Pharmacists

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Pharmacists dispense 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 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 only a small part of a pharmacist's practice, because most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a standard dosage and drug delivery form.

Pharmacists in community or retail pharmacies counsel patients and answer questions about prescription drugs, such as those about possible adverse reactions or interactions. They provide information about over-the-counter drugs and make recommendations. Those who own or manage community pharmacies may sell non-health-related merchandise, hire and supervise personnel and oversee the general operation of the pharmacy.

Pharmacists in hospitals and clinics dispense medications and advise the medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs. They also assess, plan and monitor drug programs or regimens. Pharmacists also may evaluate drug use patterns and outcomes for patients in hospitals or managed care organizations.

Pharmacists who work in home health-care monitor drug therapy and prepare medications for use in the home.

Most pharmacists keep confidential computerized records of patients' drug therapies to ensure that harmful drug interactions do not occur. Pharmacists are responsible for the accuracy of every prescription that is filled, but they often rely upon pharmacy technicians and pharmacy aides to assist them.

Many pharmacists spend most of their workday on their feet. Pharmacists may work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Most full-time salaried pharmacists work about 40 hours a week.

Training and qualifications

A license to practice pharmacy is required in all states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. To obtain a license, you must serve an internship under a licensed pharmacist, graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy and pass a state examination. All states except California and Florida currently grant a license without extensive re-examination to qualified pharmacists already licensed by another state. States may require continuing education for license renewal.

Pharmacy programs grant the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), which requires at least six years of postsecondary study and the passing of the licensure examination of a state board of pharmacy. The Pharm.D., a four-year program that requires at least two years of college study prior to admittance, has replaced the bachelor of science degree, which will cease to be awarded after 2005.

Master's and Ph.D. degrees, awarded after completion of a Pharm.D., are designed for those who want more laboratory and research experience. Many master's and Ph.D. holders work in research for a drug company or teach at a university.

Pharmacists should have scientific aptitude, good communication skills and a desire to help others. They also must be conscientious and pay close attention to detail because the decisions they make affect human lives.

Job outlook

Very good employment opportunities are expected for pharmacists through 2010 because the number of degrees granted in pharmacy are not expected to be as numerous as the number of job openings.

Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010 because of the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population and greater use of medication. Other factors likely to increase the demand for pharmacists include scientific advances that will make more drug products available, new developments in genome research and medication distribution systems and increasingly sophisticated consumers seeking more information about drugs.

Retail pharmacies are taking steps to increase their prescription volume to make up for declining dispensing fees, and faster than average employment growth is expected in retail pharmacies. Employment in hospitals is expected to grow about as fast as average, as hospitals reduce inpatient stays, downsize and consolidate departments.

Pharmacy services are shifting to long-term, ambulatory and home care settings, where opportunities for pharmacists will be best. New opportunities are emerging for pharmacists in managed-care organizations, where they may analyze trends and patterns in medication use for their populations of patients and for pharmacists trained in research, disease management and pharmacoeconomics — determining the costs and benefits of different drug therapies.

Earnings

Pharmacists held about 217,000 jobs in 2000. About six out of 10 worked in community pharmacies, either independently owned or part of a drug store chain, grocery store, department store or mass merchandiser.

Median annual earnings of pharmacists in 2000 were $70,950. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of pharmacists in 2000 were as follows:

Department stores $73,730
Grocery stores 72,440
Drug stores and proprietary stores 72,110
Hospitals 68,760

Related links

For information on pharmacy as a career, preprofessional and professional requirements, programs offered by colleges of pharmacy and student financial aid:

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 1426 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, 700 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068.

For general information on careers in pharmacy:

National Association of Chain Drug Stores, 413 N. Lee St., P.O. Box 1417-D49, Alexandria, VA 22313-1480.

Adapted from the Labor Department's Occupational Outlook Handbook.