What does a Pharmacist do?
Pharmacists typically work for pharmacies in grocery stores or drug stores, but they can also work in healthcare facilities like hospitals or medical clinics to provide medication to patients. They work closely with other pharmacy staff to receive prescription orders and oversee prescription refills. Their job is to fill prescriptions, label them with the correct name and address and place them in organized compartments. They also contact customers when their prescriptions are ready. They may also be responsible for helping customers identify overt-the-counter medications for allergies or chronic pain that don’t require prescription medication.
Pharmacist skills and qualifications
Pharmacists need several skills to complete their duties properly. Skills for a Pharmacist may include:
- Strong mathematical skills and understanding of science
- Ability to measure substances accurately
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to detect and investigate mistakes in a patient’s medications and prescriptions
- In-depth knowledge of drugs and their potential side effects
Pharmacist salary expectations
The average salary for a Pharmacist is $119,461 per year. Exact salary may vary depending on the applicant’s education, experience level and geographical location. Pharmacists generally stay in their positions for one to three years.
Pharmacist salary expectations
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Common salary:
64.10 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
31.25 -200.00 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Pharmacist education and training requirements
Pharmacists generally need a Doctor of Pharmacy degree before they are allowed to practice. They may also need to pass licensing exams such as the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination before they take a professional position. They may need 1 or 2 years of training in a residency program before they apply to an open position. If applicants should be familiar with any tools or techniques before they start their first day with a company or organization, related training may be a prerequisite.
Pharmacist experience requirements
How much experience a candidate should have before applying to an open Pharmacist position depends on the specific job. If the position requires only a base knowledge of pharmacy, they may only need to complete their education and perhaps a residency program. If the Pharmacist position requires more in-depth knowledge or is a supervisory role, applicants could need a number of years’ related managerial experience before applying to the Pharmacist job posting. If the Pharmacist will be practicing in a specialty pharmacy, such as a veterinary, military or healthcare facility, they could need experience working in a similar setting.
Job description samples for similar positions
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