Specialties in Pharmacy Practice, Functions, and Responsibilities

“There are three legs of responsibility. Your doctor, your pharmacist ang you.”

Career Information

- Job description
o A pharmacists main duty is to distribute prescription medications to individuals.
Compounding the medication is also a part of their day to day job duties, which is the mixing
of the different ingredients to make the drug. However, they also help to advise their
customers about the drugs that are being prescribed to them, such as dosages, interaction
with other drugs, potential side effects and to answer any other questions the patient may
have. Pharmacists also counsel their customers on the use of over-the-counter medicines,
and can provide information on general health topics, including diet and exercise.

- Educational Requirements (PH)

o A Filipino pharmacist must be a graduate of at least a four-year Bachelor of Science in
Pharmacy degree in a recognized school offering the program, passed the licensure exam
given by the Professional Regulations Commissions (PRC) and at least 21 years old.

- Educational Requirements (US)

o To work as a pharmacist one must have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) and pass
the licensure exam, North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) administered
by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Pharmacy programs are usually
four years long and must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
(ACPE).
o To gain admission one must have at least two years of college study with courses including
math, chemistry, biology, physics, humanities and social sciences. Applicants generally
have to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). Doctor of Pharmacy programs
include coursework in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology,
toxicology and pharmacy administration.
o Most states also require graduates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam
(MPJE), a test of pharmacy law, also administered by the NABP. Other states administer
another exam that tests knowledge of pharmacy law. Several states also require additional
state-specific exams (Written and Practical Exam). All states, except California, grant license
transfers from other states.

- Advancement
o Pharmacists working in independent pharmacies may become owners of part-owners after
they gain experience and secure the necessary capital. Those in chain drugstores may be
promoted to pharmacy supervisors or store managers, then to district or regional managers
and eventually to executive positions at the headquarters. Hospital pharmacists may be
promoted to supervisory positions. Those who work in the pharmaceutical industry may
advance in areas including marketing, sales, research, or quality control.
 - Job Outlook (US)
o Employment of pharmacists is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028.
Employment in retail pharmacies will be affected by increasing sales via mail order and
online pharmacies.

- How much do pharmacists earn? (US)

o Pharmacists earned a median annual salary of $126,120 in May 2018 (Php 6.3M)

- A day in a pharmacist’s life:

o On a typical day a pharmacist will:
▪ Advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages,
interactions, and side effects of medications;
▪ Monitor the health and progress of patients in response to drug therapy;
▪ Advise patients and answer questions about prescription drugs, including questions
about possible side effects and interactions among different drugs;
▪ Provide information and make recommendations about over-the-counter drugs;
o Pharmacists may also:
▪ Give advice about diet, exercise, or stress management;
▪ Help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or
high blood pressure;
▪ Advise patients about durable medical equipment and home healthcare supplies;
▪ Complete third-party insurance forms and other paperwork;
o Pharmacists who own or manage drugstores may supervise personnel, as well as have other
general managerial duties.

Major Fields of Practice in the Philippines

- Notice that the major fields of practice in the Philippines is still traditional confined to the following
fields which are also the minor internship field of a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy program:

o Community
▪ The most common
▪ Also considered as the most practical and the most financially rewarding field should
a Pharmacist decide to own a pharmacy.
▪ Franchising
• This costs around Php 600,000 which is twice (or thrice) the amount when
you start a store of your own but the advantage is the process has been
built so the chance for success is good plus the inventory and other
management softwares are already included in the royalties.
• The following are the most popular pharmacies open for franchise and
usually conducts a business opportunity seminar for interested parties:
o Generika
o The Generics Pharmacy
o Gamot Publiko
o Hospital
▪ Filipinos has been known globally to provide quality healthcare service to other
countries. In fact, most of the country’s income is reliant to OFW’s but the very own
health care industry of the country is poor.
▪ Salaries of the Filipino hospital pharmacists are believed to be the lowest among
the 3 fields of pharmacy practice, this may be due to less advancement of the
hospitals.
▪ The advent of Clinical pharmacy in the major hospitals has been giving employment
opportunities that give fair remuneration but the cost of living in the country far
outweighs this remuneration.

