Pharmacists specialize in dispensing drugs prescribed by physicians and providing information to patients about medication side effects and usage. They must understand drug composition and comply with manufacturing and sales regulations. Pharmacists work in various settings like hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, and research. They must obtain a state license by passing an exam after completing a competitive pharmacy school program. Pharmacist salaries vary depending on employer and industry, but commonly range from $70,000 to over $120,000.

1. PharmacyRanaMoustafa

2. What Do Pharmacists Do?Specialize in dispensing drugs prescribed by physicians.Provide information to patients about their side effects and use.Pharmacists must understand the composition of medicines, as well as the laws that regulate their manufacture and sale.Order and store medicines, keeping them safe, pure, and effective.Required by law to maintain records of the drugs they handle.

3. Types of PharmacistsAmbulatory-visit inpatients in hospitalsClinical-work in clinics of private practices or hospitalsRetail-community chain pharmacyGovernment-U.S food and/or drug public health servicesHome Care-work with ill people in homes

4. ContinuedAcademic-teachers Hospital-main hospital pharmacyResearch-researchersIndustrial-drug companiesNuclear-work with nuclear medicineIndependent-own a pharmacy

5. Work SchedulesEarly Shift (6 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. or 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.)Late Shift (10 a.m.–8:30 p.m. or 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. or noon–10:30 p.m.)Very flexible

6. How Will I Get There?Pharmacy schools throughout the U.S have highly competitive admissions. Pharmacy evaluate student applications based on:Overall GPA, science and math GPA

7. PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) scores

8. Community service, pharmacy work experience

9. InterviewLicenses/CertificationsAll 50 states require a state’s license exam to practice. Pharmacists must pass exam after completing pharmacy school in order to be able to start working.SalariesPopular EmployersCVS/Pharmacy $70,000-$115,642