Pharmacists
where pharmacists work
Pharmacists can work with patients in local pharmacies, general practice (doctors' surgeries), aged residential care facilities, marae-based clinics, primary health organisations, hospitals and some pharmacists visit patients in their homes. Other pharmacists may work in research roles, information and information technology roles, management roles, the pharmaceutical industry, government and other health organisations or teach at universities.
Required Qualifications
Graduands attain a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) from either the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland or the School of Pharmacy at the University of Otago.
A BPharm consists of four years of clinical and professional studies.
To register and gain a pharmacist Annual practising Certificate (APC), a graduate must complete a years internship within the Society's Intern training programme.
Career options
A registered pharmacists' career can take a number of pathways and specialities:
- Community- based in a pharmacy providing dispensing and advice, medicines use reviews, CPAMs and other extra services
- Hospital - based in a hospital working as part of the multi-disciplinary team
- Primary care - part of General Practice Surgery or Medical Centre providing medicine therapy assessment services and clinical facilitator roles
- Consulting and Advisory - independent pharmacist working in a variety of locations and environments providing these services
- Prescribing - working under the special scope of practice
- Academic - as part of a School of Pharmacy at a University
- Industry- Pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulation
- Policy and representative - advising government and policy makers in agencies and professional organisations
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