o Industry
▪ Traditionally, this practice rooted form manufacturing pharmacy.
▪ This field of practice is a good choice financially that give opportunities to a wide
range of choices:
• Sales and marketing
o The pharmacist usually starts as a medical representative to
product managers or district managers then to a national or
regional position.
o The pressure of the quota seems to the reason for the very fast turn
over of employment in this field.
o It is practical to know that companies require applicants who are
personable for this field.
• Research and development
o This is the field of drug discovery that most students dream of but
there is no drug innovator in the country, not even United
Laboratories.
• Production and quality control
o Manufacturing pharmacy is practiced only by few pharmacists due
to the small amount of pharmaceutical plants in the country.
• Administration and management
o Office works dealing with papers and documents but less technical
than regulatory affairs and quality assurance roles.
• Regulatory affairs and quality assurance
o Before a company introduces a product to the market, the product
needs to be evaluated by the government and it is the Company
Pharmacist who works on this.
o Also, when there are queries on the product, it is the Company
Pharmacist who will be answerable to FDA.
• Clinical trials management
o Philippines has now became a hot spot for conducting clinical trials
in Asia.
• Business process outsource
o Managed care from the US outsources in the Philippines through
call centers (night shift)
 o The Philippines through PhilHealth has been expressing interest in
practicing Managed Care soon starting with cardiology,
hypertension and endocrine products.
▪ The field also opens doors to regional position that covers not only the Philippines
but Southeast Asia and Asia pacific and of course a chance to work in a
multinational environment but note that this field is something built from years of
hard work.

o Other fields
▪ Government
• Job security is treasured in this field but salary wise, the compensation
grows very slow.
• FDA is the major employer of pharmacists in the government
• Very few pharmacists practice pharmacy in the government owned
hospitals, DDB & PDEA, Bureau of Customs, Department of Budget and
Management and even at the office of the senate.
▪ Academe
• A pharmacist may work as a Dean after 5 years of teaching experience, a
pharmacist may also bean instructor, professor and a lecturer in a
university/college offering a pharmacy program.

Major Fields of Practice in the US

o Ambulatory Care Pharmacist

▪ Provide critically important information to patients and their caregivers on a one-on-
one basis regarding the safe and appropriate use of medications.
▪ Work with other health care professionals to ensure that patients receive the right
medications for their individual medical situations.
▪ They may focus on general care or specific disease states, such as diabetes,
asthma, HIV, or pain management, and they provide care for these illnesses by
applying their extensive medication expertise, rather than directly handling
medications.
▪ Practice Setting: Ambulatory care pharmacists work in clinical office settings and
pharmacies. Examples include non-hospital settings like pharmacies, clinics, and
physician offices.
▪ Educational Requirements: Ambulatory care pharmacists generally complete 1-2
years in a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD
degree.
▪ Patients: They treat patients with multiple, short-term, or long-term medical
conditions who frequently take multiple medications.
▪ Traits: You like the idea of building long-term relationships with patients and other
health care professionals, and you would prefer to work outside of a hospital setting.
Additionally, you have the ability to deal with complex issues and conditions.
o Cardiology Pharmacist
▪ Experts on medications designed for patients with, or at risk for, cardiovascular
disease and participate in patient rounds with other health professionals.
▪ Involved in all aspects of cardiac care including heart transplants, artificial heart
pumps, and anticoagulation (blood clot prevention).
▪ Pharmacists who specialize in this area work as part of a health care team that may
include dietitians, cardiologists, neurologists, cardiac rehabilitation nurses, and
others.
▪ It’s common for cardiology pharmacists to provide care by applying their extensive
medication expertise instead of handling medications directly.
▪ Practice Setting: They work in a variety of settings, including hospital emergency
rooms, intensive care units (ICUs), cardiac care units (CCUs), and specialty
outpatient clinics that focus on heart-related problems, such as high blood pressure
(hypertension), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and strokes.
▪ Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency
and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Cardiology pharmacists treat patients with cardiovascular (heart) disease
who often take multiple drugs and have complex health issues that require
specialized care.
▪ Traits: You are interested in conditions related to the heart and blood, have the
ability deal with complex issues and conditions, and are comfortable working with
individuals who may be seriously ill.

