Becoming a Medicine Counter Assistant Personal Skills Becoming a Pharmacist To become a pharmacist, you have to obtain a pharmacy degree from one of the UK's schools of pharmacy, complete a year's practical training in a pharmacy and pass the final professional examination. Pharmacy is a science based profession, and although entry qualifications to the schools of pharmacy vary, you will generally need three A levels including chemistry and one other science subject. The four-year degree course covers all areas of the origin, structure, function and action of medicines as well as the legal aspects of running a pharmacy. Once qualified, a pharmacist registers as a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, pharmacy's professional body.
Pharmacists are members of the primary health care team.
Their main role is to supply and give advice on medicines, but they are also trained to give advice on the treatment of minor ailments and other health matters. No formal qualifications are required to train for either position, but students must be employed in a pharmacy and work in the dispensary and an understanding of science is helpful. Becoming a Medicine Counter Assistant Medicine Counter Assistants work on the sales side of the pharmacy business. They offer advice to customers on the products and services available at the pharmacy. For this they have to undertake an accredited training course but no formal qualifications are needed to do this.