Should I be a pharmacist? 💊

When you read the word "pharmacist", what do you think of?

Maybe something like this?

Photo by Tbel Abuseridze on Unsplash

There's more to it than you think! Pharmacists are an essential part of the healthcare system. But how do you know if it's a good career path for you?

A pharmacist's main roles include:

• Distributing medications to patients

• Providing information on how to use medication properly and safely (e.g., correct dose, possible side effects)

• Developing treatment plans with patients and other healthcare professionals

Other services they might provide are:

• Vaccinations

• Wellness Services (e.g., diabetes management)

Pharmacists can have very diverse careers! Some other areas they may work in include:

• Research (e.g., clinical trials for new drugs)

• Public Health (e.g., preventing spread of disease, developing health policies)

While you may be used to seeing pharmacists at your local drugstore or community pharmacy, they can also be found in a variety of settings! These include:

Hospitals

The Pharmaceutical Industry

Colleges and Schools

Federal Government

Basic requirements for becoming a pharmacist include:

• Completing at least 2 years of undergraduate studies, including courses required for admission to pharmacy programs (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, etc.)

• Studying in a pharmacy program for a Pharm.D. degree, usually for 4 years

• Passing a licensing examination so you can legally practice

• Some hands-on experience like a co-op or internship

The average annual salary in the US is $140,182 USD.

The average annual salary in Canada is $111,264 CAD.

You'll enjoy it if you:

📖 Love to learn

🧪 Enjoy science

🧩 Like challenges and problem solving

🤝 Work well with others and are a good leader

💊 Hope to help people and improve the health of your community

📅 Want to have choice in your work hours and environment

But not if you:

• Don't enjoy working with data and details

• Don't like following set procedures

If a career as a pharmacist sounds interesting to you:

Browse these Bytes to learn more about other career options!