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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a pharmacy manager. Feel free to use our pharmacy manager job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a pharmacy manager.

 

Who is a Pharmacy Manager?

Pharmacy managers are in charge of directing a pharmacy’s everyday operations, such as dispensing prescription medication and providing advice to customers. Other responsibilities include supervising the pharmacy staff and inventory, as well as ensuring that prescription medications and restricted narcotics are stored safely. They might also look at the prescription specifics.

 

Pharmacy Manager Job Description

Below are the pharmacy manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a pharmacy manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The duties and responsibilities of a pharmacy manager include the following:

• Supervise salespeople, cashiers, shelf stockers, and other pharmacy workers.
• Prepare medications and complete prescription orders for pickup or delivery.
• Order pharmacy supplies and keep track of inventory daily.
• Keep prescription medications and regulated substance use best practices.
• Confirm prescription specifics with the healthcare professionals who wrote them.
• Inform clients about the medication’s recommended use, dosage, and any side effects.
• Maintain a list of permitted drugs and controlled substances, as well as check expiration dates.
• Keep an eye on product displays and shelves, as well as the pharmacy’s overall appearance.
• Respond to customer inquiries and complaints.
• Recruit and train new pharmacy personnel, as well as schedule shifts.
• File and receive prescriptions.
• Discuss patients and their drugs with medical professionals.
• Listen to patients’ symptoms and make recommendations for over-the-counter drugs.
• Measure, prepare and dispense the correct medications to the patients who require them.

 

Qualifications

The job requirements for a pharmacy manager include all of the following:

• Possession of accredited doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD).
• A bachelor’s degree in business administration is preferred, or an equivalent qualification.
• Possession of a state-issued license.
• Demonstrated experience in a pharmacy management position.
• Comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological applications and side effects of prescription medications and banned substances.
• Advanced understanding of storage practices for prescription medications and regulated substances.
• Ability to track down any issues with scripts that have been processed at the pharmacy.
• Literacy in the use of Rx Master Pharmacy System software.

 

Essential Skills

The essential skills for pharmacy managers are the same for all pharmacists. Though the essential skills of a pharmacy manager will go a little further to include additional managerial skills since he/she is in charge of directing other pharmacists in his custody:

