What Are the Different Types of Pharmacist Careers?

Pharmacists provide essential health services to their communities in settings from hospitals to long-term care facilities. Patients of all ages receive guidance about medication use, vaccinations, and health check-ups from their pharmacists. This profession is among the most trusted vocations because of its practitioners’ clinical and interpersonal skills.

The word “pharmacist” conjures an image of the local drugstore in many of our minds. There are different types of pharmacists to meet the ongoing need for pharmacological expertise. Aspiring pharmacists can specialize in the following areas as they advance their careers.

Types of Pharmacists Based on Work Location

Community Pharmacists

Forty-two percent of pharmacists work in community or retail settings, according to the BLS. These settings range from independent pharmacies to chain pharmacies within grocery stores or other retailers. Community-based pharmacists are responsible for:

• Evaluating prescription requests for potential allergies and drug interactions
• Educating patients on the proper use of medication
• Providing vaccinations and public health information
• Testing and treating select self-limiting conditions (e.g., influenza or strep throat)
• Recommending over-the-counter medications and equipment for specific conditions
• Managing day-to-day operations, including staff supervision and billing

Frequent customer interactions in community pharmacies provide variety from one day to the next. This role is vital to public health, with patients seeing their pharmacists twice as much as their physicians. Long hours and limited staff are common challenges for community pharmacists.

Health-System and Ambulatory Clinic Pharmacists

Pharmacists also work in hospitals and other healthcare environments and may be involved in direct treatment of patients. They collaborate with physicians on the optimal medications and therapies for patient needs. Pharmacists working in clinical settings also:

• Identify health issues beyond acute issues leading to office visits
• Follow up with patients about the effectiveness of prescribed treatments
• Monitor the effects of medications, order necessary laboratory tests, and adjust therapy as part of collaborative practice agreements
• Reinforce primary care provider advice about health maintenance and improvement

The immediacy of working with patients in these care settings can be rewarding for pharmacists. This specialty also encourages closer connections with healthcare providers than community-based pharmacy settings. Clinical pharmacists may also experience periods of stress due to their hectic work environments.

Clinical pharmacists work in several types of facilities:

• Hospitals and health systems
• Immediate care clinics
• Primary care clinics
• Long-term care facilities
• Managed care facilities

Industry Pharmacists

Pharmaceutical companies employ pharmacists for the research and development of new drugs. Their input spans the manufacturing process from formulation through delivery to drug wholesalers. They work with chemists, clinical researchers, and other professionals to minimize potential risks, and may be involved with clinical trial oversight.

Industry pharmacists use expertise in the following areas to shape safe and effective drug design:

• Manufacturing practices and processes
• Pharmaceutical supply chains
• Quality standard development and implementation
• State, federal, and international regulations

This specialty provides pharmacists with active roles in the future of drug development. Career opportunities after extensive experience in industry settings expand into administrative, policy, and professional education. Working in industry settings may not be ideal for pharmacists who prefer to have direct patient contact.

Consultant Pharmacists

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide long-term care to patients with various medical conditions and prescriptions. Federal law requires SNFs to contract with consultant pharmacists for monthly drug regimen reviews. There are abundant opportunities for consultant pharmacists with nearly 17,000 SNFs in the United States.

Consultant pharmacists identify potential adverse reactions and opportunities for more effective treatment during drug regimen reviews. This career path offers flexibility as consultants can also practice in community-based or hospital settings. Substantial paperwork and frequent chart reviews can make full-time consulting work tedious for pharmacists interested in having more direct patient contact.

Types of Pharmacists Based on Specialty

Compounding Pharmacists

Patients often need prescribed medications to be converted into different strengths and formats for effective use. They may be unable to consume pills or are intolerant of non-active ingredients. Compounding pharmacists specialize in customizing medications into forms such as:

• Custom-flavored liquids
• Creams and ointments
• Nasal sprays
• Suppositories
• Transdermal gels applied to the skin

Pharmacists learn the basics of compounding in their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs, with some specializing after years of experience. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) notes that 13% of American pharmacies specialize in compounding services. This career path presents more limited job opportunities than other specialties but also unique challenges as patient needs and medications evolve.

Infectious Disease Pharmacists

Antimicrobials, including antibiotics and antiviral agents, are essential tools in the fight against infectious diseases. Overuse of these medications can lead to antimicrobial resistance, resulting in chronic illness or death. Hospitals, clinics, and research facilities employ pharmacists in this specialty to:

• Work with prescribers and patients on identifying the right antimicrobial and dose to treat infections effectively and minimize resistance
• Identify alternatives to antimicrobials for viral infections and other ailments
• Educate healthcare providers on the appropriate use of antibiotics and antiviral agents

Infectious disease pharmacists typically complete residency training between their PharmD programs and employment. This adds one to two years of post-graduate residency training that takes place after the four years of PharmD study. Pharmacists in this field help protect the public from antibiotic-resistant infections through good stewardship.

Nuclear Pharmacists

Radiopharmacy - or nuclear pharmacy - involves the compounding and distribution of radioactive prescriptions. Imaging processes like CT-PET scans rely on radioactive tracers for clearer views of internal organs. Nuclear pharmacists also assist doctors with internal radiation therapy for early-stage cancers.

Practitioners in this specialty work within hospitals or commercial nuclear pharmacies. Growth in the medical imaging market means ongoing demand for nuclear pharmacists. This field involves frequent exposure to potentially dangerous materials, thus requiring adherence to strict U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Oncology Pharmacists

Patients diagnosed with cancer work with oncology pharmacists throughout their care. Oncology pharmacists oversee the delivery of chemotherapy by technicians. They monitor drug effectiveness, patient reactions, and test results for necessary adjustments. Their roles in clinical environments may include:

• Collaborating with physicians and researchers on clinical studies
• Educating patients on prescribed treatments and at-home care
• Participating on committees related to cancer care effectiveness and policy

Oncology pharmacists have positive impacts on patients confronting physical and emotional pain. Their direct involvement in treatment means they can quickly adapt therapies for individual needs. This role can also take an emotional toll on pharmacists, especially with prolonged treatment and terminal cases.

Senior Care Pharmacists

Senior care pharmacists use their knowledge of geriatrics and pharmacology to help older patients. They use medication therapy management to balance multiple medications and optimize treatment outcomes. Their responsibilities extend to areas like fall prevention, caregiver counseling, and disease state management.

There are diverse settings for the work done by senior care pharmacists. The American Society for Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) identified the most common practice environments including:

• Nursing facilities (20.7%)
• Assisted living facilities (11.2%)
• Retail pharmacies (11%)
• Hospice clinics (9.2%)
• Residential care facilities (6.8%)

Pharmacists specializing in senior care find consistent demand for their services, with one-sixth of Americans aged 65 and older in 2020. This career path can be challenging as practitioners help patients through multiple health issues in their final years of life.

Additional Pharmacist Specialties

Pharmacists may also specialize in these fields, among others:

• Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
• Cardiology Pharmacy
• Critical Care Pharmacy
• Emergency Medicine Pharmacy
• Pediatric Pharmacy
• Psychiatric Pharmacy

Pharmacist Job Prospects

No matter the specialty, demand for pharmacists will remain consistent for the foreseeable future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates 13,400 pharmacist openings annually through 2032. This demand stems from the retirements of experienced pharmacists and the increasing healthcare needs of an aging population.

The time, energy, and money invested in a PharmD yields a strong return for pharmacists. The BLS reported a median income of $136,030 for pharmacists in 2023, with the top 10 percent of earners making $ 168,650 or more. The University of Findlay prepares future pharmacists for rewarding careers through its Distance PharmD program.

Train for Pharmacist Careers at the University of Findlay

Distance PharmD students build the skills necessary for pharmacist careers with the help of experienced faculty. This four-year program includes 100% online didactic coursework (synchronous and asynchronous). Students learn the ins and outs of their future careers in courses like Introduction to Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics.

The University of Findlay further prepares Distance PharmD candidates with in-person experiences. Students complete 300 hours of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) and 1,440 hours of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences in their communities. They also participate in on-campus events, including:

• One three-day orientation
• Three one-week immersions
• A final week with graduation and licensure exam prep

The University’s place among the 2024 Best National Universities from U.S. News & World Report shows the high value of this degree. Dual degree options, including MBA and MS in Health Informatics, add value to the Distance PharmD degree. The program’s accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) demonstrates its commitment to academic excellence.