Pharmacist

phar·​ma·​cist | \fär-mə-sist\
noun
a health care professional licensed to treat disease, manage medications, monitor drug interactions, provide certain primary and specialty care services, and prescribe and dispense medications.

With over 300 distinct job descriptions, pharmacists are one of the most versatile members of the interprofessional health care team.
As medication experts, their knowledge places them at the center of patient care within emergency rooms, specialty clinics, oncology centers, cardiac care units, poison control centers, and especially community pharmacies.

In the United States, pharmacists are licensed to practice after receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and passing a state board of pharmacy examination. Much like other health care providers, pharmacists can practice at varying levels and may choose to specialize through further training and certification.

Advanced practice pharmacists provide the highest level of care and exercise prescriptive authority, enabling them to provide primary and specialty care services.

Why Pharmacy?

Pharmacy combines science, health care, computer technology, business, math and counseling to improve the health of local and global communities. While careers in the sciences traditionally involve limited interaction with the public, pharmacy offers a rare balance of independence and interaction as you could expect to both collaborate with fellow providers and counsel patients. The versatility of pharmacy also means that there is no limit to how and where you practice. Looking for excitement? Pharmacists even have a place on the front lines, offering services during natural disasters, epidemics, and other crises.

Room to grow

There is and will always be need for pharmacists in a wide variety of work settings: community pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, the pharmaceutical industry, mail order pharmacy centers, managed care organizations, and government agencies. Movement between various industries can be easy, offering countless opportunities over the course of an entire career. Great pharmacists are life-long learners and pursue continuing education opportunities allowing them to be on the forefront of new developments in the medicines and health care.

A trusted profession

Pharmacists are consistently ranked as one of the most highly trusted professionals because of the important care and health-related services they provide. If friends and/or family members frequently turn to you for advice, pharmacy may be a great field for you to explore.

Excellent earning potential and job security

Pharmacy is one of the most financially rewarding careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a pharmacist in 2020 was *$128,710. Pharmacists are consistently in demand, even in times of economic downturn, war, political reform and natural disasters, offering a high level of job security.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacists