doctors and other healthcare providers. The physicians with whom they work may grant them patient care privileges, so the clinical pharmacist may determine whether medications a patient is currently prescribed best suits their needs. Along with medication evaluation, the clinical pharmacist may consult with the doctor regarding medication or dosage change, and follow the patient’s progress. The average clinical pharmacist’s salary is $117,500.
• Compounding Pharmacist:
  these pharmacists create medications based on a doctor’s specific instructions. These medications are custom-made for the individual patient and are often prescribed for rare conditions for which commercial medications are unavailable. While every licensed pharmacist has the knowledge to create compounded medications, because of the need for extensive equipment, it is generally a job performed by a pharmacist specializing in compounding. The average compounding pharmacist earns $127,000 annually.
• Hospital Staff Pharmacist:
  Hospital staff pharmacists have the same duties as traditional pharmacists, but in the hospital setting. The setting makes a huge difference in the workload, as patients are usually sicker in the hospital setting and more likely to use IV and other forms of medication than the non-hospital patient. The average hourly pay for hospital pharmacists is $52.50.
• Hospital Pharmacy Director:
  In this job, the hospital pharmacy director oversees all operations of the hospital’s pharmacy, including staffing, budget, inventory, order processing, and product distribution. They are responsible for business planning and ensuring compliance with all federal and state laws. The average salary for a hospital pharmacy director is $142,000.
• Informatics Pharmacist:
  The relatively new field uses technology to make the dispensing of medication more precise, improving patient outcomes. Also known as IT pharmacists, the person may work in either the pharmacy or IT department of an organization. The average informatics pharmacist salary is $131,000.
• Oncology Pharmacist:
  This job involves dispensing medication, especially chemotherapeutics, for cancer patients. Oncology pharmacists usually work for hospitals or cancer infusion centers and may also conduct some cancer research. The average salary for an oncology pharmacist is $120,000 per year.
• Pharmacist-in-Charge:
  this role is similar to that of a pharmacy manager, but the exact role depends on state laws. In any state, a pharmacist signing an application for a pharmacy’s permit must be a pharmacist-in-charge. This professional then assumes full legal responsibility for that particular pharmacy’s operations. The hourly rate for a pharmacist in charge is approximately $60.
• Pharmacy Manager:
  this job entails overseeing the daily operations of a pharmacy, including staff. A pharmacy manager must be a licensed pharmacist. Duties include advising patients, filling and checking prescriptions, and handling any emergencies. They may also consult with doctors and administer certain immunizations. The average pharmacy manager salary is $130,000.
• Retail Pharmacist:
  A retail pharmacist practices in a retail setting, such as a drugstore, supermarket pharmacy and the like, rather than in a hospital or clinical setting. Since the retail pharmacist works with the average patient, they will often advise them on drug interactions, potential side effects, and the best ways to take the medication. The average retail pharmacist salary is $111,000.
• Veterinary Pharmacist:
  This fairly recent branch of pharmacy focuses on animals, not people and requires specialized training. A veterinary pharmacist dispenses medications for companion animals or livestock, as per the practicing veterinarian. They may work at major veterinary practices, pharmaceutical companies, or in veterinary schools. A veterinary pharmacists earns about the same average salary as a retail pharmacist, or $111,000 annually. A veterinary pharmacist can transition back to human pharmacy without much difficulty.

Pharmacist Salaries

**Salary info provided by PayScale

Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for pharmacists to rise 6% between 2016 and 2026, about the average for all occupational growth. That’s approximately 17,400 pharmacists needed in this ten-year period. A projected increase in the number of prescription medications prescribed should increase demand for pharmacy services. As the Baby Boom generation ages, they will require more prescription medications to treat the diseases predominantly found in the elderly.

Advancing From Here

Pharmacists earn good salaries, but for many, the nature of the job does not change that much over time. However, not all pharmacists work in pharmacy settings. Some pharmacists may opt to work for an insurance company in healthcare administration, developing guidelines for prescription medication approval or disapproval by the insurer. Other pharmacists may find jobs in government regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration. These jobs entail reviewing New Drug Applications and overseeing drug development. The pharmaceutical industry employs many pharmacists, who not only work in new drug development but can aid in marketing campaigns. Medical science liaisons employed by pharmaceutical companies are pharmacists providing doctors with information about the latest research in new drugs. Some pharmacists may become independent consultants in this field. Pharmacists with good writing skills are also in demand as medical writers.

Chain pharmacies increasingly dominate the market, but the pharmacist-owned pharmacy is not a thing of the past. A person who wants to own their own pharmacy should earn a master in business administration (MBA).

