The exponential growth of the healthcare sector cannot be ignored. The demand for professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, continues to grow, and experts are only predicting good things as far as salaries are concerned. According to data of 2017, pharmacists are making more than $125,000 as median wage annually in the US. It goes without saying that your career as a pharmacist can be a rewarding one. You need to complete the doctor of pharmacy course to start practicing, and in this post, we are sharing all relevant details that students need to know.
What are the career opportunities for pharmacists?
Pharmacists can choose to work in hospitals or for the pharmacist community. The primary role of a pharmacist is to dispense medications to patients as per prescription and offer all the necessary information required to use these medications safely. From talking about drug interactions to describing the side effects of selected medicines, pharmacists are responsible for sharing critical decisions with patients. In hospitals, they can be involved in preparation of nutritional solutions and IVs, besides the traditional role of dispensing medications. Pharmacists can work in pharmacies, hospitals or can work with healthcare and research facilities. In fact, research is often a good choice for professionals who want to have a role in clinical trials, while many pharmacists also advice on compliance and related aspects.
How to become a pharmacist?
You have to complete your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which is a four-year course from a pharmacy college. Furthermore, you are required to write two exams, following which you will get your license for practicing. To enroll for a Doctor of Pharmacy program, you must have a bachelor’s degree or at least must have completed 2-year study at a college or university, in subjects like organic chemistry/biology.
Why work as a pharmacist?
If your primarily aim is to work in healthcare sector, you can consider many options, being a pharmacist is just one of them. The role of a pharmacist is critical in the healthcare sector, and the demand for the job is consistent, so you don’t have much to worry as far as job security is concerned. Of course, your expertise and experience eventually have a role to play as how your career shapes up, but completing your Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a known college does add heft to your resume.
Check online now to find more on jobs and careers of pharmacists!