Overview
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals and provide consultative services to both clients and health care providers. They are employed in retail pharmacies and health center pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They are employed in pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists
Check prescriptions for proper dosage
Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
Renew existing prescriptions in limited circumstances
May adapt the formulation, regimen, duration or route of administration of medication
May supervise and coordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff.
Industrial pharmacists
Participate in research for the development of new drugs
Formulate new drug products developed by medical researchers
Test new drug products for stability and to determine absorption and elimination patterns
Coordinate clinical investigations of new drugs
Control the quality of drug products during production to ensure that they meet standards of potency, purity, uniformity, stability and safety
Develop information materials concerning the uses, properties and risks of particular drugs
Evaluate labelling, packaging and advertising of drug products
Promote pharmaceutical products to health professionals.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$68,512
$96,980
$125,136
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
1,058expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
A university degree in pharmacy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
Licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital pharmacists.
Certification requirements
Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Pharmacists in B.C.
- Registration with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia - Pharmacists
Registration with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia - Pharmacists
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification. To practice as a pharmacist in B.C. you must register with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Eligibility is achieved by graduating from an accredited program and successfully completing the Pharmacy Board of Canada Qualifying Examinations.
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