Todd Said:

im thinking about being a pharmacist?

We Answered:

I just graduated from Pharmacy school a month or so ago- so I can give you my take.

It took me 2 years of college at an undergrad school (I went to LSU) making perfect A's to have the GPA to apply. Pharmacy school is expensive, more than regular college but less than Grad school. Most banks are willing to help with the loans because they know that you'll be able to pay it back. Pharmacy school itself is 4 more years (6 total) if you don't fail any classes, then it may be even 7 or 8 years total. The salary is usually between 80-120,000 per year, depending on the job you choose. Working for CVS or Walgreens has longer hours per day, fewer days per week, but pays more than a job in a hospital. It's also a lot more time on your feet to work public retail. Working a hospital is easier, less stress, better hours calmer environment, but pay is usually less.
There will certainly be job openings for as long as you can imagine- pharmacy is changing a lot right now, for the better, and jobs are only getting more varied and more exciting, and better.

School was pretty hard. We started out the class with 100 people, and lost 10 or 12 to failures. They didn't fail out entirely, but they did get left behind a year or two. School was hard- lots of math and science, but i enjoyed it immensely and know I'll enjoy my career.

Billie Said:

How come pharmaceutical companies do not hire pharmacists?

We Answered:

Pharmaceutical companies make drugs and pharmacists are licensed to dispense the drugs. Making drugs is manufacturing an item. The pharmacist is like the retailer that sells the goods from a manufacturer.

As a pharmaceutical company you would not hire a pharmacist as your pharmaceutical rep. Pharma. reps are salespeople. Also, it would be a conflict of interest for both a phramaceutical company to hire a pharmacist as a sales rep.

Legally, I don't think that pharmacists are supposed to market or publicly support the sale of one drug brand over another brand. Pharmacists are just supposed to dispense your prescription as ordered by a doctor.

Pharmacists know too much about drugs/meds that I'm sure a lot of them would not be willing to sell/market some of the drugs/medications because they know how some of the meds are more harmful to humans than beneficial to them. Some would not sleep at night if they recommended the sale of a medication that would do more to injure someone than help them, which is why many pharmaceutical companies are afraid to hire pharmacists. It would not be good for the pharmaceutical company's business

Gordon Said:

Is it easy to find a company to sponsor me as I pharmacist after clearing my FPGEE????

We Answered:

Good luck - 70% of H1-B visas go to Indian companies. Every job opening states whether they sponsor or if you have to be a US citizen.

Gail Said:

Will there still be job opportunities for Pharmacists after six years?

We Answered:

Everyone is so desperate for pharmacists right now. I would imagine that it will be similar in a few years. I'm also thinking about pre-pharmacy, and I'm a pharmacy tech right now!

Christine Said:

Need a job that is the same hours my kids are at school?

We Answered:

Dear H.

I think the best job for you is to be your own boss, meaning to work for at home for yourself , Im doing so my self , I work as an agent for a No. 1 companey charted by New York stock exchange at home makeing good money without big effort, you can contact me on chnar68@yahoo.com if you feel you are intersted to know more about it .
bests

Chnaar

Armando Said:

Career questions- Pharmacist?

We Answered:

I don't know all the answers to the questions but i do know that they make very good money I am talking about starting out at up to 100,000 a year and they are in high demand now.You take lots of chemistry/ science courses and some math.It is alot of school and takes some time to get in the program in many of the schools.