What is a clinical pharmacist and how to become one

Q: Are clinical pharmacists in demand?

Yes, clinical pharmacists are in demand. There is a growing demand for pharmacists, with the number of job ads in the field increasing 170% every year. In the United States, this demand is highest in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi and lowest in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

Q: Can clinical pharmacists write prescriptions?

Yes, clinical pharmacists can write prescriptions. In this area, they are just as qualified as a medical doctor or psychiatrist. They can write these prescriptions in any professional context, be it at a hospital or a community pharmacy.

Q: What is the difference between a pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist?

The difference between a pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist is that a clinical pharmacist performs duties beyond the entire dispensing and processing of orders. A clinical pharmacist is also qualified to optimize medication selection, determine dose, and monitor other pharmacists. A clinical pharmacist will also typically have undergone residency training and specialty board certification to do this kind of work.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a clinical pharmacist?

The qualifications you need to be a clinical pharmacist are to complete a doctorate program and earn your Phd in Pharmacology. Before this, you would need to at least complete a bachelor's degree program in pharmacology, of course.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jenna Mills PharmD, BCPS

A clinical pharmacist provides medication therapy management services to patients in a clinical setting. They work with healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive effective medications. Clinical pharmacists review patient medical histories, perform medication reconciliations, assess drug interactions, and provide patient education. They also participate in interdisciplinary teams to develop treatment plans, monitor outcomes, and adjust medication regimens.

What general advice would you give to a clinical pharmacist?

Jenna Mills PharmD, BCPS

Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, The University of Findlay

Give yourself patience and grace as you transition from a student pharmacist into a registered pharmacist (RPh). Being a new practitioner comes with many learning curves: responsibility for patient care, working efficiently, and learning site-specific policies and procedures that will be new to you, to name a few. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day – you’re beginning your career and will learn more about the site and yourself as a pharmacist every day. Pharmacy school may be over, but maintain your willingness to learn. Ask questions, take notes during your training for reference later, and remember that every shift comes with opportunities to learn.

ScoreClinical PharmacistUS Average

Salary

7.4

Avg. Salary $94,705

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 21.35%

Black or African American 7.62%

Hispanic or Latino 5.78%

Unknown 4.02%

White 61.05%

Gender

female 61.00%

male 39.00%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a clinical pharmacist?

Pros

High demand for clinical pharmacists, leading to job security and competitive salaries
Variety of settings to work in, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities
Exposure to cutting-edge research and medications
Ability to specialize in areas such as oncology or critical care
Potential for leadership roles within pharmacy departments

Cons

Limited autonomy due to strict regulations and protocols
Dealing with difficult patients or situations, such as drug-seeking behavior or medication errors
High liability risks due to the potential for medication errors or adverse reactions
Burnout due to the high-pressure nature of the job
Potential for conflict with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians or nurses.

Key steps to become a clinical pharmacist

Explore clinical pharmacist education requirements

Most common clinical pharmacist degrees

Doctorate

44.6 %

Bachelor's

43.0 %

Master's

6.2 %

Start to develop specific clinical pharmacist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	20.17%
Patient Care	10.76%
PharmD	6.93%
Medication Orders	4.80%
Pharmaceutical Care	4.24%

Complete relevant clinical pharmacist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical pharmacists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinical pharmacist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical pharmacist resumes.

Research clinical pharmacist duties and responsibilities

Train, manage and instruct pharmacy technicians, interns, and PharmD candidates on clinical rotations.
Dose and manage all Vancomycin and Aminoglycoside antibiotics throughout the entire hospital including overseeing, evaluating, and ordering antibiotic labs.
Receive and verify drug orders from physicians using computerize physician order entry system, including cancer chemotherapy orders.
Implement updated pediatric chemotherapy-induce nausea and vomiting (CINV) guidelines and policy for use in all pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy.

Prepare your clinical pharmacist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical pharmacist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a clinical pharmacist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable clinical pharmacist resume templates

Build a professional clinical pharmacist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your clinical pharmacist resume.

Apply for clinical pharmacist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a clinical pharmacist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do clinical pharmacists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Clinical pharmacist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

Pay is fair for a starting pharmacist (CVS). The technicians are alright. 401K Helping people (and I really mean it).

Cons

Typical pharmacist complaints like tired legs, stress, etc. Terrible work-life balance. You make a good amount of money, sure, but there's a point where money doesn't bring happiness like it used to.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019

Pros

it helps a lot. i really needed this.

Cons

i like everything. theres nothing i dont like.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

The ability to make a difference in someones Health and Wellness

Cons

Inability to balance Life and Work and Family

Clinical pharmacist FAQs

What is a clinical pharmacist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a clinical pharmacist?

What are the pros and cons of being a clinical pharmacist?

Clinical pharmacist career paths

Key steps to become a clinical pharmacist

Explore clinical pharmacist education requirements

Most common clinical pharmacist degrees

Start to develop specific clinical pharmacist skills

Complete relevant clinical pharmacist training and internships

Research clinical pharmacist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your clinical pharmacist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable clinical pharmacist resume templates

Apply for clinical pharmacist jobs

How did you land your first clinical pharmacist job

Average clinical pharmacist salary

How do clinical pharmacists rate their job?

Clinical pharmacist reviews

Clinical pharmacist FAQs

Are clinical pharmacists in demand?

Can clinical pharmacists write prescriptions?

What is the difference between a pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist?

What qualifications do you need to be a clinical pharmacist?

Search for clinical pharmacist jobs

Clinical pharmacist jobs by state