Career Paths in Pharmacy

Choosing a career in pharmacy is saying yes to a dynamic, challenging and rewarding career full of opportunity. Whether you are fueled by patient interaction, educating the pharmacists of tomorrow, developing more effective and safe pain medications or want to put your love of animals into practice, St. Louis College of Pharmacy at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis will prepare you for an inspired career in pharmacy.

A few popular career paths include:

Academia

Academic pharmacists play a key role in educating the pharmacists of tomorrow, including training future pharmacists and conducting research.

A few benefits of pursuing a career in academia is a more flexible schedule, interaction with students and opportunities for advancement.

Areas of academic pharmacy include:

• Clinical Practice
• Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Clinical Specialties

Specializing in specific pharmacy practice areas allows you to improve patient care with board-certified expertise.

Learn more about a career in clinical specialties pharmacy.

Community Pharmacy

Community pharmacists are a patient’s most accessible health care provider, and as medication experts, they are critical to maintaining and improving patients’ health.

As a community pharmacist you will work with customers to fill their prescriptions, explain proper medication use, and provide clinical services. Community pharmacists also work with doctors to identify possible drug interactions.

Community pharmacy careers include:

• Chain Community Pharmacy Management
• Community Health Center
• Compounding Pharmacy
• Independent Community Pharmacy

Government Pharmacy

A career in government pharmacy offers a wide variety of opportunities, including clinical, research and administrative roles at the local, state and federal agency levels.

Learn more about a career in government pharmacy.

Hospital Pharmacy

Hospital pharmacists work directly with doctors and nurses to ensure patients receive the correct medication in the right dosage and at the right time. They also may work directly with patients to educate them on medications before being discharged.

This is a great opportunity for students looking for a strong interprofessional, patient care setting.

Careers in hospital pharmacy include:

• Health-System Pharmacy Inpatient
• Health-System Pharmacy Outpatient

Long-Term Care Pharmacy

Long-term care pharmacy provides pharmacists with the opportunity to work mostly with the elderly and their families.

They provide medicine and drug treatments for long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes and rehabilitation facilities. Long-term care pharmacists also serve patients with HIV, multiple sclerosis or developmental challenges.

Learn more about a career in long-term care pharmacy.

Managed Care and Pharmacy Benefit Management

Pharmacists that work in managed care have a variety of responsibilities including dispensing drugs, monitoring patient safety, developing clinical programs and managing costs. Many pharmacists that work in managed care work for health plans and pharmacy benefit management companies.

Pharmacists in these roles are key in ensuring patients get the appropriate medications in a cost-effective way.

Careers in managed care and pharmacy benefit management include:

• Managed Care Outpatient Pharmacy
• Mail Service
• Pharmacy Benefit Management

Medical Communications

A career in medical communications embodies the spirit of educating others to improve patient care. Pharmacists who specialize in medical communications educate health care professionals, consumers and other pharmacists about pharmaceutical products, including prescription drugs.

Work settings may include medical communications and medical education agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, schools, managed care organizations, poison control centers or hospitals.

Careers in medial communications may include:

• Association Management
• Medical Communications Drug Information
• Pharmacy Law, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy

Nuclear Pharmacy

Nuclear pharmacists specialize in radioactive drugs and treatments for diseases such as cancer. They fill prescriptions, similar to community or hospital pharmacists, only these drugs are radioactive. Nuclear pharmacists may work in larger hospitals or at commercial nuclear pharmacies where radioactive drugs are prepared and delivered to smaller hospitals.

Learn more about a career in nuclear pharmacy.

Patient Care

A career in pharmacy offers a variety of opportunities to improve patient outcomes through direct patient care. Ambulatory care, home health care and office-based medication management all offer ways to be involved in direct patient care in a variety of settings.

Learn more about working in patient care pharmacy:

• Ambulatory Care
• Home Health Care
• Office-Based Medication Management

Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmaceutical researchers develop new medications, test new substances, evaluate existing products and create new dosage forms. They also ensure that drug labeling is accurate and meets the requirements of state and federal laws.

A career in research and development can include a high degree of pressure, but it is often matched by the satisfaction in helping discover and develop innovative and new treatments for better patient care.

Careers in the pharmaceutical industry include:

• Contract Research Organization
• Corporate Management
• Medical Science Liaison
• Research and Development
• Sales and Marketing

Specialty Pharmacy

Specialty pharmacists focus on appropriate drug utilization in conjunction with ongoing monitoring of patient care. As a specialty pharmacist, you dispense medication in certain chronic and life-threatening disease states. 

