In many cases, professional training increasingly emphasizes direct patient care as well as consultative services to other health professionals. Colleges of pharmacy also instruct students in the use of computers in the pharmacy. Computers are used to create patient medication profiles, to file and record prescriptions, and for inventory control, billing, and other administrative tasks. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, chain drug stores, State and national pharmacy associations, colleges of pharmacy, and other organizations award scholarships annually to students studying full time toward a degree in pharmacy. Prospective pharmacists should be orderly and accurate and have the ability to gain the confidence of clients and patients.
Pharmacists often begin as employees in community pharmacies.
After they gain experience and secure the necessary capital, they may become owners or part owners of pharmacies. A pharmacist with experience in a chain drug store may advance to a managerial position, and later to a higher executive position within the company. Hospital pharmacists who have the necessary training and experience may advance to director of pharmacy service or to other administrative positions. Pharmacists in industry often have opportunities for advancement in management, sales, research, quality control, advertising, production, packaging, and other areas. Some individuals put their pharmaceutical training to work in related fields.