More Medical Jobs Articles & Resources

Pharmacy Jobs are Promising

When you’re searching for pharmacy jobs, you’ll notice three distinct positions: pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy aids. Each of these positions involves working with drugs, but the responsibilities and training for each vary considerably. A pharmacist is the most trained and highest paid of these positions while a pharmacy aid acts more like a general office assistant. Pharmacy technicians handle more responsibility than aids, but less than pharmacists. If you’ve spent any time searching for pharmacy jobs, you know that the demand is there.

Let’s take a closer look at the three positions. The job of a pharmacist requires the highest degree of training, and before one can become a pharmacist, it’s necessary to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree (also called a pharm D) from a college of pharmacy that’s been accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. The aspiring pharmacist must also take and pass various exams (requirements vary by state).

A pharmacist’s work involves more than dispensing drugs. Pharmacists actually help physicians better understand the various drugs available on the market, including proper dosages and potential interactions with other drugs, and they help make physicians aware of all probable side effects of taking different medications. To be able to perform these tasks, a pharmacist must understand every drug’s physical, chemical and biological properties. Not only do pharmacists assist physicians, they spend a great deal of their time answering patients’ questions, including whether there are suitable medications available “over-the-counter” that can help treat their ailments.

Because of their extensive knowledge and value to the medical community, a pharmacist’s pay is high and hiring qualified pharmacists costs organizations a lot of money. That’s why while searching for pharmacy jobs you may notice many open pharmacy technician positions. More and more, companies are hiring pharmacy technicians as a way to save money. Pharmacy technicians are finding they’re now having to pass more licensing and certification tests before they’re able to get hired. In general, however, you’ll find pharmacy technicians working beside pharmacists, handling much of the repetitive type work as it relates to prescriptions such as counting out medications, dealing with insurance paperwork, and properly labeling prescription drug containers.

Those searching for pharmacy jobs usually begin their work experience at the ground level as a pharmacy aid. Working as an aid is a good way for pharmacy students to gain on-the-job experience. Pharmacy aids handle a lot of clerical type work including processing prescription payments, restocking shelves, and answering and directing phone calls.

If you’re looking to work in a field that’s growing, you won’t go wrong pursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree. When you’re ready to begin searching for pharmacy jobs, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for the three different pharmacy-related positions outlined above. Pharmacy positions are advertised locally, in the newspaper, and globally, via online job boards and recruiting agencies. The pay is good as are the working conditions, but be prepared to work during week-ends and holidays because most pharmacy jobs are found at retail outlets.