Should you go to Pharmacy School to Become a Pharmacist?
Like all medications that are taken, the risks and benefits of pharmacy school have to be considered and discussed so that an informed decision can be made. Below are some big thoughts you should think about to help determine if pharmacy school will be right for you.
| Risks | Benefits |
| -Student loan debt average is ~$179,000 (that’s before daily interest is included!) -Expect an increase in school tuition every year -It’s expensive if you get part way through the program and then change your mind. -Job stability/growth has declined to 0%. This means it is more competitive to find a secure job after graduating as well -Long working days of being on your feet with minimal breaks -Not everyone you provide care for will be happy and pleasant to you. | -Takes about 3-4 years of undergrad to fulfill prerequisites. Most programs don’t require a degree to apply for pharmacy school -Once you’re in pharmacy school, it takes just 3-4 years to obtain the PharmD, which is a doctorate’s degree – The doctorate degree gives you the opportunity to make impactful choices to take care of patients and their health. It is a well-respected profession -Can start making 6 figures annually (~$125k) after licensure (pass NAPLEX boards and MPJE law exams (if you live in CA, it’s a different law exam than MPJE) – There are at least 10 different fields of pharmacy that you can go into. (Additional 1-2 years of postgraduate training may be needed/preferred for some fields) -Great benefits from employers, such as health plans and vacations days |
What Roles and Responsibilities do Pharmacists Have? What do Pharmacists Do in Retail Pharmacy?
Pharmacists are your friendly neighborhood problem solvers, team leaders, & health care providers.
- *Main responsibility is to dispense safe and accurate prescriptions for patients
- *Main role is to act as pharmacist in charge/manager whenever you’re on your shift
- Main duties can include, but are not limited to:
- Data entry of prescriptions received either electronically, written, or verbal (via voicemail or phone call)
- Receiving and giving prescription transfers to and from other competitor pharmacies
- Data verification of the prescriptions received (i.e was it entered in correctly, is the dose appropriate, are there any interactions with other medications or conditions, is the usage of the medication appropriate and necessary)
- Filling/counting of the prescriptions
- Product verifying that what was put in the bottle for the patients is the correct medication
- Counseling of how to use the medications and what to expect from them (i.e. side effects, risks, benefits, etc…)
- Customer service provider (answer incoming phone calls, checking out patients, etc…)
- Immunizing patients according to CDC Vaccination Schedule (i.e. annual flu shots, Tdap, pneumonia, shingles, Hep A/B, MMR, etc…)
- Handling insurance claims and issues
- Medication therapy management (MTM’s)
- Managing of inventory for the pharmacy (i.e. checking/applying orders received, ordering medications for the following business day)
Pharmacists have lots of responsibilities and duties, but the #1 will always be to keep patients safe while managing their conditions.
How to Get Exposed to Pharmacy?
How do you know if you are going to like pharmacy if you don’t try and see what it’s like being a pharmacist? A good way to get an introduction to the working environment of a typical pharmacy is to get permission to do some shadowing with a pharmacist.
Shadowing is when you follow a professional around to observe their daily responsibilities, activities, and job environment. It is non-paid because you’re just there to observe and ask questions for your benefit. Most people shadow roughly only a few hours out of a single day, but more time can be requested if needed and allowed.
It may take some planning to do a shadowing event with a pharmacist because permission may be needed with corporate to allow a non-employee into the pharmacy for an extended period of time. Also, since the pharmacist may need to take time away from work, it’s best to plan it when the pharmacy is not as busy.
Alternatively, you can seek a paid position, such as to be a certified pharmacy technician, which will allow you to be exposed to the field of pharmacy while making a bit of income (~$35k/year). A pharmacy technician’s role is to help the pharmacist with duties, such as answering phone calls, checking patients out, data entering, filling prescriptions, ordering medications, and providing customer service. By practicing as a technician, you’ll become familiar with medication names and what they’re used for.
How Do I Personally Feel About Pharmacy Now 1 Year Later of Practicing
Like everything in life, it has its moments where it’s great and when it’s not.
It’s great when:
- I feel appreciated by my patients and they tell me they want me to be their permanent pharmacist.
- My district managers recognize my hard work as a floater pharmacist.
- I catch mistakes (whether serious or not) and I feel that I’m applying clinical knowledge
- I have a full support team in the pharmacy to get all the daily tasks done in a timely manner
- I get my weekly paycheck and use it towards my goals
- I can share my knowledge on medications during counseling
It’s not great when:
- I remember how much student loan debt I am in (~$300k (~$40k of that is from interest that accrued))
- I get home after a 11+ hour shift and my feet and shoulders are aching and I might have to do it again the next day
- I feel that I don’t have time to eat lunch or use the bathroom because of how the work flow is going
- I work alone without any technicians (mainly weekend shifts)
- I get yelled at by patients who are impatient to get their medications or are upset at drug prices or other factors that I can’t control
- I worry about liability as a pharmacist
I am still happy that I chose pharmacy as my career. I am meant to be a pharmacist. I have dreamt of it since I was a kid and I have studied hard to make it happen.
In the end, only you will truly know if pharmacy is meant for you, but keep these considerations in mind.
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