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PHARMACIST JOB DESCRIPTION Pharmacists dispense drugs to individuals with a prescription. They manage an inventory of prescription drugs and provide information about those drugs. They also aid patients by explaining instructions. JOB OUT LOOKEmployment is expected to increase much faster than the average through 2016. As a result of rapid growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupation, job prospects should be excellent. Employment change. Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing numbers of middle-aged and elderly people—who use more prescription drugs than younger people—will continue to spur demand for pharmacists throughout the projection period. Other factors likely to increase the demand for pharmacists include scientific advances that will make more drug products available and the coverage of prescription drugs by a greater number of health insurance plans and Medicare. As the use of prescription drugs increases, demand for pharmacists will grow in most practice settings, such as community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and mail-order pharmacies. As the population ages, assisted living facilities and home care organizations should see particularly rapid growth. Demand will also increase as cost conscious insurers, in an attempt to improve preventative care, use pharmacists in areas such as patient education and vaccination administration. Demand is also increasing in managed care organizations where pharmacists analyze trends and patterns in medication use, and in pharmacoeconomics—the cost and benefit analysis of different drug therapies. New jobs also are being created in disease management—the development of new methods for curing and controlling diseases—and in sales and marketing. Rapid growth is also expected in pharmacy informatics—the use of information technology to improve patient care. Job prospects. Excellent opportunities are expected for pharmacists over the 2006 to 2016 period. Job openings will result from rapid employment growth, and from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons. Employment Facts about Pharmacists:Pharmacists held about 243,000 jobs in 2006. More than half worked in community pharmacies (62%). Most were salaried employees, but some were self employed. Almost a quarter worked in hospitals. The rest worked in clinics, mail order and Internet pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, physicians' offices, or for the Federal government. Educational Requirements for Pharmacists: Pharmacists must earn a Pharm.D. degree from an accredited college or school of pharmacy. The Pharm.D. degree has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, which is no longer being awarded. To be admitted to a Pharm.D. program, an applicant must have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study, although most applicants have completed 3 or more years. Other entry requirements usually include courses in mathematics and natural sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences. In 2007, 92 colleges and schools of pharmacy were accredited to confer degrees by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). About 70 percent of Pharm.D. programs require applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). Other Requirements for Pharmacists: In the U.S., pharmacists must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Most states also require graduates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), a test of pharmacy law, also administered by the NABP. Other states administer another exam that tests knowledge of pharmacy law. Several states also require additional state-specific exams. All states, except California, grant license transfers from other states. Pharmacists must have scientific aptitude and good communication skills and be detail-oriented. Advancement of Pharmacists: Pharmacists working in independent pharmacies may become owners or part-owners after they gain experience and secure the necessary capital. Those in chain drugstores may be promoted to pharmacy supervisors or store managers, then to district or regional managers and eventually to executive positions at the headquarters. Hospital pharmacists may be promoted to supervisory positions. Those who work in the pharmaceutical industry may advance in areas including marketing, sales, research, or quality control. Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Pharmacists (U.S., 2006) * Department stores: $99,050 Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much pharmacists currently earn in your city. On a typical day a pharmacist will: * advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications; Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Pharmacists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm (visited May 16, 2009).
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