Pharmacist

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Pharmacist

Overview:Pharmacists distribute drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Pharmacists also monitor the health and progress of patients in response to drug therapy to ensure the safe and effective use of medication.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Overview (continued):Pharmacists must understand the use, clinical effects, and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties. Compounding -- the actual mixing of ingredients to form powders, tablets, capsules, ointments, and solutions -- is a small part of a pharmacist’s practice, because most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a standard dosage and drug delivery form.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Preparation:Courses offered at colleges of pharmacy are designed to teach students about all aspects of drug therapy. In addition, schools teach students how to communicate with patients and other health care providers about drug information and patient care. Students also learn professional ethics, how to develop and manage medication distribution systems, and concepts of public health. The Pharm.D. degree has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) degree, which is no longer being awarded.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Preparation (continued):In addition to receiving classroom instruction, students in Pharm.D. programs spend about one-fourth of their time learning in a variety of pharmacy practice settings under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. The Pharm.D. degree has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) degree, which is no longer being awarded.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Preparation (continued):The Pharm.D. is a 4-year program that requires at least 2 years of college study prior to admittance, although most applicants have completed 3 years. Entry requirements usually include courses in mathematics and natural sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences. Approximately two-thirds of all colleges require applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).A full list of accredited programs is on the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center website.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Day in the Life:Pharmacists work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Many pharmacists spend most of their workday on their feet. When working with sterile or dangerous pharmaceutical products, pharmacists wear gloves and masks and work with other special protective equipment. Many community and hospital pharmacies are open for extended hours or around the clock, so pharmacists may work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Day in the Life (continued):Consultant pharmacists may travel to nursing homes or other facilities to monitor patients’ drug therapy. About 21 percent of pharmacists work part time. Most full-time salaried pharmacists worked approximately 40 hours a week. Some, including many self-employed pharmacists, worked more than 50 hours a week.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Earnings:Median annual wage and salary earnings of pharmacists is about $84,900. The middle 50 percent earned between $75,720 and $94,850 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,200, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $109,850 a year.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Employment:Pharmacists hold about 230,000 jobs in the United States. About 61 percent work in community pharmacies that are either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, grocery store, department store, or mass merchandiser. Most community pharmacists are salaried employees, but some are self-employed owners. About 24 percent of salaried pharmacists work in hospitals. Others work in clinics, mail-order pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, home health care agencies, or the Federal Government.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Career Path Forecast:According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, very good employment opportunities are expected for pharmacists over the 2004–14 period because the number of job openings created by employment growth and the need to replace pharmacists who leave the occupation or retire are expected to exceed the number of degrees granted in pharmacy. Despite an increase in enrollments, job openings should still be more numerous than those seeking employment.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Career Path Forecast (continued):Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014, because of the increasing demand for pharmaceuticals, particularly from the growing elderly population. Other factors likely to increase the demand for pharmacists include scientific advances that will make more drug products available, and new developments in genome research and medication distribution systems.

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist

Resources:More information about a career as an Pharmacist is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including accredited university programs, suggestions for precollege students, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF summarizing the field.

Associations: Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists American Pharmacists Association American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

Overview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources

Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Pharmacist