Pharmacists Go Back to List Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Data base user interface and query software

Tasks
	Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
	Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
	Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
	Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
	Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
	Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
	Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
	Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
	Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
	Refer patients to other health professionals or agencies when appropriate.

Skills
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Knowledge
	Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Search for Jobs on Connecticut's Labor Exchange (CTJOBcentral)
	(Please note that some searches may not produce any results.)

Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

Browse Through a List of Businesses That Employ People With Your Same Skills
	Potential Employer Search

Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $135,942.00 $65.36  $52.48  $63.95 - $72.25  Bridgeport/Stamford $144,446.00 $69.44  $56.13  $65.99 - $77.32  Danbury $140,345.00 $67.48  $55.69  $63.96 - $75.08  Hartford $132,224.00 $63.56  $50.78  $63.44 - $68.02  New Haven $133,906.00 $64.37  $52.09  $64.49 - $68.21  New London/Norwich $132,006.00 $63.47  $47.65  $61.29 - $70.58  Waterbury $132,484.00 $63.70  $53.18  $62.66 - $67.85  Torrington $130,905.00 $62.94  $49.40  $60.75 - $71.93

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   147   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, but the number of annual openings will offer good or favorable job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.