o Community Pharmacist
▪ Community pharmacists are the most accessible members of the health care team.
They use their expertise to prepare and dispense prescriptions, ensure the
medicines and doses are correct based on a patient’s health and other factors,
safeguard against drug interactions, and counsel patients regarding safe and
appropriate use of medications.
▪ They provide immunizations (e.g., flu shots) and guidance on possible interactions
with herbal supplements or other over-the-counter medications. Many also provide
wellness services, such as smoking cessation and blood pressure monitoring
programs, to help people live healthier lives.
▪ Community pharmacists answer consulting calls from other health care
professionals, communicate with insurance companies about payments, and are
key players in the fight against opioid abuse.
▪ Practice Setting: Community pharmacies are located everywhere—from small,
individually owned pharmacies to large chain stores. However, fewer than half of all
pharmacists work in community pharmacy settings.
▪ Educational Requirements: All new community pharmacists must earn a PharmD
degree in order to provide care and dispense medications to patients.
▪ Patients: Community pharmacists work with members of the local community.
▪ Traits: You want to be a valuable member of your local community. Additionally,
you would like the flexibility to work in a wide variety.
o Compounding Pharmacist
▪ Compounding pharmacists prepare customized or personalized medications in
response to a prescription or when commercially available drug products do not
meet a patient’s individual needs.
▪ For instance, a compounding pharmacist may change a medication to alter its
strength for a child who needs a lower dose, add a flavor to make it taste better,
remove non-essential ingredients (e.g., gluten or dye) for patients who are allergic,
or change its form (e.g., from pill to liquid) to make it easier to use or swallow.
▪ Practice Setting: They work in highly sterile, controlled and safe laboratories,
which can be independent or inside of a medical facility.
▪ Educational Requirements: While all pharmacists are educated about
compounding in pharmacy school, a compounding pharmacist may complete
additional training in this area after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Compounding pharmacists work daily to provide medications to a variety
of patients, but don’t typically interact with them directly.
▪ Traits: You enjoy the idea of creating custom medicines and solving complex
problems. Additionally, you want to work in a unique and less common area of
pharmacy, and would prefer to work in a laboratory setting.

o Geriatric Pharmacist
▪ Geriatric pharmacists, also known as senior care or consultant pharmacists,
specialize in treating older adults who may take several medications to manage
multiple long-term health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease,
pain, or other conditions associated with aging.
▪ Geriatric pharmacists work as part of a health care team to counsel patients and
their caregivers regarding safe and appropriate use of medications and meet the
unique needs of the senior population.
▪ Practice Setting: They work in all settings including in or near hospitals, long-term
care facilities (e.g., nursing care homes), assisted living centers, and community
pharmacies in residential communities designed for older adults.
▪ Educational Requirements: Geriatric pharmacists generally complete 1-2 years in
a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
Some states also require a special consultant pharmacist license.
▪ Patients: Geriatric pharmacists specialize in treating older adults who may take
several medications to manage multiple long-term health issues.
▪ Traits: You have an interest in connecting with older adults, are comfortable
working with complex health issues, and would like to be part of a team and
community.

o Hospital Pharmacist
▪ Hospital staff pharmacists, also known as acute care or internal medicine
pharmacists, provide a variety of services that are critical to the care provided in
hospitals.
 ▪ As an important member of the interprofessional health care team, hospital
pharmacists participate in patient rounds with other health care professionals who
rely on pharmacists’ expertise to make medication decisions and assure optimal
patient care.
▪ In addition to preparing and dispensing medications, hospital pharmacists review
patient charts, monitor medication therapy, develop pharmacy procedures to ensure
patients receive the right medications at the right time, and make medication
purchasing and budget decisions. They also spend their time counseling patients
regarding medications when they are admitted, while they are in the hospital, and
before they are discharged.
▪ Practice Setting: They work as part of high-functioning health care teams in
hospital settings.
▪ Educational Requirements: Hospital pharmacists generally complete 1-2 years in
a residency after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: The patients treated by hospital pharmacists typically have more
complicated diseases and medications than found in other settings.
▪ Traits: You want to work as part of a high-functioning health care team in a hospital
and around patients who may have more serious, traumatic, or chronic conditions
than the general population. You also would prefer to work more closely with other
health care providers rather than with patients.

