Pharmacist
Do you have an aptitude for science and chemistry? Do you have strong interpersonal skills and a desire to help others? Decisions that pharmacists make involving medications affect human lives, so pharmacists must be conscientious and pay close attention to detail. Do you have these attributes? If so, a career in pharmacy might be the right one for you, but you must be willing to invest the time to obtain a doctoral degree as the standard education level for entry into practice as a pharmacist is a doctoral degree (PharmD).
Pharmacists distribute prescription drugs to individuals and also advise their patients, as well as physicians and other health care practitioners, on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Compounding - the actual mixing of ingredients to form medications - is a small part of a pharmacist's job, because most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a standard dosage and drug delivery form. Most pharmacists work in community settings, such as retail drugstore, or in a health care facility, such as a hospital, nursing home, mental health institution or neighborhood health clinic.
Pharmacists in health care facilities dispense medication and advise the medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs and may make sterile solutions to be administered intravenously. As part of the health care team, pharmacists identify the medications effective in the course of care. Pharmacists often counsel hospitalized patients on the use of drugs before patients are discharged.
Earnings:
Listed below are hourly/annual wages for both entry level and experienced pharmacists and the annual median hourly/annual wage.**
| Entry Wage |
Median Wage |
Experienced Wage |
| Hourly |
Annual |
Hourly |
Annual |
Hourly |
Annual |
| $37.50 |
$78,017 |
$49.95 |
$103,896 |
$53.90 |
$112106 |
**Wage Data 2009, State of Illinois Department of Employment Security
Work Environment:
Pharmacists work in clean, well-lighted and well-ventilated areas. Many pharmacies spend most of their workday on their feet. When working with sterile or dangerous pharmaceutical products, pharmacists wear gloves, masks, and other protective equipment.
Most full-time pharmacists work approximately 40 hours per week. Many hospital pharmacists are open for extended hours or around the clock, so pharmacists in that setting may be required to work nights, weekends and holidays.
Job Outlook:
Employment 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.
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.
Education:
The standard for entry into the practice of pharmacy is a doctoral degree (PharmD). Depending on a school's requirements for entry into its pharmacy program, the length of time needed to obtain a PharmD may vary.
Education/Professional Requirements:
To apply for a license as a pharmacist, applicants must submit to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation, a completed, signed application, on forms supplied by the Division that includes:
- The fee for an application for a pharmacist license of $75.
- Certification of graduation from an approved program of pharmacy.
- Proof of successful completion of the examination approved by the Division of Professional Regulation.
Professional Organization: