PHARMACISTS Number 159 Interest Area 13 1998
THE JOB
PHARMACISTS dispense drugs and medicines prescribed by doctors and dentists. They also supply and advise people on the use of non-prescription medicines. Pharmacists must understand the, composition, and effect of drugs and how they are tested for purity and strength. They often maintain patient medication profiles, and advise physicians on the proper selection and use of medicines.
Making a pharmaceutical agent by compounding ingredients to form powders, tablets, capsules, ointments, and solutions is now only a small part of Pharmacists' practice, since most medicines are produced by manufacturers in the required dosage and form.
The practice of pharmacy is a vital part of total health care, requiring today's Pharmacists to be very knowledgeable. Pharmacists use patient profiles to insure that harmful drug interactions do not occur and to monitor patient compliance with the doctor's instructions. Consequently, Pharmacists are playing a more active role as they give more consultations and have more direct contact with patients.
Pharmacists employed in community pharmacies may have other duties. Besides dispensing medicines, some Pharmacists buy and sell non-pharmaceutical merchandise, hire and supervise personnel, and oversee the operation of the pharmacy.
Pharmacists in hospitals and clinics dispense inpatient and outpatient prescriptions and advise the medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs; they also make sterile solutions, buy medical supplies, teach in schools of nursing and allied health professions, and perform administrative duties. In addition, Pharmacists work as consultants to the medical team in matters related to daily patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities.
Pharmaceutical training can qualify individuals for a variety of careers. Some Pharmacists are hired as sales or medical service representatives by drug manufacturers and wholesalers. They sell medicines to retail pharmacies and to hospitals, and inform health personnel about new drugs. Some teach in colleges of pharmacy. Others supervise the manufacture of pharmaceuticals in manufacturing settings, or are involved in research and the development of new medicines. Some combine pharmaceutical and legal training in jobs as patent lawyers or consultants on pharmaceutical and drug laws.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Pharmacists usually work in a clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated area that resembles a small laboratory. Pharmacy can be mentally demanding, in part because of the thousands of drugs that are in the medical arsenal, and in part because of the need to keep current on the hundreds of new drugs introduced every year. Pharmacists spend a lot of time on their feet. According to a recent survey, Pharmacists average 40 hours a week in their primary work setting. A small percentage of Pharmacists work in a secondary setting where they average 15 hours a week, often as a consultant to a nursing home or other facility. Pharmacies often are open in the evenings and on weekends. Self-employed Pharmacists average about 48 hours per week.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1993 14,640 Estimated number of workers in 2005 18,550 Projected Growth 1993-2005 28% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 3,340
(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)
The employment outlook for Pharmacists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2005.
The demand for Pharmacists will be stimulated by population growth and the aging of the population, which will boost demand for pharmaceutical services. Moreover, community pharmacies are expected to hire more Pharmacists because of a trend towards shorter working hours.
Other factors likely to spur demand for Pharmacists include scientific advances that have made a wider range of drug products available for preventive and therapeutic uses, the rising standard of health care, and the growth of public and private health insurance programs that provide payment for prescription drugs.
Employment of Pharmacists in hospitals and other health facilities is expected to rise faster than in other work settings. Pharmacists with advanced training will be needed for college teaching and top administrative posts.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Salaries of Pharmacists are generally influenced by the location, size, and type of employer, as well as the duties and responsibilities of the position. The average salary in California for Pharmacists was about $70,200 a year in 1996. The earnings range from about $30,000 to $85,000 per year or more. Wages are generally higher for larger employers in urban areas.
Wages in 1998 for a Pharmacist I in the State government ranged from $4,139 to $4,564 a month, while the salary for Pharmacist II ranged from $4,547 to $5,014 per month.
The Federal Government starts its Pharmacists at the GS-9 level which ranges between $29,577 to $38,451. The usual progression is to the GS-11 level which pays between $35,786, and $46,523.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
To practice pharmacy, a license is required. Licensure requires graduation from an accredited pharmacy degree program, passage of a State board examination, possession of a specified amount of practical experience, or an internship under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist. Internships generally are served in a community or hospital pharmacy.
At least five years of study beyond high school are required to graduate from one of the degree programs accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. Five years are needed to obtain a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, the degrees received by most graduates. Depending upon a student's educational background, six or seven years are required for a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Admission requirements vary. A few colleges admit students directly from high school. Most colleges of pharmacy, however, require entrants to have completed 1 or 2 years of pre-pharmacy education in an accredited college or university.
A pre-pharmacy curriculum usually emphasizes mathematics and basic sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physics, but also includes courses in the humanities and social sciences. Because entry requirements vary among colleges of pharmacy, pre-pharmacy students should follow the curriculum pattern required by the college they plan to attend.
ADVANCEMENT
Pharmacists often begin as employees in community pharmacies. After they gain experience and secure the necessary capital, they may become owners or part owners of pharmacies. A Pharmacist with experience in a chain drugstore may advance to a managerial position, and later to a higher executive position within the company. Hospital Pharmacists who have the necessary training and experience may advance to director of pharmacy service or to other administrative positions. Pharmacists in manufacturing often have opportunities for advancement in management, sales, research, quality control, advertising, production, packaging, and other areas.
FINDING THE JOB
Employers advertise in trade and daily papers and advise pharmacy schools of vacancies. Information about job openings is also passed among Pharmacists. Employers in outlying areas find the statewide clearance procedures of the California Employment Development Department helpful. Government positions are filled from civil service lists.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
California Pharmacists Association 1112 I Street, Suite 300 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-7811 www.cpha.com
American Council on Pharmaceutical Education 311 West Superior Street Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 664-3575
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association 1100 15th St. N.W., Suite 900 Washington D.C. 20005 (202) 838-3400
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Chemists No. 22 Microbiologists No. 168 Pharmacy Technicians, Hospital No. 456
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991) Pharmacists 074.161-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Pharmacists 325170
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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