o Infectious Disease Pharmacist

▪ Promote the appropriate use of antibiotics to eradicate harmful microorganisms,
minimize drug-resistant organisms, and stop the spread of a disease in a patient or
population.
▪ They work with other health care professionals to select and monitor the
medications for patients with or at risk for infections and implement antimicrobial
policies and procedures for the setting.
▪ Serve in critical roles as part of hospital-based infectious disease teams that are
responsible for appropriate antibiotic use within the institution.
▪ It’s not uncommon for infectious disease pharmacists to never handle medications
during their jobs. Instead, they provide care by applying their extensive medication
expertise.
▪ Practice Setting: Infectious disease pharmacists work in hospitals, medical
centers, public health agencies, and medical clinics.
▪ Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency
and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Infectious disease pharmacists focus on the care of patients who have
short-term infections (e.g., influenza), long-term diseases caused by infection (e.g.,
HIV), or are at greater risk for infection due to other medications or diseases (e.g.,
cancer).
▪ Traits: You want to be a key player in stopping the spread of infections and
minimizing the development of resistant microorganisms. Additionally, you want to
work as part of a team.
o Nuclear Pharmacist
▪ Work to improve health through the safe and effective use of radioactive drugs to
diagnose and treat diseases, such as cancer.
▪ Radioactive materials are generally injected into a patient’s bloodstream or
swallowed. Health care professionals can then use the resulting gamma scans to
obtain a dynamic views of a patient’s organ function.
▪ In addition to preparing the radiopharmaceutical agents, nuclear pharmacists are
responsible for quality control and reviewing patients’ charts prior to any testing to
ensure proper dosing.
▪ Must have specialized scientific knowledge and training to safely work with
radioactive materials. Fortunately, because of strict safety standards, the amount of
radiation exposure to pharmacists and others is very low.
▪ Practice Setting: They work as part of a health care team in hospitals, imaging
centers, or specialized pharmacies authorized to handle radiopharmaceuticals.
▪ Educational Requirements: Nuclear pharmacists generally complete 1-2 years in
a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Nuclear pharmacists work more closely with other health care providers
than they do with patients directly.
▪ Traits: You prefer to work in a commercial laboratory environment, and you want to
work more closely with other health care providers instead of with patients.
Additionally, you are interested in drug discovery and research.

o Oncology Pharmacist
▪ Oncology pharmacists are experts in the medications used to treat cancer, as well
as those used to manage the side effects from cancer treatments.
▪ Oncology pharmacists support all aspects of cancer care, including chemotherapy
dosing and mixing, patient counseling, and new drug research.
▪ They work with other health care professionals to maximize the benefits of cancer
drugs while minimizing their side effects, such as pain and nausea. And, they also
help to identify patients who are candidates for new cancer drug research or
suffering from emotional issues that may arise during the cancer treatment.
▪ Practice Setting: Oncology pharmacists work in many different settings, such as
clinics, hospitals, and cancer centers.
▪ Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency
and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Oncology pharmacists work and build relationships with patients who
have cancer. Because of this, they are comfortable with the idea of working with
seriously ill patients.
▪ Traits: You want to work and build relationships with patients who have cancer, are
comfortable with the idea of working with seriously ill patients, and enjoy working as
part of a team.
o Pediatric Pharmacist
▪ Ensure the safe and effective use of medicines in children ranging in age from
newborn to 18 years. This is mainly because medicines developed for adults may
be too strong or have different or dangerous effects on children.
▪ Work to determine the proper dosing and medication for children based on their age,
weight, and health conditions so they can recover, live longer, or enjoy a better
quality of life.
▪ Often participate in patient rounds with other health care professionals, administer
drugs, and provide expertise regarding pediatric medications. They may also
participate in research studies to develop new medications for children.
▪ Practice Setting: Pediatric pharmacists are found in children’s and traditional
hospitals, intensive care units (ICUs), neonatal ICUs, and specialty outpatient clinics
(e.g., cancer centers).
▪ Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency
and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Pediatric pharmacists work closely with children ranging in age from
newborn to 18-years-old.
▪ Traits: You want to work with children of all ages, are comfortable with the idea of
helping seriously ill children and their parents, and enjoy the idea of creating custom
medicines.

