Top Ten Reasons to Become a Pharmacist

If you are considering pharmacy careers then you have probably wondered about the advantages of being a pharmacist. Pharmacists who are considering other professions or have forgotten why they chose pharmacy years ago, may require a reminder of the benefits of their chosen profession. Here are 10 benefits of being a pharmacist and some of the reasons why thousands of students enroll in pharmacy schools every year. 

A variety of pharmacy jobs: Although many pharmacists opt for the retail or hospital setting there are many types of jobs for pharmacists. Even within the retail or hospital setting pharmacists may perform different roles.

Not all pharmacy-related jobs require a license: There are many high paying pharmacy-related jobs that do not require a license. For example, you do not need to be a licensed pharmacist to work in the pharmaceutical industry or work as a medical writer.

Virtual pharmacy jobs: Telepharmacy is growing and several employers are allowing employees to work virtually. The Veterans Administration has employed virtual pharmacists for many years.

You can be self-employed: Many independent pharmacies are thriving despite stiff competition from chain drugstores. Specialty pharmacies are a fast growing sector.

Flexible work hours: If you like working at night, there are graveyard shifts in the hospital and retail settings. You can also work full-time or part-time. 

Pharmacists are needed: Pharmacists are part of the healthcare team and their contributions to care saves lives. As the population ages, more pharmacists will be needed to take care of the elderly.

Expanded authority: The trend is for pharmacists to provide more care. Several states, like California, now allow pharmacists to prescribe. More authority hopefully means more demand and higher pay for pharmacists and increased job security.

Live anywhere: Most towns have a pharmacy. If you find a town that does not have a pharmacy then open one. 

Barriers to entry: The years of training, and the high cost of a pharmacy education are barriers to entering the profession. This keeps the profession from saturating too quickly and it protects pharmacy jobs. However, this theory is being tested by the number of pharmacy schools that are churning out pharmacists.