Learn more about a career in specialty pharmacy.

Veterinary Pharmacy

One of the key roles of a veterinary pharmacist is compounding medications to meet the specific needs of pets, their owners and veterinarians. Depending on the weight and size of the animal, prescriptions can vary and therefore need to be handmade.

To become a veterinary pharmacist, you must complete specialized training in veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics.

Learn more about a career in veterinary pharmacy.

90,000 from pharmacist to… cosmetologists

Relatively recently, tempting prospects opened up for British pharmacists – they were offered to retrain as cosmetologists. In just a few years, many pharmacists have managed to change the fuss at the pharmacy counter for the comfort of a beautician’s office.

For many years in the West there has been an intensive growth in demand for services in the field of cosmetology and aesthetic medicine. The UK is no exception: non-surgical cosmetic services are a very profitable business there! As the number of clients who try to solve their appearance problems not with a scalpel, but through less aggressive procedures that do not require much time for rehabilitation, new opportunities open up for pharmacists.

A few years ago, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) invited pharmacists to try out a new role and – to use their wealth of experience not so much for the benefit of health as for the sake of beauty, to qualify in the non-surgical sector of aesthetic medicine.

Three hits are popular procedures in the UK

Analytical resource WhatClinic.com reports that in the UK the most popular procedure (on demand) is lip augmentation, followed by fillers and closing the list of top 3 plasma lifting.

Transformation: a pharmacist can become… a cosmetologist

As the demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures grows, more and more pharmacy workers are eager to “bring beauty to the masses” and are interested in qualification requirements, training conditions, reporting and other nuances of transformation from a pharmacist to cosmetologists. True, British pharmacists do not yet become estheticians overnight – for this they need to acquire additional skills. However, in a couple of years already enough former pharmacy workers were able to master the profession of a cosmetologist. Of course, for this, they first had to undergo the necessary level of training in order to meet all the high requirements of regulatory services and safety standards.

Today they are protected by a separate Cosmetic Pharmacists Group UK (CPGUK), a professional association also dedicated to ensuring the safe, ethical practice of non-surgical cosmetic medicine among pharmacists.

Pharmaceutical Journal, a local professional publication, collected the experience of pharmacists who have decided to become cosmetologists.

As an expert

Sophie Riddell, a former pharmacist, is now Clinical Director of the Cottesloe Clinic, a facial aesthetics and medical skincare provider in Cardiff, Wales. She is also the founder of the UK-based Pharmacists Group, which promotes safe, ethical and evidence-based practices among cosmetic pharmacists.

Riddell has always loved dermatology, but her interest in aesthetics only began to emerge after 11 years in the pharmaceutical field. Having retrained, she focused on dermatological diseases and their impact on the quality of life. She studied non-surgical cosmetic procedures for a long time, training alongside surgeons and nurses. Today, fully aware of how important it is to thoroughly study all the intricacies of anatomy when performing aesthetic manipulations, Riddell is concerned about how easy it is to get permission to practice cosmetic surgery.

“You technically only need to take a half-day training course for Botox and fillers, but I find this unacceptable. Of course, the degree of difficulty of preparation should depend on the previous experience of the pharmacist, but in my opinion, the pharmacist should be well prepared to deal with any complications that may arise, be it infection or swelling. I personally constantly improve my skills in facial anatomy, because knowledge is never superfluous,” says the former pharmacist.

This level of training is well beyond the requirements of UK regulators, but Riddell believes it’s a step in the right direction: “We all have a responsibility to maintain high standards and have a part to play in the success of this program.” She notes that she does not accept patients under the age of 21, because she believes that an adequate perception of appearance at a young age is not yet sufficiently formed.

Aesthetic = Ethical

Supported by colleague Davina Gadhia, also a former pharmacist and now head of the Mirror O Mirror aesthetic clinic in Leicester, East Anglia. Her specialization is the treatment of hyperpigmentation, the introduction of fillers and other anti-aging procedures.

In Gadhia’s own words, cosmetic pharmacists are “in an ideal position” to make the most of new career opportunities, as they have a wide range of medical skills, including counseling and diagnostic evaluation. Therefore, they are able to provide a higher level of service in the aesthetic field.

For her personally, becoming an esthetician was a “natural progression” as she was able to combine her knowledge and experience with her great interest in aesthetics.

Shamelessly, Gadhia says her clients often give her positive feedback and trust her advice: “They feel they are in safe hands because pharmacists value patient safety and are also drug experts, take into account possible interactions, perform strict protocols to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the procedure.”

