Online Pharmacy Degree

Online Pharmacy Degree

A pharmacist is a key player in the health sector who aids physicians and dentists by dispensing appropriate medications to patients. Many pharmacists work in a drug store, while others may work in other retails stores or in hospitals.


Pharmacists are specialists in their knowledge of medication; since there is so much change in the industry, they must constantly keep up with current research.

A pharmacist's day to day job involves dispensing prescribed drugs, transferring prescriptions, handling incoming calls from physicians and keeping an up-to-date log of data (usually in a computer).

In addition to the pharmacist, there are often two other positions in a pharmacy: Pharmacy Aides and Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy Aides often perform administrative duties in a pharmacy. They often answer the phones, work as a cashier, stock shelves and perform other clerical duties as requested by the pharmacist.

However, they can also be found to perform more meaningful tasks such as maintain inventory of the stock so that vital medicine is always available. Also, they may be the contact person with the medical insurance companies so that payment can be obtained.

Pharmacy Technicians perform more complex tasks than those of the Aides. They help licensed Pharmacists by preparing the prescribed medication (perhaps by counting tablets and/or labeling containers, weighing, mixing and measuring ingredients). They also may perform tasks that are usually ascribed to the Pharmacy Aides.

Degree Choices

BS, MS, Doctorate. For Pharmacy Aides and Technicians, there may be positions open where training can be obtained on-the-job. However most pharmacists prefer job candidates with some formal training and many states have licensure and certification requirements.

It's best to get a Bachelor's of Science, even if you intend to work as a technician or an aide- this way, should you choose to advance, it will be just a matter of obtaining the necessary licensure- you'll be more than half-way there.

Additionally, the Bachelor's will help you should you decide to move into a different aspect of the health industry.

Pharmacists must have a BS or MS degree from an accredited school plus a Pharm D degree. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education reports that about 70% of Pharm D programs require applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) before they can gain entrance into the program.

In addition to the Pharm D degree, pharmacists in all states are required to be licensed. The two tests they must pass are: The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam.

For those who wish to advance in Pharmacy, there are also graduate degrees available. These degrees are designed for those who want deeper knowledge of the clinical, laboratory, and research aspects of the career.

They may specialize in certain areas of pharmacy including: pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology (how drugs affect the body) or pharmacy administration.

Career and Salary Outlook

The overall growth for the Pharmacy industry is expected to be 22%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is well above the national average for most industries.

The reason given for the increase is the increasing numbers of middle-aged and elderly persons as baby boomers hit retirement age (older people tend to use more prescription drugs).

It should be noted, however, that the projection for Pharmacy Aides is negative, as many of their functions will be increasingly performed by Pharmacy Technicians.

As far as salary, the BLS reports the average salary for Pharmacists came in between $83,000 and $108,000 a year. Pharmacists working in Department Stores tended to be at the high end of the salary scale.

Pharmacy Aides typically make from $8.00 to $12.00 per hour while Pharmacy Technicians averaged between $12.00 and $15.00 per hour.