Pharmacist
Help people get the right medicines and use them safely to treat illnesses or disease.
About the job
Career insights – pharmacist
What it's like
Pharmacists are the experts in medicines, using specialist knowledge to make sure medicines and services are safe, effective and used in the best way for each person.
You’ll be part of a large and vital healthcare profession, with an exciting and wide range of career opportunities. You could work with patients, be part of a healthcare team or work independently, depending on your interests.
Pharmacists can work in many different areas, including:
community pharmacies in towns and villages
hospitals
industry, in medicine trials and development
teaching in universities
procurement, buying medicines and working with manufacturers
nationally, reviewing medicines and patient care information to improve how medicines are used across Scotland
care homes
mental health
health and justice, such as children’s homes or prisons
the NHS 24 helpline
Your tasks might include:
assessing illnesses, running clinics and independently prescribing, helping people manage all types of conditions
advising healthcare colleagues about using medicines correctly, including the amount to take (dosage) and any risks
preparing medicines and giving advice, including helping people choose medicines to buy over the counter
helping staff use and store medicine in locations such as care homes or prisons
researching and developing new medicines
teaching and training other healthcare professionals and the next generation of students and graduates
using information to advise the NHS and government on the use of medicines
Some pharmacists work in education or the pharmaceutical industry. In these positions, you may carry out research into new medicines and run clinical trials.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
NHS Scotland Careers – learn how to become a pharmacist
General Pharmaceutical Council – explore the profession's regulatory body
NHS Education for Scotland – find training for healthcare workers, including higher education and professional development
Like the sound of this career?
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking responsibility
- delegating
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
What are a pharmacist's most important skills?
Pharmacist Eilidh shares her top 3 skills for the job.
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Human Biology
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Physics
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Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Business Management
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Administration and Information Technology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
In Scotland, you must have a degree to become a pharmacist.
Let's look at the ways you can work towards earning a degree.
University
You’ll need a degree in Pharmacy. Use the My World of Work course search to find Pharmacy degrees.
Once you've completed your degree, you'll do a paid Foundation Training year. You'll then sit the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) assessment at the end of your Foundation Training year. Once you pass this assessment, you can register with the GPhC and start working as a qualified pharmacist.
There are many postgraduate degrees available to study and specialise in.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Applied Sciences
Chemistry / Analytical
Biomedical Science
Access to Life Sciences / Pharmacy
Highlands Pathways to Healthcare: Medicine & Pharmacy, available to S6 pupils and S6 leavers in the Highlands
Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP)
Are you an adult who doesn't have the qualifications you need to go to university? You may be able to use the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP) to kickstart your career as a pharmacist.
Work
You can get valuable experience by working in a pharmacy:
as an employee or for work experience
as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy support worker
You’ll gain skills and knowledge and get to know the environment, which will be very useful for college or university applications.
Use the My World of Work job search to find vacancies.
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a pharmacist. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Tips for becoming a pharmacist
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