EDUCATION
- You need to achieve 3 good A level passes (including chemistry and one other science subject)
- You need to attain a Master of Pharmacy Degree at one of the UK Schools of Pharmacy
- Complete one year (Pre-Registration) placement in community or hospital pharmacy (or combine with 6 months each within community/hospital/industry) and finally, sit the registration exam
- Register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (in GB, registration is with the GPhC)
- …and then you can practise as a pharmacist
ATTRIBUTES OF A COMMUNITY PHARMACIST
- Meticulous and have a good eye for detail - dispensing medicines is a serious business and demands 100% attention
- Like dealing with people - it is important that you are tactful and sensitive as customers are often embarrassed to talk about their ailments
- Self-confident - you will be responsible for giving advice to customers and supervising both the dispensing and the sale of medicines
- Good communication skills - to deal with not only customers, but also GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals
THE PHARMACY DEGREE
You must obtain a Master of Pharmacy degree from one of the approved schools of pharmacy. This degree consists of the study of:
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry: the study of the origins and chemistry of natural and synthetic drugs
- Pharmacognosy: the study of medicines obtained from plants
- Pharmaceutics: the study into the way medicines are made from the pure biologically active substance, by making it into a tablet, ointment, injection or dosage form
- Pharmacology: the study of how medicines work in our bodies, the side effects, and how they are used to treat illness
- Pharmacy Practice: this covers the legal aspects of running a pharmacy as well as the professional standards required. It also teaches dispensing skills and how to communicate with other people on all levels
- Clinical Pharmacy: designing care plans by monitoring the patient's therapy