Also see a sample 4-year plan.
Pharmacists Occupational Outlook
USC College of Phamacy Requirements
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who ensure the safe and effective use of medications. They work in community pharmacies, hospitals, research, industry, public health, and more.
A pharmacist is a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in the safe and effective use of medications. Pharmacists ensure patients receive the correct prescriptions, understand how to use them, and are aware of potential side effects or drug interactions. Pharmacists are medication experts, but their role has expanded significantly to include: patient counseling, immunizations, chronic disease management, health screenings, and collaborating with healthcare teams.
They can work in a variety of environments:
To become a pharmacist in the US, one needs to:
A successful pharmacist should have:
Median Salary (2023): $129,000–$145,000/year
Job Growth: 2–3% projected (slower than average)
Demand Areas: Clinical pharmacy, ambulatory care, rural pharmacies, and specialty pharmacy. While
retail pharmacy job growth is stabilizing, clinical, ambulatory care, and specialty roles are expanding as healthcare teams rely more on pharmacists for chronic disease management and preventive
care.
Reasons to became a pharmacist:
An Exciting Career Choice
Pharmacy combines science, health care, computer technology, business, math and
counseling. Pharmacy offers a rare balance of independence and interaction with patients.
If
you’re looking for adventure, you might be surprised to learn that pharmacy can be
very
exciting: Pharmacists are educated to recognize signs and symptoms of diseases that
may be
used in a biological attack. The accessibility of pharmacies could be one of the keys
to a
successful mass immunization or drug distribution program in an emergency.
A Trusted Profession
According to recent Gallup Polls, pharmacists’ honesty and ethics were rated as “high”
or “very
high” by a large majority of Americans. If friends and/or family members frequently
turn to you
for advice, pharmacy may be a great field for you to explore.
A Variety Of Career Opportunities
There is a need for pharmacists in a wide variety of work settings: community pharmacies,
hospitals, long-term care facilities, the pharmaceutical industry, mail order pharmacy
centers,
managed care organizations, and government agencies. What’s more, those with advanced
pharmacy training can often move easily between these different areas.
Excellent Earning Potential And Job Security
Pharmacy is also one of the most financially rewarding careers. According to the US
Bureau of
Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for pharmacists in 2021 was $128,570. Pharmacists
are also consistently in demand, even in times of economic downturns, war, political
reform
and natural disasters, so there is a relatively high level of job security that comes
with a career
in pharmacy.
Helping People Get Better
Patients do best when pharmacists are part of their healthcare teams because pharmacists
are the medication specialists. According to the CDC, “The evidence is strong that
when
pharmacists are members of the health care team, outcomes related to preventing or
managing chronic disease (e.g., blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, obesity,
smoking
cessation) and medication adherence improve”.
Working Directly With Patients
Pharmacists are accessible in all healthcare settings: inpatient, ambulatory and community
settings. Pharmacists are available to see patients at convenient times every day
of the week,
during morning, evening and weekend hours, and without an appointment. They are licensed
to
provide immunizations in all 50 states. Pharmacists may also provide other services
such as
asthma care, blood pressure monitoring services, cholesterol screening, diabetes disease
management, smoking cessation consultation and more.
Demand For Pharmacists
There is an ongoing demand for pharmacy services throughout the U.S. in most sectors
of the
profession. The demand is fueled by the following factors such as: Increased demand
for
patient service, number of prescriptions filled each year and number of medicines
available on
the market.
Major Innovations In Medication Therapy
One of the many exciting developments in the pharmacy profession is the growth of
a
discipline, known as pharmacogenomics. Genetic variations in genes can affect a body’s
response to a drug. In the future, specialists in this area hope to sequence the entire
human
gene in each individual. Pharmacists and other healthcare providers will be able to
use
that information to select the best medicines, treat diseases earlier than now possible,
or
prevent them entirely with individually-tailored drug therapies.
State-Of-The-Art Technology
Digital innovations in pharmacy include electronic prescriptions, robotics for central
prescription processing and nationwide prescription monitoring programs, as well as
pharmaceutical research. These technological advances enhance efficiency and
help to promote patient safety. Pharmacists can provide innovative approaches to medication
management, including recommended therapies, and the identification and resolution
of
problems with the aid of state-of-the-art technology.
Questions? Contact pharm4me@aacp.org
Courses:
Always check the PharmD program websites for school-specific requirements using PharmCAS.
GPA:
Many pharmacy schools no longer require the PCAT, but some still recommend or allow it. If required, take it no later than a year before applying.
PCAT Content Areas:
Competitive scores are generally above the 70th percentile.
Clinical Exposure:
Other Experiences:
Keep a journal or spreadsheet of your experiences and hours. Be proactive about forming relationships with professors and pharmacists—they’ll write your letters. Join professional organizations like:
PharmCAS (Centralized Application Service):
Timeline to Prepare:
Pharmacy schools look for:
When people consider a career in pharmacy, they may think of their local community pharmacist dispensing medications and providing healthcare advice. While community pharmacy is a common and rewarding career pathway, it isn’t the only option for pharmacists! In fact, according to a recent resource published by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), there are 100+ career pathways that pharmacists can pursue. Here’s a look at their expansive list broken down by category. Some pharmacy career pathways may require additional work experience, education, or training beyond a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
Pharmacy Practice & Specialty Roles
The career pathways in this category are among the most common career options for pharmacists. They generally offer opportunities for direct patient care in a variety of clinical settings.
