Pharmacist

As a Pharmacist, you will use your expert knowledge of medicines to help people stay healthy, manage health conditions and use treatments safely. You'll work with patients and healthcare teams to provide advice, check prescriptions, and ensure medicines are used effectively to achieve the best possible outcomes. Pharmacists make a difference to the lives of their patients through an expert knowledge of medicines and health.

Many pharmacists work with a multidisciplinary team to manage patients’ long term and acute medical conditions. This is very common in GP practices, hospitals and clinics. There are also independent pharmacist prescribers in community pharmacies which you can find on the high street.

Pharmacist is also known as Chemist.

Role Characteristics

Check prescriptions for errors, ensuring they're appropriate and safe for the individual patient
Do annual medication reviews for patients in GP practices
Provide education to patients and other healthcare professionals on medicines management
Provide advice on the dosage of medicines and the most appropriate form of medication, which could be by tablet, injection, cream or inhaler
Liaise with doctors about prescriptions and medication choice
Being at the cutting edge of novel research into medicine and healthcare

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Attention to detail
Using data
Using technology
Customer service

Day in the life

Watch this video to learn about the role of a Pharmacist.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

Postgraduate degree

Undergraduate degree

Foundation degree

BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels

How to become

To become a Pharmacist, you will need a degree in Pharmacy. There are many ways to access university level education and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below.

You might:

Study A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels – useful subjects might include Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Applied Science or Physics. Explore some current opportunities below.
Complete an Access to Higher Education course – a college course designed for adults who want to access higher education but don’t have the traditional requirements like A Levels.
Complete a Foundation course – a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying Pharmacy or a related life science subject if you do not have the required qualifications or grades to go straight into a degree.

You will then be ready to study at a university level. This can include:

Studying an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy (MPharm).
Complete a Degree Apprenticeship – gain experience in the workplace while also studying a qualification in Pharmacy, where available.

Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in pharmacies, healthcare settings, hospitals, care services or customer-facing roles and think about developing your communication, attention to detail, problem-solving, numeracy and teamwork skills.

To work in this role, you must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Where can this role lead

From your role as a Pharmacist, you could continue using your expertise in medicines and patient care by specialising in areas such as Clinical Pharmacy or Mental Health Pharmacy.

You could also specialise in the development, manufacture and safe use of medicines as a Pharmacy Technician or a Science Manufacturing Technician, building on your scientific knowledge and understanding of medication management.

Progression might look like leading a pharmacy team, managing healthcare services, developing specialist clinical expertise, or progressing into Service Manager roles.

Location

Hospitals
Pharmacies
Community Settings
GP Practices
Armed Forces
Care Homes
Laboratories
Prisons

Working hours

Nights
Weekdays
Weekends
Part Time
Full Time
Casual Hours
Flexible Hours
Overtime

Opportunities

Access to university

Access to Higher Education (Science, Medical, and Health)

Our Level 3 courses are designed to give learners the UCAS points needed to progress to university.

Organisation: Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

View opportunity

BTECs, T-levels or A-levels

Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses

Find BTEC, T-Level or A-Level courses in Health and Care at Leeds City College

Organisation: Leeds City College

View opportunity

Volunteering

Volunteering in Health and Care

Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Health and Care

Organisation: Volunteering Opportunities

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Work Experience

Pharmacy - Virtual Work Experience

Discover how pharmacy teams make a real difference in patient care through our immersive virtual work experience. Developed by NHS pharmacy teams in the North East and Yorkshire, this programme introduces you to the wide range of pharmacy careers and pathways in health and social care.

Organisation: NHS

View opportunity

Undergraduate Degree

BSc Pharmacology

This course will equip you with the key pharmaceutical industry skills to address global challenges like antibiotic resistance.

Organisation: University of Leeds

View opportunity