Pharmacy Careers

---

Possible Pharmacy Career Paths

Pharmacists are the medication expert on the health care team and often the most accessible health care professional for the general public. In addition to the community pharmacy branch of pharmacy there are hundreds of career paths in several different branches of pharmacy. Many pharmacists appreciate the variety of career options available to them and the portability of their Pharm.D. degree to take them where they want to go. Some career opportunities for pharmacists are:

Community Pharmacy Practice

• Retail Pharmacy
  • Chainstore Pharmacy
  • Independent Ownership
  • Mail Order
  • Grocery/Big Box Stores
  • Compounding Pharmacy
• Veterinary Pharmacy
• Home or Hospice Care

Ambulatory Care (Chronic Disease Management) Pharmacy Practice

• Diabetes
• HIV/AIDS
• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiovascular Disease/Risk
• Anticoagulation
• Asthma
• Cystic Fibrosis

Consulting Pharmacy

• Nursing Home Practice
• Geriatric Pharmacy

Public Service Pharmacy Practice

• U.S. Air Force
• Public Health Service (Indian Health Services, Federal Agencies)
• Veterans Affairs

Institutional (Hospital or Health-System) Pharmacy Practice

• Medication Distribution and Control
• Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement
• Medication Safety and Drug Information
• Specialty Clinical Practice
  • Cardiology
  • Critical Care
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics
  • Organ Transplants

Managed Care Pharmacy Practice

• Benefits Management
• Formulary Management
• Insurance Companies

Nuclear Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Industry

• Research and Development
• Management
• Communications and Advertising
• Regulatory Affairs
• Sales

Pharmacy Professional Associations

• National and State Pharmacy Professional Organizations (example: American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Oklahoma Pharmacists Association (OPhA),National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), etc.)

Poison Control Centers

• Oklahoma Center for Poison & Drug Information

Regulatory Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control
• Drug Enforcement Agency
• Federal Drug Administration
• State Boards of Pharmacy

Pharmacists may also become board certified through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, in the following specialty areas:

• Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
• Cardiology
• Compounded Sterile Preparations
• Critical Care Pharmacy
• Emergency Medicine
• Geriatric Pharmacy
• Infectious Diseases
• Nuclear Pharmacy
• Nutrition Support Pharmacy
• Oncology Pharmacy
• Pediatric Pharmacy
• Pharmacotherapy
• Psychiatric Pharmacy
• Solid Organ Transplantation

---

Additional Career Resources

Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics

Is Pharmacy Right For Me?

Pharmacist Demand Indicator

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

Pharmacists for Healthier Lives

OKC Area Free Clinics Where You Can Volunteer