Summary
What does the pharmacist’s job consist of?
In a pharmacy
Pharmacists usually work in pharmacies. He sells drugs prescribed or not by a doctor. He checks the prescription and explains the treatment instructions to the patient. Depending on the doctor’s prescription, he sometimes makes specific preparations. He also answers customer questions and advises them on non-prescription products. Finally, he orders drugs from laboratories, manages stocks and keeps accounts.
In the hospital or in the laboratory
The hospital pharmacist provides medication to the nurses and ensures compliance with the care protocol defined by the doctor. He manages the stocks of products, and collaborates in the evaluation of new drugs within the framework of clinical trials.
In a laboratory, public or private, the pharmacist carries out all kinds of examinations: blood tests, bacteria tests, urine samples… He can also specialize in research.
In industry
The pharmacist monitors the drug throughout its development. From research to quality control, he participates in each stage of production. It also ensures compliance with the obligations and procedures provided for by law. He signs, for example, marketing authorization requests.
How much does a pharmacist earn?
In pharmacies, the salary of a novice pharmacist is around €2,000 and can reach nearly €3,000 after a few years.
Owners of their own pharmacy have an average income of around €4,200, but some earn much more.
A hospital pharmacist starts with nearly €3,800 gross per month. At the end of his career, he can earn up to €6,900.
Pharmacist working conditions
employee
Pharmacies account for the majority of pharmacists. Young graduates start their careers as assistants before opening their own business. It is also possible to set up a laboratory after a few years of experience. However, buying a pharmacy or a laboratory is expensive and imposes a heavy workload.
Teamwork
The pharmacist never works alone. At the hospital, he collaborates with the medical teams. In pharmacies, he supervises assistants and assistants. Finally, in industry, he works with biologists, chemists and doctors to design new drugs.
Busy schedule
The working days are long, and often include on-call weekends, and sometimes night work.
Regulated profession
Registration with the Order of Pharmacists is essential to practice. Like the doctor, the pharmacist takes an oath, the oath of Galen.
In addition, the opening of a pharmacy is regulated. You must obtain a license from the prefect. This is granted according to the number of inhabitants and the number of existing pharmacies in a municipality.
How to become a pharmacist?
Pharmacy studies are long: 6 or 9 years depending on the specialty chosen. Enrollment in the faculty of pharmacy requires a baccalaureate S.
Bac +6
The course of a student begins with the 1st year common to health studies. So you have to pass the exam. Only one repetition is allowed.
At the end of the 4th year, you must choose among your specialty:
- dispensary;
- industry ;
- boarding school
Students who have opted for the pharmacy or industry focus complete their course at the end of the 6th year with the defense of a thesis. They obtain the state diploma of doctor of pharmacy.
boarding school
The boarding school is accessible by competition and begins in the 6th year. It lasts 4 years and leads to a double degree:
- State diploma of doctor of pharmacy;
- diploma of specialized studies (DES to bac + 9).
Qualifications needed to be a pharmacist
Vigilant and rigorous
The pharmacist cannot afford any negligence. He must be particularly attentive and rigorous when he delivers the drugs. In particular, he ensures the validity of the prescription and the dosage. Finally, he makes the preparations with great precision.
good advice
In pharmacies, pharmacists spend a lot of time advising and reassuring patients. He knows how to be patient and pedagogical in answering clients’ questions and explaining treatments. If he runs his own pharmacy, he must also have some business acumen and managerial qualities.
Content updated on 07/13/2012
Our tips:
In 2012, 3,095 places were offered by the various faculties of pharmacy.