Pharmacist
Also called Dispensing chemist, community pharmacist, hospital pharmacist.
Pharmacists give advice on the use and supply of medicines and medical appliances.
- Potential salary
- £40,000 starter to £65,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 38 to 42. Working pattern: evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota.
- Career area
- Science and laboratory work
- Where they might work
- You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a GP practice, at a university, at a store or at a research facility.
- A typical task
- dispense medicines in a pharmacy, hospital or GP practice
- Subjects that may help
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- Typical route
- To become a pharmacist, you'll need to complete a master's of pharmacy (MPharm) degree, approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) which takes 4 years.
- Interest area used here
- Health and laboratory science
What you might do
- dispense medicines in a pharmacy, hospital or GP practice
- give advice about prescriptions, drug dosages, risks and how to use and store medication
- run screening programmes and buy, test and distribute medicines in a hospital
- manage stock and supervise and train staff like junior pharmacists
- do research into new medicines or run clinical trials
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- customer service skills
- knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
- maths knowledge
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
More skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to read English
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Routes into this career
University route
- To become a pharmacist, you'll need to complete a master's of pharmacy (MPharm) degree, approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) which takes 4 years.
- You'll then need to complete the pharmacist foundation training programme which takes 1 year.
- If you do not have the qualifications to get onto a master's of pharmacy degree, you could do a pharmacy foundation degree which takes 2 years.
- You could then take a job as a pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician and apply to join the master's degree in its second year.
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Biochemistry
Related, but not enough on its own. Biochemistry does not replace the MPharm.
- Chemistry
Related, but not enough on its own. Chemistry does not replace the MPharm.
- Medicinal Chemistry
Related, but not enough on its own. It does not qualify you as a pharmacist.
- Pharmacology
Related, but not enough on its own. Pharmacology does not replace an accredited pharmacy degree.
- Pharmacy
Direct qualifying route. The GPhC-accredited MPharm is the university route. Foundation training comes after it.
Career progression
- With experience you could: take a GPhC accredited pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) course to become an independent prescriber; progress to team manager, regional or national manager or become a pharmacy consultant; work in a GP practice, health centre or set up your own community pharmacy business; work as a pharmacist in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy or Army; move into teaching, scientific journalism or publishing; do a postgraduate qualification in a subject like toxicology or pharmacology and move into research.
- You can find more information about developing your career in pharmacy from the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Registration and requirements
you'll need to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council
pass background checks
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry