Pharmacist Qualification

What is the paharmacist like?

As a pharmacist, you would provide expert advice on the use, supply, preparation and effects of drugs and medicines. On a day-to-day basis, this could include checking prescriptions and making sure the laws controlling medicines are followed.

You could work in a variety of settings, but most pharmacists are based in a community or hospital pharmacy.

As a community pharmacist, based in a retail environment, your work could include:

* giving healthcare advice to the general public and treating minor ailments
* delivering medication to clients who are house-bound
* visiting nursing and residential care homes to advise on the use and storage of medication
* preparing medicines bought over-the-counter
* providing information on how to use medicines correctly – highlighting dosage and any possible dangers
* selling a range of products
* ordering and controlling stock
* running or helping to run a profitable business, including supervising and training staff.

Your duties as a pharmacist in a hospital, may include:

* giving advice on the dosage and most appropriate form of medicine (for example, a tablet, inhaler or injection)
* manufacturing medicines (for example, creating a treatment or solution when there are no ready-made preparations available)
* visiting wards, giving clinical advice to colleagues and supplying them with current information on drugs
* purchasing, quality testing and distributing medicines throughout the hospital
* supervising pre-registration trainees and junior pharmacists.

You could also work with wholesalers, health authorities, universities and research institutes, as well as in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. As a pharmacist in industry, your work is likely to involve:

* researching and developing new medicines
* carrying out experiments and evaluating results
* producing reports and making recommendations.

What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

Before you can work as a pharmacist, you will need to complete:

* a four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree
* a one-year pre-registration training course in a pharmacy (see below for details)
* a registration exam (see below).

Your degree and training must be approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists. See the RPSGB website for further information including a list of approved degree courses.

To get onto a degree, you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including maths and English plus three A levels, preferably in chemistry and two other science-based subjects such as biology, maths or physics. Check with course providers for exact entry requirements because alternative qualifications may also be accepted.

When you have completed all three stages of training you can apply for state registration (essential if you wish to practise in the NHS) and membership of the RPSGB.
What further training and development can I do?

Your work-based training begins once you are on the one-year pre-registration programme, which includes spending at least six months in an approved pharmacy either in a community or hospital setting. At the end of this period you will need to pass a final registration exam, which will then allow you to practice as qualified pharmacist. For details of pre-registration training vacancies, check the NHS Hospital Pharmacy Pre-registration Training website.

As a qualified pharmacist you would be expected to carry on developing your skills and knowledge throughout your career. The RPSGB website has details of a range of courses and workshops that can help you keep up to date.

If you want to go into research work you will need to gain a postgraduate qualification in, for example, toxicology or pharmacology – you are likely to need a first or upper second class honours degree in pharmacy or a related subject for this.


Pharmacy online