However, the expert admits that it was not easy: when she started, pharmacists were trained by a very limited number of organizations. So it was difficult for a pharmacist to get an adequate level of training. She is encouraged by the RPS initiative as pharmacists wishing to retrain as cosmetologists now have more options to choose from. “The main thing is that financial motivation does not cloud your clinical thinking or negatively affect the result,” she admonishes budding experts in cosmetology.

Where can a pharmacist make a career? Overview of employment options for professionals with a pharmaceutical education

Where can I get a job with a degree in pharmacist or pharmacist? The most obvious answer is a pharmacy or pharmaceutical company. Often, having eaten more than one pound of salt during the years of study, grinding their teeth on the granite of science, graduates of pharmaceutical universities do not go to work in their specialty in accordance with their diploma. Or, having worked for some time in a pharmacy as a pharmacist or at a pharmaceutical enterprise, they are looking for themselves in other areas. What are the possible reasons why pharmacists go to work outside their specialty, and where else can they apply their professional knowledge and skills? First of all, the identified questions come down to understanding whether the profession of a pharmacist / pharmacist is prestigious in Ukraine, whether it is well paid and what are the development options for specialists who have received secondary specialized or higher pharmaceutical education. To understand this topic, the editors of the APTEKA Weekly turned to Andrey Anuchin, director of the Pharma Personnel agency, which specializes in recruiting employees for the pharmaceutical business.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PHARMACIST?

According to A. Anuchin, today there is indeed a large turnover of personnel in pharmacies, and many young people, having received a pharmaceutical education, do not go to work as a pharmacist, but look for themselves in other areas. Why is this happening? One of the main reasons is low wages, of course, relative to the level of remuneration of specialists employed in other areas of the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, the salary of a pharmacist of the first table can vary from UAH 2,000 to 6,000. per month. Of course, a lot depends on the location of the outlet, turnover, the number of visitors and buyers. In pharmacies with a favorable location, a wide range of products, first-desk employees have the opportunity to receive higher wages compared to pharmacies located in less “passing” places, especially in provincial cities and villages.

A similar situation is observed in pharmaceutical production. Ordinary positions that specialists with pharmaceutical education come to, as a rule, are also poorly paid compared to the level of remuneration of specialists with the same education working in other areas of the pharmaceutical business (for example, in the field of promotion).

Thus, the desire to increase the level of income may encourage the pharmacist to look for himself in related industries where he can earn more. However, from the point of view of A. Anuchin, before deciding to change a profession, it is important to take into account a number of trends that can be traced in the pharmaceutical market, namely, the active growth of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, as well as the development of pharmacy chains and enterprises for the production of pharmaceutical products.

ARGUMENTS FOR

First, the retail segment is being consolidated. Many pharmacy chains are becoming larger, opening new branches, buying up single outlets. There is a trend towards an increase in the level of remuneration of pharmacy employees. So, according to the preliminary data of the agency “Pharma Personnel”, for 2016, on average in Ukraine, in the pharmacy segment, wages (in hryvnia) increased by 15%. For comparison, the wages of employees of pharmaceutical companies in hryvnia increased by 11.5% over this period. Thus, wages rise faster in the pharmacy segment. This may be due to the high turnover of staff in this area. Therefore, managers or owners of pharmacy chains need to increase wages in order to retain and motivate their employees.

Secondly, Ukrainian manufacturers are actively developing. Crisis of 2014–2015 significantly influenced the market structure. Many imported drugs are pegged to the currency, therefore, during the significant devaluation of the hryvnia, they significantly increased in price. This contributed to an increase in the share of consumption of more affordable domestic drugs. Thus, during the crisis, Ukrainian companies received some advantages to strengthen their positions in the market. Many of them have increased their capacities both in the field of production and promotion. This, of course, requires personnel, and they are often not enough, especially for production personnel. According to A. Anuchin, there is a large shortage of personnel in this area and, as expected, the level of wages will increase.

The expert also noted that Ukrainian pharmacists can be in high demand in neighboring countries. Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) are very promising in this regard, since they have a large shortage of personnel in the pharmacy segment due to the outflow of their own specialists to other countries. In addition, the European Parliament recently approved a visa-free regime for Ukraine, which means that fewer and fewer obstacles remain for Ukrainian specialists to go abroad.

So, before changing the field of activity, it is important to consider that:

• the pharmaceutical market is actively growing, and specialists with pharmaceutical education are needed both in pharmacies and in pharmaceutical production;
• there is a tendency to increase wages both in the pharmacy segment and in the production of pharmaceutical products (as expected, this trend will continue in the near future).