1. Accuracy: pharmacy managers work with drugs in all aspects of their lives, from production to marketing to dispensing. As such they are aware that drugs can be hazardous if mishandled or distributed incorrectly. Pharmacy managers are expected to deliver medications in a timely and error-free way. They must be able to read doctors’ handwriting and be able to fill prescriptions. Humans are prone to making mistakes, but a Pharmacist must be meticulous in his work because it is a matter of life and death.
2. Communication Skills: Communication skills are vital for most professionals, and command of English, as well as local languages, is required. It is critical while communicating with patients. Pharmacists are responsible for communicating with patients on medication dosage, when to take it, and how to take it. In a few chronic conditions, it is sometimes vital for the patient to not miss a single dose. It is, therefore, the duty of the pharmacist to explain to the patient the dosage and this is done in the language that the patient understands, hence the need for good communication abilities.
3. Proof Reading: Doctors may overlook drug-drug interactions when prescribing such drugs. Then pharmacists can act as proofreaders, informing back doctors and suggesting prescription adjustments. However, pharmacists must first research the subject thoroughly.
4. Interpersonal Skills: Pharmacy managers frequently have to negotiate with doctors who dislike being questioned and frustrate patients who are patiently awaiting their prescriptions. Interpersonal abilities such as patience, diplomacy, and a good sense of humor are required by pharmacists.
5. Managerial abilities: Pharmacy managers who can manage budgets, check inventories, and keep accountable records are needed when chain pharmacies and large hospitals are part of the country. Pharmacists are also in charge of overseeing and managing subordinate employees.
6. Multitasking abilities: Along with dispensing drugs, pharmacy managers perform a variety of activities. Pharmacists are in charge of verifying pharmaceutical expiration dates, stocking required medicines, recordkeeping, and a variety of other little too large activities.
7. Patient Counseling expertise: It is the most crucial of all the abilities. Patient counseling is the practice of offering important information, guidance, and assistance to patients to aid them with their drugs and ensure that they take them correctly. Yes, it requires communication skills, but pharmacists also require an extensive understanding of drugs, which they get during their studies.
8. Computer literacy: When the world moves toward online pharmacies (e-Pharmacy), pharmacists must be aware of the changes. Most pharmacies nowadays have internet access. Computers also make it easier to store consumer information, inventory counts, and billings, among other things. This makes it necessary that pharmacy managers are computer literates to perform beyond physical settings and as well reach a large audience from the comfort of their homes and offices.
9. Ability to gain knowledge and innovation in the field: The pharmaceutical industry is a hotbed of innovation, with numerous new treatments and products hitting the market. Pharmacists must keep their knowledge up to date and continue to learn new skills.
10. Professional Ethics:     Pharmacists are expected to practice ethically. They must keep patient information confidential. Even if some patients purchase anti-HIV medicines from a pharmacy and are from the neighborhood or further away, their identities are never revealed in the community.
11. Honesty: Doctors sometimes neglect to check for drug interactions, and nurses who submit computerized prescriptions occasionally make mistakes. Pharmacy managers are similar to proofreaders in that if something doesn’t make sense or if a mistake has been made, they must have the confidence and integrity to speak up and ask questions.
12. Scientific aptitude:    Although it may seem self-evident, many people underestimate how much pharmacists rely on practical science. Pharmacists must have a thorough understanding of chemistry and biology, as well as a strong desire to learn new and complicated material as it becomes accessible.
13. Mathematical skills: Numerical skills are required for everything from calculating how many tablets a patient needs to working out more sophisticated variable dosages. Indeed, when compounding medications and preparing specific solutions, you must be able to perform precise pharmaceutical calculations and provide appropriate dosages as a certified pharmacist.
14. People skills: Patience, diplomacy, and a good sense of humour are required to cope with doctors who don’t want to be questioned and disgruntled patients who are angry about having to wait for their prescriptions. If the process is to run well, it must be possible to calm shattered egos and broken feelings.
15. Understanding of medical law and advocacy: In the United States, pharmacists are all too often at odds with insurance companies, especially when they refuse to cover the medication that a patient requires. When barriers arise, registered professionals must be prepared to argue on behalf of their patients rather than simply sending them away empty-handed.
16. Management skills: This is an important component of the job that is sometimes disregarded. Pharmacists may be responsible for overseeing technicians and dispensers (with all the personnel management concerns that include), as well as managing budgets, monitoring inventories, and keeping accountable records, depending on their place of employment and the structure in place.
17. Ability to carry out multiple tasks at once efficiently and accurately: Pharmacists are busy not just doing life-saving tasks, but also answering phones, dealing with other patients, and ensuring that strict regulatory standards are followed. This necessitates the ability to multitask not only effectively but also precisely.
18. Diplomacy: Every pharmacist will come across a patient attempting to obtain a prohibited substance without a prescription, on an expired prescription, or too soon. Some of these individuals, particularly those with addictive tendencies, can become aggressive and frightening.

Pharmacists must be able to settle these issues in the best interests of all parties involved. This needs diplomacy, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm, as well as consideration for the patient’s, staff’s, and other customers’ safety.

19. Prioritizing skills: Pharmacists must be competent to appraise events and make quick decisions. For example, do you fill the prescription of the patient who has been waiting 10 minutes or the worried woman who has just arrived with a sick newborn and two sobbing toddlers? It’s tough to strike a balance between empathy and fairness when deciding this, but it’s vital when trying to prioritize duties.
20. Analytical skills: It’s hard to know everything about how pharmaceuticals interact with the body and with each other, even if you’re an expert on the subject. Pharmacists must approach their work with an analytical perspective, consulting suitable sources as needed, and making logical and accountable decisions about a patient’s prescription.
21. Counseling skills: Despite the fast-paced nature of the profession, pharmacists should take the time to thoroughly explain a patient’s medicine and address the potential side effects. For example, if a patient forgets to take certain pills on a frequent basis, a pharmacist should look into why (it could be more than just forgetfulness) and offer a solution that would help the patient.
22. Financial literacy: As previously mentioned, pharmacists may be in charge of budgets, ordering new inventory, and overseeing other expenses such as payroll. This necessitates excellent organizational skills as well as a basic understanding of financial, bookkeeping, and taxation fundamentals.
23. Mentoring skills: Pharmacy managers must be able to teach and pass on their knowledge and experience to junior pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are just starting. This is a requirement in the United Kingdom, where prospective pharmacists must complete 52 weeks of competency-based mentorship before sitting their registration exam.

Conscientiousness. Pharmacists, like other medical practitioners, are expected to follow stated ethical and moral norms, regardless of their own convictions. Like doctors, pharmacists must put the patient’s professional needs ahead of their emotional feelings.