o Industry Pharmacist
▪ Pharmacists who work in the pharmaceutical industry can be involved in a wide
variety of jobs, including sales, research, law, marketing, and general business.
▪ Industry pharmacists may develop new drugs in a pharmaceutics department,
conduct clinical drug trials in a research department, manage drug safety reports in
an epidemiology department, respond to medical information requests, or work on
quality control in a drug production department.
▪ You can also find industry pharmacists promoting drugs to consumers in the sales
or marketing department, working as drug information specialists, and developing
and monitoring drug development regulations in the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
▪ They often work alongside pharmacologists, biochemists, biotechnologists,
statisticians, toxicologists, chemical engineers, and others.
▪ Practice Setting: Industry pharmacists work in a variety of settings including
laboratories, businesses, and more.
▪ Educational Requirements: Depending on their selected area of work, industry
pharmacists may have additional training, experience, or degrees (e.g., MBA or
PhD) in addition to earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Industry pharmacists typically do not work directly with patients. Instead,
they are very much involved in drug development or the business side of pharmacy.
▪ Traits: You are less interested in working directly with patients and would prefer to
be involved in the drug development or business side of the pharmaceutical
industry.
o Poison Control Pharmacist
▪ Must often make quick decisions and clearly respond to urgent questions about
poisonous chemicals, hazardous toxins, and serious drug interactions.
▪ Situations can vary widely, including those related to children who swallow
household cleaners, toxic responses to herbal supplements or over-the-counter
medicines, bites and stings from poisonous animals, environmental hazards, and
more.
▪ In addition to the general public, poison control pharmacists respond to questions
from emergency medical services, law enforcement, hospitals, physician offices,
schools, and medical examiners. They also develop prevention protocols and
educate other health care professionals on the toxicity of drugs and other materials.
▪ Don’t usually handle medications during their jobs, but instead provide care by
applying their extensive medication expertise.
▪ Practice Setting: Poison control pharmacists often work in hospitals or poison
control centers.
▪ Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency
after earning a PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: Poison control pharmacists don’t usually work directly with patients.
Instead, they share their expertise with a variety of parties including the general
public, law enforcement, hospital staff, and more.
▪ Traits: You are less interested in working directly with patients, and can make
decisions in a crisis. Additionally, you are a good listener, are able to communicate
clearly and calmly under pressure, and are interested in the effect of toxic materials
on the body.

o Psychiatric Pharmacist
▪ Specialize in the treatment of mentally ill patients, such as those suffering from
depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, developmental
disabilities, substance abuse, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injuries. They have
extensive knowledge about mental illnesses, emotional disturbances, abnormal
behavior, and neurology (e.g., disorders of the nervous system).
▪ The medications used to help manage the symptoms of psychiatric illnesses vary
widely and the medications can be complex. Thus, psychiatric pharmacists work
closely with other health care professionals to provide their expertise.
▪ Practice Setting: Psychiatric pharmacists often provide care in long-term care
facilities (e.g., nursing homes), psychiatric and traditional hospitals, substance
abuse centers, mental health clinics, and prison systems.
▪ Educational Requirements: Psychiatric pharmacists generally complete 1-2 years
in a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD
degree.
▪ Patients: Psychiatric pharmacists specialize in the treatment of mentally ill patients.
▪ Traits: You have an interest in psychology, psychiatry, or the brain. Additionally,
you are comfortable dealing with people who have mental or behavioral challenges,
and you enjoy building relationships with others.
o Veterinary Pharmacist
▪ Veterinary pharmacists compound, dispense, and administer medications to meet
the specific needs of sick or injured animals, or to prevent animals from getting sick.
Many human illnesses such as cancer, eye problems, heart conditions, asthma, and
diabetes can also affect animals.
▪ While most “patients” are traditional pets, veterinary pharmacists may care for a
wide variety of animals or choose to specialize in one species (e.g., horses).
▪ Veterinary pharmacists adjust the dosage, strength, or taste medications to make
them easier for animals to take or digest. They may also have research or
administrative duties and work with veterinarians and technicians.
▪ Practice Setting: You can find them in veterinary hospitals, veterinary schools,
zoos, aquariums, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA).
▪ Educational Requirements: Veterinary pharmacists must complete specialized
training in veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics after earning a PharmD
degree.
▪ Patients: Most “patients” are traditional pets like cats and dogs. But, veterinary
pharmacists may also care for a wide variety of animals or choose to specialize in
one species (e.g., horses).
▪ Traits: You love animals or have an interest in veterinary science, are comfortable
with both animals and people, and enjoy the idea of creating custom medicines.

