Pharmacists

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This occupation is part of the Healthcare Practitioner and Technical cluster

About the Job

Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

It is also Called

  • Apothecary
  • Clinical Pharmacist
  • Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Druggist
  • Hospital Pharmacist
  • Industrial Pharmacist
  • Outpatient Pharmacy Manager
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacist Apprentice
  • Pharmacist in Charge (PIC)

What They Do

  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
  • Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
  • Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
  • Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
  • Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
  • Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
  • Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
  • Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.

Interests

People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: ICS.

This means people who work in this occupation generally have Investigative interests, but also prefer Conventional and Social environments.

Work Values

People who work in this occupation generally prize Recognition, but also value Support and Relationships in their jobs.

Things They Need to Know

  • Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Things They Need to Be Able to Do

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Additional Resources


Education Required

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Wages

In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $125,800.00 with most people making between $97,800.00 and $150,680.00

Outlook

2.67%
avg. annual growth

During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 23,600 people in California. It is projected that there will be 29,900 employed in 2020.

This occupation will have about 630 openings due to growth and about 600 replacement openings for approximately 1,230 total annual openings.

Common College Majors

Industries that Employ this Occupation

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