Pharmacist
What is the work like?
As a pharmacist, you would provide expert advice on the use, supply, preparation and effects of drugs and medicines. On a day-to-day basis, this could include checking prescriptions and making sure the laws controlling medicines are followed.
You would usually be based in a community or hospital pharmacy.
As a community pharmacist, based in a retail environment, your work could include:
- giving healthcare advice to the general public and treating minor ailments
- delivering medication to clients who are house-bound
- visiting care homes to advise on the use and storage of medication
- preparing medicines bought over-the-counter
- giving advice on how to use medicines correctly, including dosage and any hazards
- selling a range of products
- ordering and controlling stock
- running or helping to run a business, including supervising and training staff.
In a hospital setting, your duties could include:
- giving advice on the dosage and most appropriate form of medicine (for example, a tablet, inhaler or injection)
- manufacturing medicines (for example, creating a treatment or solution when there are no ready-made preparations available)
- visiting wards, giving clinical advice to colleagues and supplying them with current information on drugs
- purchasing, quality testing and distributing medicines throughout the hospital
- supervising pre-registration trainees and junior pharmacists.
You could also work as a primary care pharmacist, for example, giving prescribing advice to GPs, or you could work in education or industry, carrying out research into new medicines and running clinical trials.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Before you can work as a pharmacist, you need to complete:
- a four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree
- a one-year pre-registration training course in a pharmacy
- a registration exam.
Your degree and training must be approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), the professional body for pharmacists. See the RPSGB website for a list of approved degree courses.
To get on to a degree, you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including maths and English, plus three A levels, usually in chemistry and two other science-based subjects such as biology, maths or physics. Check with course providers for exact entry criteria because alternative qualifications may also be accepted.
When you have finished your degree, you can apply for the one-year pre-registration programme. This includes spending at least six months in a community or hospital pharmacy and leads to a final registration exam. For details of pre-registration training vacancies, check the NHS Hospital Pharmacy Pre-registration Training website.
Once you have completed all three stages of training you can apply for state registration and membership of the RPSGB.
What further training and development can I do?
As a qualified pharmacist you need to continue your professional development throughout your career. The RPSGB website has details of a range of courses and workshops that can help you keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
If you want to go into research work you will need to gain a postgraduate qualification in, for example, toxicology or pharmacology – you are likely to need a first or upper second class honours degree in pharmacy or a related subject for this.
Where can I go for more information?
1 Lambeth High StreetLondon
SE1 7JN
Tel: 020 7735 9141
Belfast
BT7 1HL
Tel: 028 9032 6927
London
SW1A 2DY
Tel: 020 7930 3477
www.abpi.org.uk
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Pharmacists can earn between around £20,200 and £32,600 a year.
- Consultants and team managers may earn around £70,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
As a community pharmacist, you could work up to 48 hours a week. However, part-time work is often available.
In a hospital setting, you would usually work around 37.5 hours a week, including weekends and an on-call rota.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good communication skills
- an interest in the health and wellbeing of people
- a high level of scientific understanding and ability
- a logical approach to problem solving
- good maths skills with the ability to calculate and use scientific formulae
- accuracy and attention to detail
- the ability to organise and prioritise your work
- a responsible and security conscious attitude
- the ability to train and supervise others
- good business skills (for running a community pharmacy).
What opportunities are there?
You could work in the NHS as well as in retail, education and industry.
There is a formal career structure in the NHS and with experience you could progress to team manager or pharmacy consultant. Promotion opportunities are also good with larger pharmacy chains and you could progress to a regional or national management post. With financial backing, you may be able to set up your own community pharmacy business.
With further training you could go on to teach pharmacy students at university. There are also opportunities to work overseas, or as a locum (filling temporary or holiday posts). You could move into related areas such as forensic science, the cosmetics industries or scientific journalism.
Jobs can be advertised in the local and national press, and industry journals such as the New Scientist, Chemist and Druggist and The Pharmaceutical Journal. You may also find the following useful for vacancies and further reading: (links open in new window)
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