o Emergency Medicine Pharmacist

▪ Important members of the health care team. Conditions seen by emergency
pharmacists range from bruises and colds to gunshot wounds and chest pains.
▪ Work in a fast-paced setting with other health care professionals who rely on their
expertise to make quick and accurate medication decisions and assure optimal
patient care.
▪ They prepare and dispense medications, review patient charts, develop pharmacy
procedures to ensure patients receive the right medications at the right time, and
counsel patients regarding the safe and appropriate use of medications. They also
develop disaster response plans, manage medication inventories, and conduct
research.
▪ Practice Setting: You can find them in fast-paced emergency room settings.
▪ Educational Requirements: Emergency medicine pharmacists generally complete
1-2 years in a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a
PharmD degree.
▪ Patients: They treat a wide variety of patients who visit a hospital emergency room.
▪ Traits: You want to work in an exciting and fast-paced setting with a variety of
patients as part of a health care team, and you can communicate clearly and calmly
under pressure.
 - Other Specialties
o This specialties are those that are not only confined to pharmacists:

▪ Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)

• A health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and
experience in diabetes management, prediabetes, and diabetes
prevention.
• Educates and supports people affected by diabetes to understand and
manage the condition.
• Promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and
treatment goals that optimize health outcomes.
• Has become a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes
education.
• Dominated by nurses and available in the Philippines
• After the completion a “CDE” title may be added as suffix to the name of
the professional
• In the US, certification is awarded by the National Certification Board for
Diabetes Educators (NCBDE).
• In Canada, certification is awarded by the Canadian Diabetes Educator
Certification Board (CDECB).
• In the Philippines, any allied health care professional may apply to be a
diabetes educator after taking special courses from the Philippine
Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE) or Association of Diabetes
Nurse Educators of the Philippines (ADNEP). Qualified graduates of
diabetes educator courses can practice as professional diabetes educators
in any Center for Diabetes Care (CDC) clinic network. The Diabetes Nurse
Educator (DNE) and Certified Lay Educator (CLE) are the equivalent of the
CDE in the Philippines.

▪ Regulatory Affairs Certified (RAC)

• Granted by the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) after
completion of training (may be done online).
• The only credential for regulatory professionals in the healthcare product
sector. The certification demonstrates to employers, clients and colleagues
essential knowledge, critical thinking abilities and a commitment to
continuing professional development.
• Advantage in getting recognized for an advanced job in regulatory. With an
RAC, you can do more for your employer and earn more along the ways.
• Filipino regulatory professionals are welcome to take the exam but the
costs and poor opportunities outweighs the benefits.

Board of Pharmacy Specialties

- Board certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties is recognized as the gold standard
for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels. Through
 our rigorous standards, the BPS board certified pharmacist stands out as the most qualified to take
on today’s expanding expectations of patients, physicians, employers and others who recognize
the increasing need for a team approach to healthcare.
- Certification and recertification in the USA is granted for the following specialties. Each specialties
have different requirements for qualification:
o Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
o Cardiology Pharmacy
o Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy
o Critical Care Pharmacy
o Geriatric Pharmacy
o Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
o Nuclear Pharmacy
o Nutrition Support Pharmacy
o Oncology Pharmacy
o Pediatric Pharmacy
o Pharmacotherapy
o Psychiatric Pharmacy