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist • Aseptic Infusion & IV Manufacturing Pharmacist • Bariatrics Pharmacist • Biologics & Biosimilars Pharmacist • Chief Clinical / Medical Officer • Chief Pharmaceutical Officer • Clinical Director • Clinical Pharmacist • Clinical Programs Leader • Community Pharmacist • Compounding Pharmacist • Cosmeceuticals / Cosmetics Pharmacist • Critical Care Pharmacist • Director of Clinical Solutions • Emergency Care Pharmacist • Functional Medicine Pharmacist • General Practice Pharmacist • Geriatrics Pharmacist • Home Care Pharmacist Pharmaceutical Industry Roles Pharmacy careers in this category are great for those with medication expertise and a strong interest in business or research. • Biomedical Researcher • Clinical Research Associate • Digital Diagnostics Researcher • Digital Therapeutics Researcher • Drug Safety Associate • Forensic Scientist • Industrial Manufacturing • Marketing & Medical Strategy • Medical / Drug Information Associate • Medical Science Liaison • Medicinal Chemist • Home Health Equipment • Hormone Medicine Pharmacist • Hospital Pharmacist • Immunization Pharmacist • Infectious Disease Pharmacy / Antimicrobial Steward • Infectious Disease Testing Pharmacist Management Roles • Internal Medicine / General Medicine Pharmacist • Long-Term Care Operations Pharmacist • Managed Care Pharmacist • Mental Health & Addictions Pharmacist • Natural Supplements & Herbal Medicine Pharmacist • Nutraceutical Pharmacist • Oncology Pharmacist • Outpatient Pharmacist • Pain Management / Opioid Steward • Pediatric Pharmacist • Pharmacy Manager / Pharmacy Operations Manager • Regulatory Health Project Leader • Sexual Health Pharmacist • Surgical Care Pharmacist • Systemic Therapy Pharmacist • Travel Medicine Pharmacist • Veterinary Pharmacist Pharmacodynamics, Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetics, & Quantitative System Pharmacology Modelling) • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative • Pharmaceutical Scientist • Pharmaceutical Study / Research Lead • Pharmacist Clinical Pathologist • Pharmacologist • Pharmacovigilance Specialist • Product Development • Quality Assurance • Quality Control Chemist • Regulatory Affairs Pharmacist • Regulatory Affairs Specialist • Research Scientist • Pharmaceutical Modeler (Pharmacokinetics, • Toxicology Pharmacist.
Academic Pharmacy Roles Pharmacy careers in academia are typically focused on the teaching and training of future pharmacists. These roles require both pharmacy knowledge and a passion for education.
• Clinical Rotations Preceptor • Education & Training Pharmacist • Lecturer / Professor • Licensing Exam Preceptor / Moderator • Pharmaceutics Professor • Pharmacodynamics Researcher / Professor • Pharmacokinetics Researcher / Professor • Pharmacology Researcher / Professor • Pharmacy Practice Researcher / Professor • Pharmacy Student Mentor / Preceptor • Research & Development Pharmacist • Residency / Fellowship Coordinator • Teacher Practitioner • Teaching Assistant / Lab Assistant • Teaching Fellow • Therapeutics Professor.
Technology & Health Informatics Pharmacy Roles Those with an interest in healthcare records, data or systems may be interested in pharmacy roles in the technology and health informatics category.
• Automation Pharmacist • Clinical Applications Pharmacist • Clinical Data Analyst • Clinical Software Development Specialist • Clinical Software Integration Specialist • Clinical Solutions Pharmacist • Digital Health Specialist • Electronic Health Record Training Pharmacist • Health Informatics Specialist • Information Technology Pharmacist • Pharmacy Informatics Specialist • Social Media Engagement / Communication Specialist • Telehealth Service Provider • Virtual Clinical Pharmacist.
Government & Regulatory Roles Those in government and regulatory pharmacy roles may use their medication expertise to inform government regulations, develop policies and protocols, ensure patient safety, and more.
• Clinical Inspection Pharmacist • Consumer Safety Officer • Correctional Facility Pharmacist • Drug Advertising Reviewer • Drug Pricing Reviewer • Drug Reimbursement Expert • Drug Safety Data Reviewer • Medicines Advisor • Military Pharmacist • Nuclear Pharmacist • Patient Advocacy Board Member • Pharmaceutical Services Commissioner / Negotiator or Drug Reimbursement Reviewer • Pharmacoeconomics Specialist • Pharmacy Advocacy Member • Pharmacy Education Accreditation Reviewer • Poison Control Pharmacist • Public Health Service Pharmacist • Regulatory Board Member • Specialist Pharmaceutical Advisor to Local, Regional, or National Government.
Non-Traditional Pharmacy Career Roles It’s amazing the number of industries in which pharmacists play an active role. Here’s a list of other non-traditional pharmacy career pathways.
• Academic Detailer • Aerospace / Space Health Pharmacist • Business Adviser / Investor • Career Development Coach • Central Fill Pharmacist • Continuing Education Provider • Digital Therapeutics Specialist • Drug Information Pharmacist • Estate & Tax Planning Consultant • Geospatial Pharmacist • Health / Life Coach • Medical Writer / Editor (In Medical Communications Agencies) • Medication Safety Management Specialist • Pharmacogenomics Specialist • Pharmacy Financial Consultant • Pharmacy Programs Coordinator • Pharmacy Research Coordinator • Pharmacy Strategy Consultant • Start-Up Developer / Innovator • Supply Chain Pharmacist / Warehouse Manager / Distribution Manager / Wholesaling Manager.