25. Ethics: Prescriptions are written by pharmacists for people with various medical ailments who are undergoing various therapies. As a result, they must operate ethically and discreetly while handling confidential patient information. This is especially crucial if you live in a small community where most people know each other; as a pharmacist, you should never reveal facts about someone’s medical condition; instead, you should respect their right to privacy.
26. Physical stamina: The majority of a pharmacist’s shift is spent standing, filling prescriptions, and refilling supplies. As a result, they must have the physical capacity to carry out their responsibilities without exhausting themselves.
27. Active listening: You must be attentive to your patients as a pharmacist. To do so, you must be a good listener who is focused on your patients and ready to provide them with the care they require to improve their diseases. Having a dismissive attitude and failing to listen carefully to what your patients are saying will not only get you a terrible reputation, but it could also be harmful, as your lack of active listening may result in you missing vital clues that point to the correct prescription.

 

How to Become a Pharmacy Manager

To become a pharmacy manager, you must complete certain educational requirements and obtain a license. While no formal education is required to become a pharmacy manager, some institutions provide on-the-job training to master pharmacy systems, rules, and practices. While some pharmacies hire managers with only a bachelor’s degree and a lot of experience, the majority of them require a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The four main steps to becoming a pharmacy manager are as follows:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree: In addition to management expertise, some pharmacy managers may have a bachelor’s degree in business or health administration. By enrolling in the appropriate courses, you can ensure that your education qualifies you to apply for a license.

A pharmacology bachelor’s degree qualifies you to pursue a PharmD. In some pharmacy programs, obtaining a doctorate can be done concurrently with obtaining a bachelor’s degree. This could help you finish your degree faster, allowing you to get into the workforce and gain useful experience sooner.

2. Obtain your license: States have different licensing requirements. It’s best to look into how to qualify to manage a pharmacy in your area, or the area where you want to work. You may also be required to meet hourly standards, which vary by state. In most circumstances, one or both of the following licenses are required:

NAPLEX: North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination

MPJE: Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination.

Pharmacy managers are often required to have a PharmD. doctoral degree, which they can get after completing a bachelor’s degree. They are frequently required to have substantial professional expertise in pharmacies.

Acquire the necessary educational Requirements: A postgraduate degree, the PharmD., is required for pharmacy managers. This country has 128 approved programs, each with its own set of admittance standards. All of them, however, involve a requirement to complete post-secondary courses in physics, biology, and chemistry. They also normally necessitate at least two years of undergraduate education, with the majority requiring a complete bachelor’s degree. In addition, candidates must pass the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).

Although expedited options are available, the degree takes about four years to finish. Students study courses in medical ethics, pharmacology, and chemistry as part of the program. Work experience, such as internships in various pharmacies and medical settings, is also required.

When pharmacy managers own a business, they often need a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). Others, depending on where they work, have a master’s degree in public health. To keep their expertise relevant and up to date, they must all complete continuing education courses.

State licensing is also required for pharmacy managers. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), which tests their abilities and knowledge, and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJA), which tests their understanding of state laws, must both be passed. They must also be certified if they want to provide immunizations and vaccinations, which is normally done through the American Pharmacists Association’s Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery program.

There are other optional certifications available. The Accreditation Board for Diabetes Educators offers Certified Diabetes Educator certification, as well as the Board of Pharmacy Specialties’ cancer and nutrition certifications.

3. Complete immunization training course: Pharmacy managers must obtain an immunization certificate because they provide vaccines and immunizations. The American Pharmacists Association provides this service (APhA).
4. Gain experience: Take advantage of on-the-job training or an internship. The amount of years of experience required by pharmacies varies by company. Prior management experience can help you move faster up the management ladder, or you could obtain experience at a small pharmacy with less competition.

 

Where to Work as a Pharmacy Manager

• Pharmacy Managers work in the following places:
• Pharmacies and drug stores.
• Hospitals; state, local, and private.
• General merchandise stores.
• Grocery stores.

 

Pharmacy Manager Salary Scale

As of April 26, 2022, the average Pharmacy Manager’s pay in the United States is $160,413; however, salaries frequently range from $149,555 to $170,039. Salary ranges rely on a variety of things, including schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years one has worked in the field. The national average salary estimate for Pharmacy managers was $119,896.  In the UK the average salary for a Pharmacy Manager is £45,000 gross per year (£2,840 net per month), which is £15,400 (+52%) higher than the UK’s national average salary.

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