Top 10 Reasons to be Pharmacist

1. You want a job. There is a massive void of people who know the pharmaceutical business. You can
help fill it. The employment outlook is not that bright in numerous but pharmacies are here to stay.
2. You like helping people. As a pharmacist, you get to work directly with the community, helping
people deal with what is often their No. 1 priority – health.
3. A good salary. There is a string cash incentive thanks to high demand.
4. Flexible hours. Night owl or morning people, there’s a pharmaceutical shift for you. Often,
pharmacies are open 24 hours a day. You have the freedom to work a flexible shift – 9 to 5 or
whatever suits you best.
5. Location. You can take your pharmaceutical skills anywhere in the country – or the world.
6. Respect. There aren’t too many jobs where you are an instant authority on a subject, but getting a
doctorate of pharmacy automatically makes you a central fixture in your community, from day one.
7. You like a challenge. You’ll never be bored behind the counter – there’s a constant flow of new
information to integrate, such as new medical technology, new drugs and new customers.
8. Variety. Today’s pharmacists do a lot more than count pills. Some pharmacists perform check-ups
on patients’ blood pressure, diabetes and other increasingly common illnesses.
9. You want a life. Ask some older career types how they feel about the daily commute and there are
sure to be groans. Pharmacies tend to be located in town centers, so you can live close to your
workplace – even within walking distance.
10. Making a difference. Pharmacists make a positive impact on their communities and can save lives
by ensuring that patients get the right medications in the right combinations. It’s a reward uncommon
in most careers.
Ten Star Pharmacist

1. Pharmaceutical care giver

2. Decision-maker
3. Communicator
4. Leader
5. Manager
6. Teacher
7. Life-long learner
8. Entrepreneur
9. Agent for positive change
10. Researcher

The APhA Career Pathway

- This is a good assessment tool originally developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and was handed to
the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) so that pharmacists will know which field they will
most likely fit. (https://www.pharmacist.com/pathway_survey)
- According to this tool, there are 24 career options for a pharmacist:

o Academia: Clinical Practice

o Academia: Economic, Social, and Administrative Sciences (ESAS)
o Academia: Pharmaceutical Sciences
o Association Management
o Chain Community Pharmacy: Management
o Chain Community Pharmacy: Staff
o Clinical Specialists
o Community Health Center (CHC)
o Compounding Pharmacy
o Contract Research Organization
o Corporate Management
o Government/Federal Pharmacy
o Home Health Care
o Hospital Pharmacy: Management
o Hospital Pharmacy: Staff
o Independent Community Pharmacy
o Long Term Care
o Mail Service
o Managed Care
o Medical Communications/Drug Information
o Nuclear Pharmacy
o Pharmaceutical Industry: Medical Liaison
o Pharmaceutical Industry: Research and Development (R&D)
o Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM)

- The following are the critical factors in the assessment:

o Interaction with patients
o Interpreting laboratory values
o Helping people
o Educating other professionals
o Multiple task handling
o Focus on enterprise
o Applying scientific knowledge
o Creating new knowledge by conducting research
o Management/supervision of a business
o Work schedule
o Job-sharing opportunities
o Parental leave opportunities
o Job security
o Opportunities for leadership and development
o Professional involvement
o Benefits (vacation, health, retirement)
o Autonomy
o Future focus
o Unique practice environment
o Entrepreneurial opportunity
o Interacting with colleagues
o Writing
o “On call”
o Work on weekends
o Conducting physical assessments
o Continuity of relationships
o Collaboration with other professionals
o Variety of daily activities
o Problem solving
o Innovative thinking
o Applying medical knowledge
o Management/supervision of others
o Pressure/stress
o Part/time opportunities
o Exit/Re-entry opportunities
o Leisure/family time
o Opportunity for advancement
o Community prestige
o Income
o Geographic location
o Self-worth
o Professional prestige
o Advanced degree
o Additional training
o Travel
o Working with teams
o Work on holidays
o Presentations
References:

American Association of Diabetes Educators. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2019, from
https://www.diabeteseducator.org/education/certification.
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2019, from https://www.pharmacist.com/pathway_survey.
Board Certification and Recertification. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2019, from
https://www.accp.com/careers/certification.aspx.
Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) Homepage. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2019, from
https://www.bpsweb.org/.
Diabetes Education Training 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2019, from
http://www.adnep.org/page/diabetes-education-training-program.
Diabetes Education, Certification, Examination, Diabetes Self-Management. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15,
2019, from https://www.ncbde.org/.
Pharmacist Job Description (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2019, from
https://jobdescriptions.net/health/pharmacist/.
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https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm.
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careers/#1554236448663-f21efb29-4666.
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Retrieved September 15, 2019, from https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/pharmacist/.