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Pharmacist

Pharmacists are experts in medicines and their use. They also offer health advice to patients on issues such as sexual health and giving up smoking. 

See how they use their knowledge of medicines to help people with every type of medical condition and find out how you could use your science skills to become a pharmacist.

"When I tell people I’m a pharmacist, they assume I stick labels on boxes, but there’s much more to it than that!"

Read Amy's story  [1]

Working life

Medicines are the most common treatments offered to NHS patients. A pharmacist is an expert in medicines and their use. Their knowledge of medicines and the effect they have on the human body is critical for the successful management of every type of medical condition.

Pharmacists:

  • advise other healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, on how to choose medicines and use them correctly
  • ensure that new medicines are safe to use with other medication
  • advise on dosage and suggest the most appropriate form of medication such as tablet, injection, ointment or inhaler
  • make sure that patients use their medicines safely
  • provide information to patients on how get the maximum benefit from the medicines they are prescribed
  • advise on the most effective treatments for a particular condition including those for sale without prescription
  • help patients manage long term conditions
  • recommend changes to prescriptions and give advice on prescribing
  • provide information about potential side effects
  • monitor the effects of treatment to ensure that it is safe and effective

Pharmacists are also involved in manufacturing medicines when ready-made preparations are not available. For example, certain cancer treatments and intravenous feeding solutions need to be tailor made under sterile conditions for individual patients.

Pharmacists work as part of healthcare teams in hospitals or community pharmacies. Some work in retail pharmacies in supermarkets or on the high street, or for other employers that provide NHS services. Community pharmacists are based in health centres or pharmacies but they may spend time visiting patients at home or in residential homes.

Pharmacists may also supervise pharmacy technician [2] and pharmacy assistants [3] in purchasing, quality testing or dispensing medicines. 

You may choose to specialise in a particular area of practice

Entry requirements 

To practise as a pharmacist, you have to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To register, you need to study for an accredited Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm). Universities across the UK offer the course, which lasts four years, full time. A list of courses is available at the bottom of this page. 

To get onto a Master's course in pharmacy you need three A-B grade A-levels in chemistry and biology, maths or physics along with five GCSEs (grades 9-4/A-C), including English language, maths and at least one science.

Or you could use alternative qualifications, including:

  • foundation degree in pharmacy
  • BTEC, HND or HNC which includes science
  • relevant NVQ
  • science-based access course
  • equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications

However, each institution sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check carefully. Wherever you study, you will need to show that you have an understanding of pharmacy and how it benefits patients. It is a good idea to spend some time with a registered pharmacist to see what the work is like.

After university, to become a fully qualified pharmacist you'll need to:

  • work for a 1-year pre-registration period under supervision in a community or hospital pharmacy
  • pass a registration exam

Must have skills

Pharmacists need to be:

  • accurate and methodical
  • able to understand and apply the law
  • responsible
  • interested in people’s health
  • willing to supervise others
  • able to work with all types of people
  • able to explain clearly to members of the public
  • communication skills including listening
  • good customer skills
  • science skills

"The best bit about the role is knowing you have positively impacted someone’s health. Over time, you get to see the positive impact your advice and care has had on your patients and their love ones."

Read Aditya's story [4]

Training and development

Once qualified, many pharmacists join the Royal Pharmaceutical Society [5] (RPS). Registered pharmacists have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual continuing professional development (CPD). The RPS runs courses, conferences and seminars where pharmacists can exchange ideas and update their skills.

You may choose to specialise in a particular area of practice such as mental health, oncology [6] (cancer treatment) or paediatrics. Teaching or research are also options. Some pharmacists move into areas such as the regulation of medicines, veterinary pharmacy or into industry. You could also move into management, either within pharmacy or general management. As head of a local pharmacy service you would be responsible both for a team of staff and for managing a budget.

Some pharmacists decide to set up their own pharmacies in high street shops, either working on their own or with other professionals.

Career Planning for Healthcare Professionals programme

Health Education England has developed an e-learning programme [7] for healthcare professionals including pre-registration / foundation pharmacists, to help them make informed career choices and effective applications for their next career steps.

Pay and benefits

Pharmacists working in the NHS will work standard hours of around 37.5 a week which may include shifts. Newly qualified pharmacists will usually start in the NHS on band 6 of the Agenda for Change [8] pay scale. With further study and training, they can apply for posts at band 7. Senior pharmacy roles can be on band 9 as a most senior manager of pharmaceutical services. You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

Pay and benefits for pharmacists working outside of the NHS eg in high street pharmacies will differ depending on the employer.

