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Pharmacists

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.