Pharmacists
(NOC 3131)
in All HealthPharmacists compound and dispense prescribed medications. They support caregivers and other health care professionals and help patients manage their medications. Pharmacists work in retail and hospital pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion, and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They work for pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.
Job Outlook
Average
Read more
Compared to: All Health
Jobseekers may experience some difficulty in finding employment, and may have to consider moving to take advantage of opportunities in smaller communities. There are typically a larger number of candidates for vacancies in Halifax. Industry changes in recent years have contributed to little wage growth and weak demand, particularly in the hospital system. Current labour market conditions may require jobseekers to accept part-time employment to gain experience. Some opportunities are shift-work, which can include evenings, weekends, and long shifts.
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
$64,830
Minimum$93,743
Median$123,079
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.70
Minimum$26.60
Median$43.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed medications. They support caregivers and other health care professionals and help patients manage their medications. Pharmacists work in retail and hospital pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion, and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They work for pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.
Job duties
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists:
- Check prescriptions for proper dosage.
- Compound prescribed medications by calculating, measuring, and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity.
- Dispense prescribed medications to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on dosage and signs of adverse effects and drug interactions.
- Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs.
- Make sure vaccines, serums, biologicals, and other drugs are prepared, packaged, distributed, and stored properly.
- Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies.
- Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication.
- May supervise and coordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, and other staff.
Industrial pharmacists:
- Participate in research for the development of new drugs.
- Make new drug products developed by medical researchers.
- Test new drug products for stability and to determine absorption and elimination patterns.
- Coordinate clinical investigations of new drugs.
- Control the quality of drug products during production to ensure that they meet standards of potency, purity, uniformity, stability, and safety.
- Develop information materials concerning the uses, properties, and risks of drugs.
- Evaluate labelling, packaging, and advertising of drug products.
- Promote pharmaceutical products to health professionals.
Sample job titles
- clinical pharmacist
- dispensary department supervisor - hospital
- hospital pharmacist
- pharmacist
- pharmacist consultant
- retail pharmacist
Skills
- You should have an interest in helping people in a healthcare environment. You should have an interest in chemistry and an aptitude for detail, precision, and accuracy. Effective communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills are essential. You must be patient and able to deal with people in a mature, tactful, and empathetic way.
Job 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 Nova Scotia for community and hospital pharmacists.
Other considerations
- Pharmacists often work rotating shifts that include evenings and holidays.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$80,560 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$85,876 median annual incomeCape Breton
$92,840 median annual incomeSouthern
$94,117 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$89,168 median annual incomeCompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Retail trade
Health care and social assistance
Wholesale trade
Public administration
Manufacturing
What is the age of Employment?
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
15-24
65+
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Bachelor
$85,807 median annual incomeDiploma Above Bachelor
$82,401 median annual incomeMaster
$59,832 median annual incomeDoctorate
$89,535 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
N/ACompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (MSc, PhD)
University ProgramThese programs focus on on applying chemistry to the study of biologically and clinically active substances, biological and pharmacological interactions, and the development of associated research methods, techniques, and clinical trial procedures. They include courses in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular graphics, rational drug design, toxicology, molecular biology, pharmacology, enzyme mechanisms, receptor theory, neurochemistry, drug metabolism, drug synthesis, biological mechanisms of drug action, research tools and techniques, and laboratory safety.
Institutions providing this program
Pharmacy (PharmD [USA], PharmD or BSc/BPharm [Canada])
University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent or employed practice of preparing and dispensing drugs and medications in consultation with prescribing physicians and other health care professionals, and for managing pharmacy practices and counselling patients. They include courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacy practice, pharmacy administration, applicable regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.