Pharmacist

Written By Itz.Tiffany .

Definition: A healthcare professional specializing in preparing and dispensing prescribed drugs. (“NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms”).

The historical journey of this profession began years ago in the prehistoric ages before the idea of a pharmacist was coined. During this time, the roles of medication production and distribution weren’t the same as it is traditionally seen today. At the time, there were beliefs in the healing properties of natural substances, and there were beliefs that certain people could transform those natural substances into medication that people could consume. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the traditional role of a Pharmacist began to form.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that the pharmacist profession gained prominence and evolved significantly. As the demand for opening positions in this field grew, the movement toward a degree that would aid the pharmacist better in clinical pharmacy rapidly expanded. This led to the first Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD D) program at the University of Southern California in 1950. By the 1970s, there were around 20 PharmD programs. (Urick and Meggs)

pharmacist CVS pills wall of drugs choosing the correct medication

How do I get there?

To become a Pharmacist, you must (typically):

  • Typically, two years of prerequisites in undergraduate courses such as anatomy, physiology, physics, and statistics.

  • A Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited pharmacy program. Some programs offer a dual degree program that allows students to get a master’s degree along with their Pharm.D. degree.

  • Next, after completing their degree, the prospective pharmacists must pass typically two exams to get their license. The North American Pharmacists Licensure Exam is required in all states in the United States, and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam or a state-specific test on pharmacy law may also be required. However, pharmacists who are going into industry pharmacy are not required to take the NAPLEX, however, it is highly recommended.

  • Depending on the state, you might also need a certain number of hours as an intern to obtain your license.

  • Finally, the Pharmacists can seek out a clinical position and complete a residency and or fellowship.

Let’s talk about locations

Pharmacists can work in many different locations in and out of the hospital, some of which include:

  • Hospitals

  • Retail stores

  • Nursing homes

  • Assisted living facilities

  • Universities

  • Governmental facilities

  • Mail Services

  • Companies

drugs pills pill pharmacist black white pick yellow teazzers

But what do they do?

Pharmacists have a crucial role in the patient's well-being. They dispense prescriptions of medication and provide information about the drugs to the patients for their use. Additionally, they advise other healthcare professionals on selections, dosages, and side effects of medication to aid in patient recovery. (“Pharmacists”)

To dive deeper, pharmacists can :

  • Fill prescriptions

  • Instruct patients on proper use and side effects of prescribed medication

  • Administer vaccinations

  • Advise patients about general health

  • Communication with healthcare professionals about drug selections and side effects for surgeries recovers, and other medical needs such as therapies.

  • Work with insurance companies.

  • Maintained patient and pharmacy records.

  • Help with the developmental process of making new drugs, such as aiding in clinical studies.

pill bottle drugs medication health

Specialization

Pharmacists can specialize in certain areas of practice, some of which include :

  • Academia pharmacist

  • Community pharmacist

  • Government pharmacist

  • Hospital pharmacist

  • Industry pharmacist

  • Military pharmacist

  • Research pharmacist

  • Wholesale pharmacist

Work Cited

“NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” Cancer.Gov, https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/pharmacist. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

“Pharmacist - Explore Health Care Careers - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science.” Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/pharmacist/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

“Pharmacists.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm#tab-2. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

“---.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm#tab-4. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Urick, Benjamin Y., and Emily V. Meggs. “Towards a Greater Professional Standing: Evolution of Pharmacy Practice and Education, 1920–2020 - PMC.” Pharmacy: Journal of Pharmacy Education and Practice, vol. 7, no. 3, https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy7030098. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Itz.Tiffany .