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When some people think about pharmacists, they imagine the professionals working behind the counter at their neighborhood pharmacies. While that’s one role that pharmacists can have, it’s not the only one. In this article, we’ll break down the different types of pharmacists to help you plan your future career in this field.

What Is a Pharmacist?

A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who prepares and dispenses prescription medications. They’re knowledgeable about medications and can work with patients to explain how to take medicine safely. Pharmacists also collaborate with physicians and other healthcare providers on medication usage and safety.

What Does a Pharmacist Do?

There’s no standard job description for pharmacists. This role can vary, depending on the job setting. Different types of pharmacists may review medications, fill prescriptions, advise patients, or counsel other healthcare professionals about medications.

With that in mind, some common may include:

• Reviewing prescriptions for accuracy and preparing medications
• Educating patients about when and how to take medications
• Providing vaccinations or other preventive care services
• Consulting with insurance companies about billing and reimbursement
• Managing pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff
• Maintaining pharmacy records and checking inventories
• Collaborating with healthcare providers on medications and dosages

In their roles, pharmacists primarily focus on helping people use medications safely and appropriately. Their day-to-day duties, however, can vary depending on the type of pharmacy job they have and where they work.

What Are Some Different Types of Pharmacist Jobs?

Just like there’s no standard job description, there’s no single pharmacist job you can get. Pharmacists can have various roles in healthcare. Some types of may focus on patient education and community health, while others may involve research or consulting.

If you’re interested in a pharmacy career, these are some jobs you may be able to pursue:

Clinical Pharmacist

Clinical pharmacists work with healthcare teams to help manage patients’ medications. These pharmacists often work in clinics, ambulatory care settings, or specialty practices.

Unlike some pharmacists, clinical pharmacists have a direct role in patient care. Their role may involve:

• Reviewing patients’ medication histories
• Assessing how patients respond to medications
• Monitoring side effects or drug interactions
• Recommending changes to medication plans

Clinical pharmacists collaborate closely with primary care physicians and specialists to care for patients. The role may be a good fit if you value teamwork and want to see how your work makes a difference for patients.

Community Pharmacist

Community pharmacists prepare, fill, and dispense medications. They work in retail settings, such as pharmacy chains, grocery stores, and independent pharmacies.

In these settings, community pharmacists usually don’t provide direct patient care. Instead, their responsibilities may include:

• Instructing patients about proper medication use
• Answering patients’ questions about medications, such as potential side effects
• Suggesting over-the-counter medicines for minor ailments
• Administering vaccines
• Supervising pharmacy staff and operations

As a community pharmacist, you can expect to interact with a variety of people every day. This role may be appealing if you enjoy communicating with people and educating them about medications.

Consultant Pharmacist

Consultant pharmacists advise healthcare organizations about medications. They may provide consulting services for various healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, assisted living communities, hospice organizations, and long-term care facilities. Some may specialize in a specific area or patient population, such as senior care.

A consultant pharmacist’s job duties can include:

• Analyzing medication regimens for effectiveness or potential risks
• Counseling organizations on medication policies
• Identifying potential improvements to pharmacy services or operations
• Preparing reports and recommendations for healthcare organizations

Compared to other pharmacist jobs, a consultant pharmacist focuses more on research and analysis. You may be interested in becoming a consultant pharmacist if you enjoy problem-solving and want to work outside a traditional pharmacy.

Hospital Pharmacist

Hospital pharmacists work in hospital pharmacies. In these settings, patients may have complex medication needs, such as IV medications.

A hospital pharmacist commonly works directly with patients and healthcare providers. Their responsibilities may include:

• Verifying prescription orders and preparing medications
• Accompanying care teams on rounds to evaluate patients’ medication plans
• Recommending changes to medications or dosages
• Answering patients’ questions about continuing medications upon discharge

Hospital pharmacists may support specific departments, such as emergency care or oncology. It may be a good fit if you want to work in a fast-paced pharmacy setting or interact with both patients and providers.

Nuclear Pharmacist

specialize in radioactive drugs, also known as radiopharmaceuticals. They can work in large medical centers, where they prepare these medications on-site, or at off-site commercial nuclear pharmacies. Radiopharmaceuticals require careful handling, so nuclear pharmacists receive additional training in radiation safety.

Nuclear pharmacy is a specialized area, and pharmacists in this role may have these job duties:

• Preparing radiopharmaceuticals using specialized equipment
• Performing quality control testing on radiopharmaceutical products
• Maintaining thorough records and meeting other regulatory requirements
• Handling hazardous and radioactive materials safely

This role involves more behind-the-scenes work. Nuclear pharmacists may handle many of their tasks independently, and they usually have less patient interaction than other types of pharmacists. You may feel drawn to this area if you enjoy technical work and want to have more autonomy in your role.

Pharmaceutical Pharmacist

Pharmaceutical pharmacists work in research and development. They can work for pharmaceutical companies or research organizations, assisting with the production, quality control, and regulation of medications.

Some common responsibilities in this role can include:

• Coordinating clinical trials and contributing to research
• Reviewing data to help determine drug safety
• Providing quality assurance oversight
• Preparing reports and educational materials about medications

In this role, you can help shape the future of healthcare by supporting the development and delivery of new medications. It may appeal to you if you want a pharmacy role that’s more connected to the business side of healthcare.

Explore the PharmD Program at ¹ú²úÖ÷²¥

There are many types of pharmacists, and each one contributes to healthcare in a unique way. The right pharmacist role for you may depend on your interests, strengths, and personal preferences.

At ¹ú²úÖ÷²¥, our hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy program is designed to help you find your niche. The program combines classroom learning with in-person clinical experience and community outreach. You complete coursework online and come to campus for one week every trimester to practice your skills, including advanced practice areas like acute care and ambulatory care.

Want to learn more? Reach out today to request more information or schedule an information session!

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WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.