Earn Your Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy Technology Online

Those choosing a career in pharmacy will typically spend six to eight years in school, but the reward is an occupation that is both fast-growing and lucrative. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of pharmacists will increase by 25% this decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Pharmacist Jobs

Pharmacists work primarily in locations that are most convenient for customers, from the traditional drug stores to big box retail chains and grocery stores. Some pharmacists also work in healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics.

Typically, those who become pharmacists either teach, work in retail locations dispensing drugs as prescribed by physicians or as clinical pharmacists who often develop treatment plans for patients in tandem with doctors. They can also attain jobs as consultants, working with insurance companies or other healthcare providers on improving pharmacy services for insurance companies or other healthcare providers.

What Pharmacists Do

A pharmacist's duties can vary depending on where they work. The vast majority, however, work in retail pharmacies. There, the duties typically start with verifying instructions from physicians on prescriptions and ensuring that the proper doses are administered. They may also answer patient questions, explain to them how and when medication should be taken and check medical histories to ensure a patient does not react badly to medication.

Pharmacists also oversee the business of a pharmacy, making sure staff members are properly maintaining medical and financial records. They can also be called upon to advise patients on how exercise and diet can affect them while on their medication.

Pharmacy Degrees

Since the early 1990s, anyone wishing to become a pharmacist in the United States must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Some pharmacy students will first get their pharmacy bachelor's degree in a science field. Once they have earned their PharmD, pharmacists must then obtain a license by passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam. Most states also require passing a Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam.