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Pharmacist Job Description
Pharmacist job description: roles and responsibilities in dispensing, verification, counselling and vaccinations, plus PharmD and licence requirements.
The role in brief
A pharmacist dispenses prescription medicines and makes sure each one is safe and appropriate for the patient. They review prescriptions for dose, interactions and allergies, check every filled prescription for accuracy before it reaches the patient, counsel patients on how to take their medicines, and administer vaccinations such as flu shots where state law and their training allow. They also supervise pharmacy technicians and interns and keep the pharmacy compliant with state and federal rules, including controlled-substance requirements. Most work in community pharmacies or hospitals, with others in clinics, long-term care and industry. In the US a pharmacist needs a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited programme and a licence from the state board of pharmacy.
- Review prescriptions and medication orders for appropriateness, dose, drug interactions, allergies and duplications, and contact prescribers to resolve problems
- Verify the accuracy of every prescription filled by technicians before it is released to the patient
- Counsel patients on how and when to take their medicines, side effects to watch for and what to do about missed doses
- Administer vaccinations and other services such as health screenings where state law and certification allow
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Review prescriptions and medication orders for appropriateness, dose, drug interactions, allergies and duplications, and contact prescribers to resolve problems
- Verify the accuracy of every prescription filled by technicians before it is released to the patient
- Counsel patients on how and when to take their medicines, side effects to watch for and what to do about missed doses
- Administer vaccinations and other services such as health screenings where state law and certification allow
- Exercise professional responsibility for controlled-substance prescriptions, including checking that they are legitimate before filling them, and keep required records
- Supervise and train pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns, and assign work in line with state supervision rules
- Advise prescribers, nurses and patients on medicine selection, dosing and over-the-counter options
- Maintain accurate patient profiles and documentation in the pharmacy system
- Oversee inventory, storage conditions, expired stock and recalls, and keep the pharmacy compliant with board of pharmacy and federal requirements
- In hospital settings, take part in rounds, medication reconciliation and stewardship or clinical programmes as assigned
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE-accredited programme, or Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certification for internationally educated pharmacists
- 2Active, unrestricted pharmacist licence in the state of practice (licensure typically requires the NAPLEX, a pharmacy law exam such as the MPJE, or the CPJE in California, and the required internship hours)
- 3Immunisation certification where the role administers vaccines, as your state requires
- 4Current CPR or Basic Life Support certification if your pharmacy or state requires it
- 5For roles in India: a D.Pharm, B.Pharm or Pharm.D. approved by the Pharmacy Council of India and registration with the State Pharmacy Council under the Pharmacy Act, 1948
- 6Hospital or clinical roles: completed residency preferred or required
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
Pharmacists can become pharmacy manager or pharmacist in charge, then move into district or regional management in retail. In hospitals, residency and board certification lead to clinical pharmacist and specialist roles, and on to pharmacy director. Others move into consultant pharmacy or the pharmaceutical industry.
Common questions
What are the roles and responsibilities of a pharmacist?
A pharmacist reviews prescriptions for safety and appropriateness, checks each filled prescription before it reaches the patient, counsels patients on their medicines, administers vaccinations where permitted, supervises technicians and interns, and keeps the pharmacy compliant with state and federal law. For controlled substances, federal rules place a corresponding responsibility on the pharmacist who fills the prescription. Hospital pharmacists add clinical work such as dosing support, medication reconciliation and rounds.
What licence does a pharmacist need?
Every US state requires pharmacists to be licensed by its board of pharmacy. Requirements vary by state but typically include a Pharm.D. from an accredited programme, internship hours, the NAPLEX and a pharmacy law exam: the MPJE in most states, while California uses its own CPJE. Pharmacists must complete continuing education to keep the licence. Verify the licence with the state board before the start date.
What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?
Pharmacy technicians prepare and fill prescriptions, handle stock and process insurance under a pharmacist's supervision. The pharmacist is the licensed professional who makes the clinical judgements: reviewing prescriptions, verifying the final product, counselling patients and taking responsibility for what leaves the pharmacy.
Can pharmacists give vaccinations?
Yes, in most settings, within the limits of state law. Administering vaccinations such as flu shots is a standard pharmacist duty, and most states require pharmacists to hold a vaccination certification. Age limits and the vaccines covered vary by state, so write the duty as "where permitted" and check your state board's rules.
How do you screen pharmacist applicants?
Verify the licence and any disciplinary history with the state board first. Then test judgement with realistic cases: a prescription with an interaction or dosing problem, a patient asking about an over-the-counter product alongside their medicines, or a controlled-substance prescription with warning signs. How the candidate reasons, what they check and how they would talk to the prescriber and patient matters more than recall.
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