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Between 2006 and 2009, 0.3% of employed doctoral graduates, or 40 graduates in total, are known to have been working as community pharmacists six months after graduation.

Job description

Community pharmacists are classified in the ‘other common doctoral occupations' cluster of doctoral employment.

A community pharmacist works according to legal and ethical guidelines to ensure the correct and safe supply of medical products to the general public. They are involved in maintaining and improving people's health by providing advice and information as well as supplying prescription medicines.

Community pharmacists also sell over-the-counter medical products and instruct patients on the use of medicines and medical appliances. Some pharmacists will also offer specialist health checks, such as blood pressure monitoring and diabetes screening, run stop smoking clinics, weight reduction programmes and are able to prescribe as well as dispense medicines.

There are increasing opportunities available for pharmacists to work in local health care centres and GP surgeries.

Typical work activities

Community pharmacists work at the frontline of healthcare providing an increasing range of services. Some community pharmacists are self-employed and their roles will therefore include an element of running their own business.

Typical work activities include:

  • Dispensing prescription medicines to the public
  • Ensuring that different treatments are compatible
  • Checking dosage and ensuring that medicines are correctly and safely supplied and labelled (pharmacists are legally responsible for any dispensing errors)
  • Keeping a register of controlled drugs for legal and stock control purposes
  • Liaising with doctors about prescriptions
  • Selling over-the-counter medicines
  • Counselling and advising the public on the treatment of minor ailments;
  • Advising patients of any adverse side-effects of medicines or potential interactions with other medicines/treatments
  • Undertaking Medicine Use Reviews (MUR), an advanced service to help patients understand how their medicines work and why they have to take them
  • Budgeting and financial management
  • Promoting sales and developing the business
  • Keeping up to date with current pharmacy practice, new drugs and their uses.

Entry requirements

Entry to the profession without a pharmacy degree or postgraduate degree is not possible.

To gain admittance to the professional register of pharmacists, candidates must:

  • Complete one year's pre-registration training under the supervision of an approved pharmacist and tutor and demonstrate a range of competences essential for pharmacy practice;
  • Pass the Royal Pharmaceutical Society examination.

It is possible to complete the pre-registration year in another area of pharmacy, such as hospital or industry, and then transfer over to community pharmacy. However, it is more usual for community pharmacists to have done their pre-registration year in a community pharmacy.

Potential candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

  • Good communication skills. To be able to listen carefully to what patients say, as well as being able to explain complex and sometimes sensitive information to the general public and other healthcare professionals
  • The ability to work with others in a multidisciplinary team as well as lead others in a team
  • Concern for the welfare of the general public
  • Accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
  • A methodical approach to work
  • An understanding of business principles
  • A professional and confident manner
  • The ability to inspire the trust of others
  • A willingness to take on a high level of responsibility.

Salary

  • Typical starting salaries range from £22,500 - £43,000 (salary data collected June 09) dependent upon location, conditions of employment and experience, with small chains and independent pharmacies often paying lower salaries
  • The average salary for a community pharmacist is £38,402 according to the Chemist and Druggist Salary Survey 2009
  • Typical salary at senior level/with experience (e.g. after 10 - 15 years in the role) is £35,000 - £68,000 (salary data collected June 2009).

Sector and disciplinary information

Sector information

Doctoral graduates from 2006-9 working in this occupation were known to be employed in the following profiled sectors six months after graduation:

Disciplinary background

Almost all doctoral entrants to the profession had a doctorate in pharmacy. A small number had chemistry doctorates.

Career stories

None available

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