Of course, the decision to change the field of activity can be determined not only by the material factor. Perhaps the young specialist received a diploma in pharmaceutical education, but the very essence of the work of an employee of the first table or in the production of drugs was not to their liking. In this case, there are many opportunities where you can develop and apply your professional knowledge in other areas of the pharmaceutical industry.

WHERE ELSE CAN A PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION DIPLOMA BE USED?

We are used to thinking that a pharmacist works in a pharmacy and in production. But there are other participants in the process of developing and selling medicines, where specialists with pharmaceutical education are needed.

Thus, the life cycle of a drug begins at the stage of research and development. Then comes production. But before it reaches the shelves of pharmacies, it goes to distributors (warehouses) who distribute products purchased from manufacturers at retail, where it can be purchased by the end consumer. In addition, in the chain from production to purchase, the promotion service is a sales catalyst. It includes a marketing department that develops advertising messages, determines promotion channels, studies market demand, etc., as well as a sales service that conveys information about drugs, thereby stimulating the purchase and sales process. Specialists with pharmaceutical education are in demand at each of these stages.

Let us consider in more detail such areas as research and development, distribution, and promotion of drugs from the point of view of employment prospects for a specialist with a pharmaceutical education.

… IN R&D

The clinical research market is a separate area in which Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) specialize. There are a large number (about 40) of international companies in Ukraine that are engaged in clinical trials. One of the key specialties in CRO is the Clinical Research Associate. He interacts with doctors who conduct research, controls the process of maintaining drug research protocols. In this position, specialists with a pharmaceutical education are in great demand. Also, specialists with a pharmaceutical education can work at CRO as a Clinical Trial Assistant. However, it is important to keep in mind that one of the main conditions for working in these positions is knowledge of the English language, since by and large this is an international job. One specialist in the study of a particular drug can oversee several clinics not only in Ukraine, but also abroad. In addition, research protocols are conducted in English. This work is also associated with a large number of business trips – to different countries, clinics, at conferences. At the same time, the work of clinical research specialists is highly paid — the average salary in the Ukrainian market is about 1.5 thousand dollars. USA per month.

… IN THE

DISTRIBUTION SEGMENT

There are many distributors in Ukraine, both large and small companies, where specialists with pharmaceutical education are also in demand. For example, in the position of a sales manager. This work involves communication with pharmacies, finding out the needs of the client, stimulating and supporting purchases, monitoring delivery, etc. Sometimes active sales skills are required. The more an employee knows about medicines, the more in demand they are. The salary in such a position, as a rule, is about 2 times higher than the salary of a pharmacist in a pharmacy.

…IN PROMOTION

There is a huge layer of positions related to drug promotion. Stimulating demand is a very important task, because if doctors, pharmacies, patients don’t know about a drug on the market, it will remain in warehouses.

Many foreign and domestic pharmaceutical companies have their own sales service, which includes an external service (Sales Force) and a marketing department. Some companies provide outsourcing marketing services for drugs from international companies that do not have a representative office in Ukraine. According to the calculations of the company “Pharma Personnel”, about 200 promotional teams (outsourcing, domestic, foreign companies) work in Ukraine. Today, about 10 thousand medical representatives work in Ukraine. About 7 thousand more people are back office employees: managers, administrative staff, accounting, lawyers, etc. That is, in total, about 17 thousand people are employed in the field of promotion.

Professional knowledge allows specialists with pharmaceutical education to work in external service. They are in high demand in this area, especially in recent times, since fewer and fewer doctors tend to work as medical representatives, which is associated with the development of private medicine. Prospects for professional growth, and, of course, the material component increase with the receipt of a new position at a higher level. So, if the average salary of a medical representative is about UAH 13,000. per month (excluding taxes and contributions), then the salary of a regional manager is about UAH 25,000. It all depends on the desire to work (motivation), competencies (abilities) and performance (energy).

Thus, in the pharmaceutical business there are many alternative employment options for specialists with a pharmaceutical education.

IN CONCLUSION

The demand for specialists with pharmaceutical education not only does not fade away, but even increases, which is facilitated by the development of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market. In addition, there are so many different companies, employers, positions in the pharmaceutical business that the opportunities for development and revealing one’s potential are almost inexhaustible.

Over the years, the Pharma Personnel agency has accumulated many cases when, with a change in the field of activity and entering a new job, not only the financial condition of the applicant changes for the better, but he also opens up in a new position in a new position or finds a job that suits more (to your liking).

The pharmaceutical market is like a big anthill. At first glance, it seems that the movement of personnel is chaotic. But in fact, they fall into a hierarchical structure with a clear organization, business goals, and the concept of functionality in each position.