Pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the correct medications and understand how to use them safely. With growing healthcare needs and an aging population, pharmacy careers offer stable employment and numerous opportunities for growth. But what do pharmacists do on a daily basis, and how can you become one in Australia? Let's explore the pharmacist job description, types of pharmacists, and the qualifications needed to enter the profession.
What Do Pharmacists Do?
The role of a pharmacist extends far beyond simply dispensing medicines. Pharmacists are responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the drugs they provide, offering expert advice to patients, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
Here are some key responsibilities of pharmacists:
- Dispensing prescription medications accurately and safely
- Providing guidance on proper medication use, potential side effects, and interactions
- Advising patients on general health topics such as vaccinations and lifestyle choices
- Conducting medication reviews to optimize patient treatment plans
- Ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and laws
- Managing pharmacy staff and overseeing inventory levels
- Working alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes
Note that pharmacists do not invent or create drugs. Instead, they study available drugs to ensure they are appropriate for the clients who ask for them. In some instances, a pharmacist may be able to recommend a drug to a customer, but the customer will likely need explicit permission from their doctor to get a prescription.
Pharmacists help patients manage their medications by ensuring any new prescriptions will not interfere with current meds or health conditions. They may also do basic health checks like testing a patient’s blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Pharmacists can also administer vaccines in some situations and give guidance on health advice like how to manage basic nutrition and how to stop smoking.
Types of Pharmacists
Pharmacy roles vary based on the setting and specialization. Here are some common types of pharmacists:
Community Pharmacists, Retail Pharmacists
Work in retail pharmacies, providing medicines and healthcare advice to their communities and the public.
Hospital Pharmacists
Collaborate with medical teams to prescribe and monitor medications for hospitalised patients.
Clinical Pharmacists
Specialise in direct patient care, optimising medication therapies for individuals.
Consultant
Provide consultations to hospitals and clinics to help improve pharmacy services.
Industrial Pharmacists
Work in pharma companies, focusing on drug research, development, and quality control.
Regulatory Pharmacists
Ensure that medications comply with government regulations and safety standards.
Academic Pharmacists
Teach and conduct research at universities or other educational institutions.
Compounding Pharmacists
Create custom medicines for patients with supplies available in the pharmacy. Compounding pharmacies are interesting because it is only at these locations that a pharmacist can mix substances to create custom formulations. All other pharmacies and pharmacists must only provide pre-manufactured medications.
Just within pharmacy science, there are so many career options! There are a wide variety of jobs in chemistry.
Pharmacists’ roles depend on their work location. Generally, pharmacists are liaisons between pharmaceutical scientists and patients, ensuring that patients understand how to take their medicines safely as prescribed and ensuring that doctors are prescribing appropriate medications to their patients.
Average Salary of Pharmacists in Australia
Pharmacy careers can be financially rewarding, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and work setting. On average, a pharmacist in Australia earns about $85K to $105K per year. Entry-level positions may start at $65K, while experienced professionals and specialists can earn upwards of $125K annually.
Factors that influence pharmacist salaries include:
- Years of experience
- Specialization and additional qualifications
- Location (higher salaries in metropolitan areas and remote regions)
- Type of pharmacy (hospital, retail, industry, etc.)
Some locations may have pharmacists performing more duties than others, like working more on the human side of things by advising patients and customers. Other positions may have a pharmacist focusing more on the medicinal aspects, including monitoring supplies and patient advocacy (talking to doctors and other healthcare providers).
Pharmacist Work Environment
Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, each offering unique challenges and responsibilities. The most common work environments include:
Community Pharmacies
These retail settings are the most common workplaces for pharmacists, where they interact directly with customers and provide essential healthcare advice.
Hospitals and Clinics
Hospital pharmacists work closely with medical teams to ensure patients receive the correct medications.
Pharmaceutical Companies
Industrial pharmacists focus on drug development, quality control, and regulatory affairs.
Government and Regulatory Agencies
Some pharmacists work for agencies that oversee drug safety and compliance.
Academic Institutions
Teaching and research positions are available for those interested in educating future pharmacists and conducting pharmaceutical studies.
Most pharmacists work standard business hours, but those in hospitals or 24-hour pharmacies may work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
How to Become a Pharmacist in Australia
If you're wondering how to become a pharmacist in Australia, you’ll need to follow a structured educational and training path. Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a qualified pharmacist:
1. Complete a Recognized Pharmacy Degree
You must earn a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) or a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) from an accredited university. The program must be accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA).
