What Is a Pharmacist ?
Pharmacists are professionals trained to process, mix and distribute prescription drugs to patients. Pharmacists typically spend their time overseeing the general operations of their pharmaceutical centers and advising patients and physicians on the selection and dosage of particular medications.
They consult with patients about how to take the medications that have been prescribed and any possible side effects that may occur. They also monitor the progress of patents receiving different treatment programs and oftentimes make recommendations to doctors about dosage amounts and possible drug interactions. Pharmacists are experts on the medications that they distribute and are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of every prescription that has to be filled.
Pharmacists oversee pharmacy technicians and typically delegate the filling of prescriptions to those employees. Most pharmacists work around 40 hours a week in clean, quiet settings. Pharmacists must have the ability to remember details about a wide range of medications and explain those details to patients.
How to Become a Pharmacist
In order to become a pharmacist, an individual must earn a PharmD degree from an accredited college, university or school of pharmacy. A PharmD degree is basically a doctorate in pharmacy studies. There are many online and traditional universities that offer accredited PharmD degrees.
Most pharmacists had to complete six years of school in order to get their degrees, but it is also common to have to complete eight years. College students who know they would like to become pharmacists are able to start a four-year pharmacy program after finishing two years of undergraduate studies. They must also pass the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Courses in pharmacy programs usually include chemistry, physics, anatomy, biology and physiology.
Students who complete an accredited, four-year pharmacy program will receive their PharmD and will be qualified to work as pharmacists in the United States. Students should seek out programs with the most opportunity for hands-on training.
Pharmacist Career Outlook & Salary
The overall career outlook for pharmacists in the United States is projected to be good for the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacists is estimated to increase by 17% from 2008 to 2018. This is a faster rate of growth than that of most other occupations in the U.S. In 2008, there were 269,900 people working as pharmacists. Around 65% of those employees worked in retail pharmacies, and about 22% worked in hospital settings.
Pharmacists are usually salaried employees, although some do work on hourly wages. The median annual salaries of pharmacists working in 2008 were $106,410. The middle 50% of pharmacists had salaries between $92,670 and $121,310 annually. The highest 10% made over $131,440 annually, and the lowest 10% earned under $77,390 per year.
Pharmacists who participate in continuing education and increasingly expand their knowledge of new medications in the market will see the best potential for advancement in the industry.