  • Live vacancies
    • View Vacancy [9]

      Clinical Pharmacist

      Pinner, HA5 3EE

      • Salary:

        £48600.00 a year

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - General Practitioners

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [10]

      Clinical Pharmacist

      Birmingham, B38 9NE

      • Salary:

        Dependant on Experience

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - General Practitioners

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [11]

      Practice Clinical Pharmacist

      Salisbury, SP1 3UH

      • Salary:

        Depending on experience

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - General Practitioners

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [12]

      Clinical Pharmacist - Northampton

      Northampton, NN5 6FR

      • Salary:

        £42500.00 to £50000.00 a year

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - General Practitioners

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [13]

      Senior Practice Based Clinical Pharmacist

      Greenwich, SE3 7HB

      • Salary:

        £38890.00 to £51668.00 a year

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - Other

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [14]

      Foundation Pharmacist (Rotational)

      Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, BN2 5BE

      • Salary:

        £31,365 - £37,890 per annum pro rata

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

      • View Vacancy
  • Find your course to become a pharmacist
    Displaying 1 - 5 of 40 matches

    MPharm Pharmacy

    Birmingham, Aston University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [15]

    Region
    West Midlands

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk [16] 0121 204 3302

    Course webpage
    https://www2.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/pharmacy-mpharm [15]

    Admissions address

    Aston Triangle
    Birmingham
    B4 7ET

    Course webpage
    https://www2.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/pharmacy-mpharm [15]

    MPharm Pharmacy

    Lincoln, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [17]

    Region
    East Midlands

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    admissions@lincoln.ac.uk [18] 01522 886644

    Course webpage
    http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/phrphrum/ [17]

    Admissions address

    Brayford Pool
    Lincoln
    Lincolnshire
    LN6 7TS

    Course webpage
    http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/phrphrum/ [17]

    MPharm Pharmacy

    Bath, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [19]

    Region
    South West

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    admissions@bath.ac.uk [20] 01225 383019

    Course webpage
    https://www.bath.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-2020/pharmacy/mpharm-pharmacy/ [19]

    Admissions address

    Claverton Down
    Bath
    BA2 7AY

    Course webpage
    https://www.bath.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-2020/pharmacy/mpharm-pharmacy/ [19]

    MPharm Pharmacy

    Birmingham, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [21]

    Region
    West Midlands

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    PharmacyEnquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk [22] 0121 414 2661

    Course webpage
    http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/med/pharmacy-4-year.aspx [21]

    Admissions address

    College of Medical and Dental Sciences
    52 Pritchatts Road
    Edgbaston
    Birmingham
    B15 2TT

    Course webpage
    http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/med/pharmacy-4-year.aspx [21]

    MPharm Pharmacy

    Keele University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [23]

    Region
    West Midlands

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    admissions@keele.ac.uk [24] 01782 734010

    Course webpage
    https://www.keele.ac.uk/ts/ugcourses/pharmacy/ [23]

    Admissions address

    Keele
    Staffordshire
    ST5 5BG

    Course webpage
    https://www.keele.ac.uk/ts/ugcourses/pharmacy/ [23]

    • Load more [25]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Pharmacy assistant [26]
  • Pharmaceutical medicine [27]
  • Pharmacy technician [28]
  • Clinical biochemistry [29]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacist

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacist/real-life-story-amy-simmons-0
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/pharmacy-technician
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/pharmacy-assistant
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacist/real-life-story-aditya-aggarwal
[5] http://www.rpharms.com/
[6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Oncology
[7] http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/career-planning-for-healthcare-professionals/
[8] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/careers-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates
[9] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916410309
[10] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916414642
[11] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916364390
[12] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916417357
[13] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916398772
[14] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916396286
[15] https://www2.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/pharmacy-mpharm
[16] mailto: ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk
[17] http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/phrphrum/
[18] mailto: admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
[19] https://www.bath.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-2020/pharmacy/mpharm-pharmacy/
[20] mailto: admissions@bath.ac.uk
[21] http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/med/pharmacy-4-year.aspx
[22] mailto: PharmacyEnquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk
[23] https://www.keele.ac.uk/ts/ugcourses/pharmacy/
[24] mailto: admissions@keele.ac.uk
[25] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/307?page=1
[26] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacy-assistant
[27] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/pharmaceutical-medicine
[28] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacy-technician
[29] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/life-sciences/clinical-biochemistry