Some top institutions offering pharmacy qualifications in Australia include:
- University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Master of Pharmacy Practice
- Bachelor of Pharmacy and Management
- Master of Pharmacy
- Master of Medicine (Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Development)
- Master or Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine and Health)
- Monash University
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
- Master of Clinical Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
- University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
- Graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy
- Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice
- Master of Clinical Pharmacy
- Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice
- University of Western Australia
- Master of Pharmacy
- University of South Australia
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
- Master of Pharmacy
- RMIT University
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
- Bachelor of Health and Biomedical Sciences (Honours)
Note that taking a tangential degree may not be enough to get you on a direct path to becoming a pharmacist, but it can be a way to have a richer background if you plan to earn a postgraduate degree in pharma. That way, you may have unique experiences and insights that those who strictly studied pharmacy may not. Your career pathways may be more interesting and specialised, perhaps securing a higher salary in a more niche realm.
2. Complete an Internship
After obtaining a pharmacy degree, graduates must undertake a one-year supervised internship in a pharmacy setting. This hands-on training is essential for gaining practical experience and applying theoretical knowledge.
To enrol in an internship, graduates must apply for provisional registration and submit their intended internship arrangement for approval by the Board.
Common internships include training programmes at universities, pharmaceutical companies, and actual pharmacies.
hours of supervised practice in a 12-month period
3. Pass the Pharmacy Board Examination
Upon completing the internship, candidates must pass the Pharmacy Board of Australia registration exam. This assessment tests knowledge, skills, and competence to ensure pharmacists meet national standards. Pharmacological science is closely related to medical science, so it is a required part of pharmacist qualifications, similar to how doctors must be certified.
These exams consist of a written examination (APC) and an oral exam (AHPRA), and can be taken after at least 75% of the supervised internship hours have been completed (1,181 hours).
4. Obtain Registration with AHPRA
To legally practice, pharmacists must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and comply with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
Pharmacists are required to obtain at least 40 CPD credits per year after registration. No more than half of the credits may come from unassessed activities, like lectures and conferences (known as Group One activities). At least half of the credit must come from Group Two and Group 3 activities, which are assessed activities and quality or practice-improvement activities, respectively.
5. Pursue Further Specialization (Optional)
For those looking to advance their careers, additional certifications and postgraduate studies in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, or management can open doors to higher-paying roles and specialized positions.
Pharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the body. It seeks to determine which compounds are toxic, which are safe, and which are effective, taking into consideration dosage and other factors, like existing health conditions.
What About Pharmaceutical Science?
If you want to get into the field of drug and medicine development and research, you will likely want to pursue pharmaceutical science rather than pharmacy. Pharmaceutical scientists typically work with biomedical research centres or companies that run clinical trials for medicines and drugs to glean new useful information in pharma technology. They may develop new drugs and medicines and help get them tested and approved by regulatory bodies, registering them so they may be distributed to patients.
These scientists can also work with universities, hospitals and organisations in a forensics capacity, conducting medical audits and more for legal documentation.
To pursue this path, look for accredited degree programmes like a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Is Pharmacist in Demand in Australia?
The demand for pharmacists in Australia remains moderate to high, with steady job growth expected in the coming years. It’s projected that the field will expand by about 2,300 jobs per year. Factors contributing to this demand include:
- An aging population requiring more medications and healthcare services
- Increased focus on preventative healthcare and medication management
- Expansion of pharmacy services, including vaccinations and health screenings
- A growing need for pharmacists in rural and remote areas
It is a popular choice for internationals who want to work in Australia with a visa. Pharmaceutical science is a very stable industry since it requires many people to function properly and new (and existing) medicines are being researched all the time. It’s an industry that can change rapidly as new technology allows for groundbreaking research.
Retail pharmacists will always be needed as friendly faces who help their communities.
Pharmacy careers offer a fulfilling and stable profession with numerous opportunities for specialization. The role of a pharmacist goes beyond dispensing medications, encompassing patient care, research, and healthcare collaboration. With a strong demand for pharmacists in Australia, pursuing this career path can lead to a rewarding and impactful profession.
If you're considering a career in pharmacy and need academic support, professional private tutors on Superprof can help you excel in your studies and prepare for a successful future!
References
- How to Become a Pharmacist - Qualification, Skills, Career Data. (n.d.). In www.rmit.edu.au. https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/health-science/pharmacy/how-to-become-a-pharmacist#how-to
- Pharmacist Salary in AU (February, 2025). (n.d.). In SEEK. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/pharmacist/salary
- Pharmacists. (2025). In Jobs and Skills Australia. Jobs and Skills Australia. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2515-pharmacists
- Pharmacy as a Career. (n.d.). In Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. https://www.psa.org.au/career-and-support/pharmacy-as-a-career
- Pharmacy Board of Australia - Internships. (n.d.). In www.pharmacyboard.gov.au. https://www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/Registration/Internships.aspx
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