Thinking about a career in the pharmaceutical industry? There are a wide variety of opportunities for individuals interested in working in the pharmaceutical field.

Jobs in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are responsible for filling prescriptions and providing advice to customers and healthcare practitioners regarding the safe and effective use of various types of medicine. They help patients select over the counter medication, educate them about side effects, and provide information about drug interactions. They monitor patient health, ensuring that medications are being used safe and effectively. Additional duties include managing pharmacy staff members, completing insurance paperwork, and overseeing patient medical records. Most pharmacists work in drug stores, hospitals, nursing homes, or other types of health clinics.

Pharmacist Training

In order to work as a pharmacist, it's necessary to earn a Pharm.D. degree and state licensure. To be admitted to a Pharm.D. program, students must have competed two or more years of college level coursework in the natural sciences, math, humanities, and social sciences. Admission to Pharm.D. school is quite competitive and is based on prior performance in college classes and, in many cases, scores on the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). The curriculum includes a combination of formal classroom instruction and hands-on training working under the supervision of licensed pharmacists in real world pharmacy settings.

Upon completion of a Pham.D. program, graduates must sit for and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), administered by the National Association of the Board of Pharmacy (NABP) in order to become licensed to practice. Many states require those who wish to work in this field to pass an additional exam, the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam, prior to becoming licensed.

Pharmacist Salary Expectations

According to the United States Department of Labor, the median salary for pharmacists was $94,520 in 2006. At the same time, the range of pay for individuals working in this field varied from $67,860 to over $119,480 per year.

Pharmacy Technician

Individuals who work as pharmacy technicians provide assistance to licensed pharmacists, helping provide patients with medicine and other products related to their healthcare needs. They typically perform routine duties, such as helping prepare prescriptions, counting pills, placing labels on bottles, and more. They also carry out a variety of administrative duties, including checking out customers, stocking, inventory, answering the telephone, preparing insurance claims, and more. They don't provide patients with advice regarding prescriptions or health matters, instead referring such inquiries to the licensed pharmacist.

Pharmacy Technician Training

In most states, there are no specific licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians. Some pharmacy technicians learn the trade on the job. However, most employers prefer hiring people who have completed formal pharmacy technician training programs for these types of jobs. Many community colleges, career schools, and vocational training centers offer certificate, diploma, and Associate degree programs in this field. The curriculum typically includes dosage calculations, medical records policies and procedures, pharmacy law, ethics, medical terminology, pharmaceutical terminology, and more. Students often complete externships, which provide them with hands-on training specific to the field.

Pharmacy Technicians Salary Expectations

According to the United States Department of Labor, the median hourly pay rate for pharmacy technicians was $12.32 in 2006. At the same time, individuals working in this field earned between $8.56 per hour and $16.65 on an hourly basis.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Individual who work in pharmaceutical manufacturing perform a variety of tasks related to research, development, production, and testing of prescription and over the counter medications. The majority of people who work in this field are scientists, who utilize their knowledge of biology, chemistry, and medicine to develop and create new pharmaceutical products. Some of the people who work in pharmaceutical manufacturing are engineers, and there are also a significant number of production workers employed in this industry.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Training

The training requirements necessary to work in pharmaceutical manufacturing vary greatly based on the type of position. Scientists involved in research, development, and clinical trials must hold graduate level degrees in their field of specialty. Many people who perform this type of work hold doctoral degrees, including both Ph.D. and M.D. credentials.

Those who work in technician level positions in the pharmaceutical industry often hold Associate and Bachelor's degrees related to the type of work performed. Engineers must hold degrees and licensure specific to the type of work performed. Production workers often learn their trade on the job. Many people who perform production work in this field have previous equipment in other types of scientific manufacturing environments, such as chemical plants and treatment facilities.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Salary Expectations

Workers in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry tend to earn higher wages than those who work in other manufacturing fields. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average weekly salary for individuals working in this field was $891 per week, which is more than $100 per week more than individuals employed in other manufacturing occupations.