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Pharmacist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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Pharmacists work in retail community or hospital pharmacies, are self-employed, or are involved in industrial research and development for government agencies or pharmaceutical companies. Their tasks can include providing services to healthcare professionals and customers, filling prescriptions, and supervising pharmacy assistants, technicians, and other staff.

Pharmacist duties and responsibilities

Retail and industrial pharmacists have different duties and responsibilities. Retail pharmacists are typically:

  • dispensing prescribed medication and advising the patient on dosage, side effects and other drug interactions
  • reviewing prescriptions to ensure the correct dosage
  • ordering and maintaining stock of pharmaceutical supplies
  • filling prescriptions by calculating, measuring and mixing medication as required
  • collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive patient care

Industrial pharmacists are usually:

  • testing and verifying new drugs for stability and their elimination and absorption rates
  • controlling the drug during production and ensuring compliance with purity, stability, safety and uniformity standards
  • promoting their company’s pharmaceutical products to various healthcare professionals
  • organizing clinical trials of new drugs
  • performing research and development to improve drug formulations

Hire your next Pharmacist today.

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Pharmacist Job Description Examples:

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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What does a pharmacist do?

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals responsible for dispensing medicines, ensuring their efficacy and safe use, and advising patients on drug therapy. In other words, a pharmacist’s main goal is to ensure patient health and safety through the responsible use of medication. They review prescriptions, monitor drug interactions, and educate patients on potential side effects. Pharmacists also work with healthcare providers to optimize treatment plans, manage chronic conditions, and perform health screenings. In industrial settings, they may be involved in clinical trials, drug formulation, quality control, and regulatory compliance.

Pharmacist skills and qualifications

Pharmacists need to meet certain requirements to perform their role effectively, including:

  • productivity management
  • oral and written communication
  • reading comprehension
  • human resource management
  • time management
  • numeracy
  • material resource management
  • leadership

Pharmacist experience requirements

In Canada, to become a pharmacist, candidates must complete a rigorous four-year university program with integrated experiential rotations, eliminating the need for prior work experience. While some employers prioritize experienced hires, others acknowledge the benefits of fresh perspectives and actively provide mentorship to facilitate the professional advancement of early-career pharmacists. These mentorship programs often include opportunities for ongoing education and skill development, enhancing the transition from academic training to professional practice.

Pharmacist education and training requirements

To become a certified pharmacist, candidates need to complete a four-year undergraduate doctoral program (PharmD) after the initial two-year prerequisite studies. Would-be pharmacists gain experience throughout the four-year program by doing experiential rotations in various healthcare facilities, including community and hospital pharmacies and pharmaceutical industrial organizations if any are available.

Pharmacists engage in a regulated profession in Canada, which means they need a licence from their province or territory in addition to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. To get the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) certificate, a pharmacist needs to pay for and pass a two-part exam. Passing part one is a requirement to write part two, and part two is only available for three years after passing part one.

Pharmacist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of a pharmacist in Canada is $52.03 per hour. Salaries may be contingent on location, experience, and company.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organization and a candidate’s experience, academic background, and location.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a pharmacist is not exactly what your business needs, consider these relevant job descriptions:

Pharmacy job description FAQs

The following are answers to frequently asked questions about this position:

What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy assistant?

Pharmacists with a PharmD and provincial or territorial licence can dispense medications, counsel patients, and work with other healthcare professionals. Pharmacy assistants with a high school diploma and possibly a certificate support pharmacists by preparing scripts, managing inventory, and performing administrative tasks.

Who does a pharmacist report to?

Pharmacists typically report to pharmacy managers, clinical directors, or directly to healthcare administrators in larger healthcare settings, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and standards. In retail or community pharmacies, they often report to the pharmacy owner or district manager, who oversees daily operations and customer service initiatives.

How do you make your pharmacist job description stand out?

To enhance your pharmacist job description, spotlight your company’s mission, culture, and innovations. Clearly define distinctive responsibilities and opportunities for professional growth. Additionally, showcase competitive benefits, emphasize work-life balance, promote a collaborative work environment, and highlight community health initiatives. These elements are pivotal in attracting pharmacists seeking a fulfilling and impactful career.

What makes a good pharmacist job description?

A thorough pharmacist job description includes a clear job title and summary, detailed tasks, qualifications, and essential skills. It effectively communicates the company’s mission, culture and values, emphasizing career growth opportunities, competitive salary and benefits packages, the work environment, and a streamlined application process for prospective candidates.

Do pharmacists have different roles in different sectors?

Yes, retail and community pharmacists dispense medications, counsel patients, prepare scripts, and do health screenings. Hospital pharmacists work with healthcare teams, prepare IV medications, monitor drug therapy, and manage formulary. Industrial pharmacists do drug development, manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Consultant and academic pharmacists provide medication management advice, teach, research, and mentor students.

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Job Description Examples

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