Pharmacist

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Overview

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Requirements

89% Match

Career Spectrum

Resources

Overview

Description
The main role of pharmacists is to fill prescriptions based on the instructions given by
physicians/ doctors on the proper amounts of medication to give to patients. They are also
expected to check if the patient is taking any other medications or if the patient has any
medical conditions that will interfere with the prescribed medication. They are expected to
give the patient the details of the medication such as: dosage amounts, potential side
effects, advice on diet exercise, and other medical advice. They also complete insurance
forms and work alongside with insurance companies to ensure patients get the medicines
they require.

Sample Job Titles: Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Informaticist, Registered Pharmacist

Provincial Outlook

Estimated Salary

$50,586 - $129,457
Learn More

Education Level
Secondary School
On-the-job Training
College/Apprenticeship

Learn More

Compatibility

89%
Match

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University

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science and dealing with...

Workplace

Work Environment
Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also
work in hospitals and clinics. Some pharmacists work for the government and the military.
In most settings, they spend much of the workday on their feet.

Main Duties

Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and
proper medication storage.
Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to determine the needed ingredients, and to
evaluate their suitability.

Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files,
inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics,
or controlled drugs.
Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling
pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality,
security, and proper disposal.
Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining
stock and storing and handling it properly.
Combine and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by
calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive
usage or harmful interactions.
Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes,
asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or
healthcare supplies.

Important Skills

Analytical skills. Pharmacists must provide safe medications efficiently. To do this,

they must be able to evaluate a patients needs, evaluate the prescribers orders, and
have extensive knowledge about the effects and appropriate circumstances for giving
out a specific medication.
Communication skills. Pharmacists frequently offer advice to patients. They might
need to explain how to take a medicine, for example, and what its side effects are.
They also need to offer clear direction to pharmacy technicians and interns.
Computer skills. Pharmacists need computer skills to use any electronic health record
(EHR) systems that their organization has adopted.
Detail oriented. Pharmacists are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the

prescriptions they fill, because improper use of medication can pose serious health
risks. Pharmacists must be able to find the information that they need to make
decisions about what medications are appropriate for each patient.
Managerial skills. Pharmacistsparticularly those who run a retail pharmacymust
have good managerial skills, including managing inventory and overseeing a staff.

Career Cluster

This cluster involves the science of dealing with human and

animal health. planning and managing, and providing
therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics,
support services, research in biology and biotechnology and

Health Science

the development of these and related services. It involves the

study and research of health related topics and the
application of knowledge to improve health and prevent
disease.

Outlook

Job Outlook

Alberta

British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories

Not Available

Nunavut

Not Available

Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Not Available

Job Outlook based on NOC 3131 (Pharmacists)

View Regional Data

Salary Ranges

Canada

$49,975 - $140,977

Alberta

$50,586 - $129,457

British Columbia

$60,129 - $128,235

Manitoba

$62,440 - $145,053

New Brunswick

$55,912 - $138,403

Newfoundland and Labrador

$20,720 - $117,306

Nova Scotia

$70,324 - $127,786

Northwest Territories

Not Available

Nunavut

Not Available

Ontario

$48,361 - $148,365

Prince Edward Island

$57,782 - $134,954

Quebec

$40,205 - $156,139

Saskatchewan

$49,443 - $131,052

Yukon

Not Available

Salary Ranges are based on hourly rates for NOC 3131 (Pharmacists) and an estimated 2086 hours per year

View Regional Data

Employment Growth

2012

40,733

2013

41,690

2014

42,481

2015

43,228

2016

43,870

2017

44,368

2018

44,842

2019

45,313

2020

45,658

2021

46,027

2022

46,405

Employment Growth based on Stats Canada Occupation Group 313

Requirements

Education Level

Secondary School

On-the-job Training

College/Apprenticeship

University

Requirements

A bachelor of science degree in pharmacy is required.

Pharmacists also require practical training under the supervision of a pharmacist.
licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital
pharmacists.

Subject Areas

Physical Education

Science

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(Optional Co-op)

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Career Spectrum

Interests

Your Interest Type is

This occupation is a

THE TACTICIAN (CE)

GOOD MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

Conventional

Occupation Results

Enterprising
85%

79%

72%

28%

Social

Investigative
71%

63%

56%

100%

Artistic

Realistic
63%

48%

6%

39%

Knowledge

Your top subject area is

This occupation is a

BUSINESS

GOOD MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

Business

Occupation Results

Science
89%

83%

43%

42%

Languages

Creative Arts
83%

72%

25%

24%

Physical Education

Technical & Trades

67%

67%

56%

24%

English

Social Science
61%

56%

26%

37%

Computers

Mathematics
56%

56%

36%

31%

Motivations

Your top motivation factor is

This occupation is a

ACHIEVEMENT

GOOD MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

Support

Occupation Results

Achievement
81%

81%

72%

61%

Relationships

Independence
69%

58%

67%

61%

Working Conditions

Recognition
42%

19%

61%

78%

Compatibility
Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects,
dosage, and proper medication storage.

Definitely

Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to determine the needed ingredients,

and to evaluate their suitability.

Definitely

Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files,
inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons,
narcotics, or controlled drugs.

Somewhat

Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling

pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality,
security, and proper disposal.

Definitely

Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs,

maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.

Somewhat

Combine and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by

calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these
activities.

Somewhat

Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.

Definitely

Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent

excessive usage or harmful interactions.

Definitely

Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as

diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.

Definitely

Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or

healthcare supplies.

Definitely

Resources

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Part Time Pharmacist

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* Life Insurance and disability coverage * Payment of pharmacist license fees * Company funded
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Jul 22, 2015

Helpful Links
Ontario:
Ontario College of Pharmacists
www.ocpinfo.com
British Columbia:
College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
www.bcpharmacists.org
Alberta:
Alberta College of Pharmacists
www.pharmacists.ab.ca
Saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists
www.saskcollegepharm.ca
Prince Edward Island:

Prince Edward Island Pharmacy Board

www.napra.org/docs/0/203/260/281.asp
New Brunswick:
New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society
www.nbpharmacists.ca

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