Requirements

Pharmacist - requirements

As a pharmacist, also known as a dispensing chemist, you’ll be giving expert advice on the proper use of medicine and dispensing drugs in hospitals and pharmacies. Learn more about working as a pharmacist, what you’ll be doing day-to-day and what qualifications are needed to work in this role.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a pharmacist?

To become a pharmacist you’ll need to be qualified with an accredited pharmacy degree. This is a four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Following this you need to spend one year in pre-registration training in a GPhC-approved community pharmacy.

You must then pass the GPhC registration assessment and meet GPhC fitness-to-practice requirements to become fully registered as a pharmacist. This registration is essential to practice as a pharmacist in England, Scotland or Wales. To work in Northern Ireland you’ll need to register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

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Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a pharmacist?

You'll need a postgraduate qualification to work as a pharamcist. A postgraduate qualification could lead to a role in areas like drug research.

Examples of taught MScs and research degrees at postgraduate level include MScs in:

Pharmacology
Toxicology

What skills do you need to be a pharmacist?

To work as a pharmacist you’ll need to show a genuine concern for improving the welfare of the general public. Communication skills are vital, as well as meticulous attention to detail.

Hard skills usually include:

Auditing
Patient safety
Pharmacy operations
Risk analysis
Understanding of application of the law regarding storage and dispensing of medicines

Soft skills include:

Accuracy and attention to detail
Commitment to CPD
Communication
Customer service
Patience and ability to handle stressful situations
Sensitivity and understanding
Teamwork

Do you need work experience to be a pharmacist?

Becoming a pharmacist isn’t possible without qualifying the MPharm degree. To strengthen your course application you could shadow a local pharmacist or chat to them about their job.

It’s also useful to have customer service experience, especially within a retail environment. While studying, you could get a part-time job within a pharmacy. This would help you get a feel for the role and work directly with qualified pharmacists.