This is the UK situation...
Entry requirements
To practise as a pharmacist, you need to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To register, you need to complete a five-year programme of integrated academic and clinical based teaching.
Years 1-4 will be as a student and you will achieve a Master's degree in pharmacy (MPharm) at university, followed by a one year paid work placement called a
foundation training year. A list of universities across the UK is available at the bottom of this page.
University entry requirements are generally:
- three A-levels or equivalent in chemistry and a second science or maths. Typically offers range from AAB to BBB
- pharmacy degrees with a foundation year may have lower grade requirements
- GCSEs are considered alongside A-levels, with most schools of pharmacy expecting a minimum of five GCSEs including maths, English language and one science
- some universities accept vocational qualifications such as BTEC Level 3, National Extended Diploma in Applied Sciences or the Access to HE Diploma
Each university sets its own specific requirement so it's important to check university websites or the
Studying healthcare website.
Must-have skills
Pharmacists need:
- a general understanding of pharmacy and how it benefits patients
- strong communication skills to be able to speak to patients and other healthcare professionals
Training and development
Registered pharmacists have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with continuing professional development (CPD) to revalidate their professional licence each year.
Once qualified, many pharmacists join the
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the professional body for pharmacists. This
e-learning programme for healthcare professionals from Health Education England can help pharmacists make informed career choices and effective applications for their next career steps. And this
interactive document outlines some key opportunities for pharmacists.
Pay and benefits
Pharmacists working in the NHS, for example a hospital, will have access to NHS benefits such as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays which increases after five years of service, as well as the NHS pension scheme. Newly qualified pharmacists will usually start on band 6 of the
Agenda for Change pay scale and can progress up to band 9 as a chief pharmacist.
Pay and benefits for pharmacists working to deliver NHS services in a different setting, for example a community pharmacy, will differ depending on the employer, but are typically in line with NHS pay rates. Some pharmacists choose to own and run their own community pharmacy.
Salary £35,000 per annum