Pharmacist

What does a pharmacist do?

• Check prescriptions for the right dose, side effects and interactions with other medicines.
• Supply medicines and explain to patients how and when to take them.
• Advise doctors and nurses on choosing and using medicines safely.
• Review the medicines of patients with long-term conditions.
• Give vaccinations, run health checks and treat minor illnesses where the rules allow.
• Supervise pharmacy technicians and manage the stock and storage of medicines.
• Report side effects and help prevent medication errors.

Where do they work?

Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies, from independent shops to large chains, or in hospitals, where they work on wards with medical teams. Others work in general practice clinics, the pharmaceutical industry, medicines regulators, universities, the armed forces or public health. Community pharmacists often work evenings, weekends and public holidays, while hospital pharmacists may take part in on-call rotas. The job involves long periods of standing, close concentration and a lot of contact with the public.

What skills do you need?

• Knowledge of medicines and how they work
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Clear advice to patients
• Applying clinical guidelines
• Chemistry and calculation skills
• Ethical judgement and confidentiality
• Leading a pharmacy team
• Business awareness in community pharmacy

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• empathise with the healthcare user
• dispense medicines
• ensure customer focus
• apply context specific clinical competences
• respond to changing situations in health care
• contribute to public health campaigns
• obtain healthcare user's medical status information
• provide medicines information
• communicate effectively in healthcare
• communicate with customers
• refer healthcare users
• ensure safety of healthcare users

Essential knowledge: pharmacokinetics · pharmacognosy · organic chemistry · applied therapeutics related to medicines · pharmacology · pharmacy law · botany · hygiene in a health care setting

How do you become a pharmacist?

You need a pharmacy degree approved by your country's regulator. In the UK, Australia, much of Europe and many Asian countries, this is a degree of four to six years taken after secondary school. In the United States and Canada, you usually complete some university study first and then a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Most countries then require a period of supervised practice, often called an internship or foundation year, and a registration exam. Graduates in chemistry or biomedical science usually need to complete a full pharmacy degree, although some countries offer shorter graduate-entry master's programmes.

1. Pharmacy degree. A pharmacy degree is the main route in almost every country. It covers chemistry, pharmacology, how medicines are made and how they work in the body, and patient care, with placements in pharmacies and hospitals. It typically lasts four to six years, depending on the country and whether supervised practice is built into the course.
2. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). In the United States and Canada, you take a four-year PharmD after pre-pharmacy university courses in chemistry, biology and mathematics. The programme includes a large amount of practical experience in pharmacies and hospitals. Some other countries also offer a PharmD, sometimes as a longer first degree taken straight after secondary school.
3. Graduate entry or diploma. Some countries, such as Australia, offer a shorter master's in pharmacy for people with a relevant science degree. In a few countries, including India, a pharmacy diploma can lead to registration, although a degree is needed for many roles. Pharmacy technicians who want to become pharmacists usually need to complete a full pharmacy degree.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Pharmacy

  A pharmacy degree teaches how medicines are discovered, made and used, and how to make sure patients use them safely and effectively.

  3 linked careers

• Chemistry

  A chemistry degree teaches how substances are built, how they react and how to make and analyse new materials, through theory and a lot of laboratory work.

  6 linked careers

• Biomedical science

  A biomedical science degree teaches the biology of human health and disease, and how laboratory tests help doctors diagnose and treat patients.

  6 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as a pharmacist?

Pharmacy is a licensed profession in almost every country. To practise, you must register with a national or state pharmacy regulator, usually after an approved degree, supervised practice and a registration or licensing exam. In the United States, for example, each state issues the licence, normally after national and state exams. What pharmacists may do, such as prescribing or giving vaccines, varies a lot between countries. Check the pharmacy regulator where you plan to work.

How much does a pharmacist earn?

Pay in the United States

• $140,910Median annual wage, May 2025
• $99,290–$174,230Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 322KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1051, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes pharmacist and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Trainee or intern pharmacist
2. Pharmacist
3. Senior or specialist pharmacist
4. Pharmacy manager or consultant pharmacist
5. Chief pharmacist or head of pharmacy services

Job outlook

Medicines are central to modern healthcare, and ageing populations and long-term conditions keep pharmacists in demand. In many countries, pharmacists are taking on more clinical work, such as prescribing, vaccinations and treating minor illnesses, to reduce pressure on doctors. Automation, online pharmacies and central dispensing hubs are changing supply work, so the future lies more in patient care and advice. Job markets vary: some countries report shortages, while others have many graduates competing for posts.

Questions about becoming a pharmacist

How long does it take to become a pharmacist?

In most countries it takes five to eight years. In the UK, Australia and much of Europe, a pharmacy degree of four to five years is followed by, or includes, around a year of supervised practice. In the United States and Canada, you usually complete one to two years or more of university study, then a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree, before taking licensing exams.

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

Pharmacists hold a pharmacy degree and are licensed to check prescriptions, advise on medicines and take responsibility for the safe supply of medicines. Pharmacy technicians usually train through a shorter diploma or apprenticeship. They prepare and dispense medicines and manage stock, usually under a pharmacist's supervision. Clinical checks of prescriptions normally remain with pharmacists.

Can pharmacists prescribe medicines?

In some countries, yes. Pharmacists in places such as the UK, Canada and parts of Australia and the United States can prescribe certain medicines, often after extra training. In many other countries, pharmacists can only supply medicines prescribed by doctors, apart from medicines sold without a prescription. The rules are changing quickly, so check the regulator in your country.

What jobs can you do with a pharmacy degree?

Most graduates register and work as pharmacists in community pharmacies or hospitals. Others move into the pharmaceutical industry, working in drug development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs or medical information. Further options include medicines regulation, public health, research and teaching. Some of these roles do not require registration, but being a registered pharmacist usually helps.

Related careers

• Doctor

  Doctors diagnose and treat illness and injury, help prevent disease and guide patients through their care.

  Degree required · Licensed

• Chemist

  Chemists study substances and how they react, and use that knowledge to create and test new materials, medicines, fuels, foods and consumer products.

  Degree required

• Biomedical scientist

  Biomedical scientists test samples of blood, tissue and body fluids in laboratories to help doctors diagnose and monitor disease, and they check that blood for transfusion is safe.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 29-1051, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2262.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a pharmacist: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/pharmacist/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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