Pharmacist
Help people get the right medicines and use them safely to treat illnesses and disease.
About the job
What it's like
You would help people get the right medicines and drugs and use them safely to treat illnesses and disease.
You’d check prescriptions, dispense medicines and make sure that the laws to control medicines are met.
You could work as a community pharmacist, for example in a high street shop, or in a hospital pharmacy either in the NHS or in a private hospital.
As a community pharmacist you would:
Give healthcare advice and help to customers
Prepare medicines bought at the counter
Give advice on how to use medicines correctly, including the amount to use (dosage) and any risks
Sell a range of products
Deliver medication to people who are unable to leave home
Visit care homes to advise on the use and storage of medications
Order and control stock
You would also run or help to run the business, including supervising and training staff.
In a hospital, you would:
Advise on most suitable form of medicine, such as a tablet, inhaler or injection
Advise on the dosage for medicines
Produce medicines, for example, creating a treatment or solution when ready-made ones are not available
Visit wards
Advise colleagues about medicines and give them up-to-date information
Buy, quality test and distribute medicines throughout the hospital
Supervise trainees and junior pharmacists
Another option is to work as a pharmacist within a local NHS service.
You could:
Advise GPs about prescribing
Run a clinic at a GP practice
Train local prescribers on issues related to managing and prescribing medicines.
You could also work in education or in industry, carrying out research into new medicines and running clinical trials.
You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the Pharmacist page on the NHS Scotland Careers website.
Hours
As a pharmacist in a hospital setting, you would usually work 37.5 hours a week, including weekends and as part of an on-call rota. As a community pharmacist, you could work up to 48 hours a week, full-time. Part-time work is often available.
Environment
You would work in a pharmacy in a shop or hospital.
Explore more information about this job
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Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- medication dispensation
- pharmaceuticals
- patient safety
- health promotion
- pharmacy operations
- pharmacotherapy
- maternity hospital
- radiopharmacology
- methadone
- health advocacy
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking responsibility
- delegating
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Human Biology
Physics
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
You need an honours degree (SCQF level 10) or postgraduate qualification (SCQF level 11) in pharmacy
To enter a pharmacy degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of four Highers at AABB (gained on first sitting). Some courses may also ask for Advanced Highers.
To enter a postgraduate course (SCQF level 11) you will usually require an honours degree in a relevant subject.
Any extra qualifications that show your understanding of the sciences, health and medicine such as Skills for Work Health and Social Care (SCQF level 6) or Laboratory Science (SCQF level 5).
Once qualified you need to complete one year of supervised training before you can register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC): you must be registered to work in the community or in hospital pharmacy.
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