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Clinical Pharmacist, Druggist, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Registered Pharmacist
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Pharmacists help patients at local community pharmacies, hospitals, or related health facilities. They also apply their knowledge in:
Pharmacists in community and hospital settings:
In Alberta, licensed pharmacists collaborate with other health care professionals. Their participation may involve prescribing drugs or blood products or giving injections.
Pharmacists in community settings also:
Pharmacists in hospital settings can also build a practice in fields such as oncology, cardiology, psychiatry, infectious disease, critical care, intensive care, internal medicine, pediatrics, or geriatrics. In addition, they:
Pharmacists in industrial and educational settings may:
Pharmacists can either work alone or team up with others in the field. These can include pharmacists, physicians, nurses, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and other health professionals.
In community and hospital settings, pharmacists often work rotating shifts that include evenings and holidays.
In some situations, pharmacists may be on their feet for long periods.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in precision working to dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers and other health care professionals, and to ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biological and other drugs and pharmaceuticals; and in ordering and maintaining stock of pharmaceutical supplies
Interest in synthesizing pharmaceutical products; and in advising customers and health care professionals on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drugs interactions and dosage
Interest in instructing and advising customers on the selection and use of non-prescription medications; may supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Pharmacists need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 52 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 19, 2021 and Apr 03, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity | 26 |
|---|---|
| Health benefits: Health care plan | 23 |
| Tasks: Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage | 23 |
| Tasks: Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs | 23 |
| Tasks: Check prescriptions for proper dosage | 22 |
| Tasks: Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals | 22 |
| Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Licensure by provincial or territorial authorities | 22 |
| Health benefits: Dental plan | 21 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 20 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 20 |
The minimum academic requirement is a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. Pharmacists also need to have extensive knowledge of drug therapy and to stay up to date on the latest advances in the pharmaceutical sciences.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.
The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.
Pharmacists assist and advise clients and other health care providers by contributing unique drug and non drug therapy knowledge on drug and non drug selection and use; monitor responses and outcomes to drug therapy; compound, prepare, dispense and prescribe drugs; provide non prescription drugs, blood products, parenteral nutrition, health care devices and aids; supervise and manage drug distribution systems to maintain public safety and drug system security; educate clients, patients and others; conduct or collaborate in drug related research; and conduct or administer drug and other health related programs.
Under Alberta's Health Professions Act and the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Profession Regulation registration with the Alberta College of Pharmacists (ACP) is mandatory if you meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public, teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession, or supervise registered members who provide services to the public. Registered members, who are authorized by the College, provide restricted activities specified in the Regulation. Only registered members may call themselves pharmacists, clinical pharmacists or druggists.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Pharmacist.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Pharmacists are employed by:
Pharmacists working in community settings usually start as salaried employees. With experience, they can take on managerial roles, enter a partnership, or even start their own pharmacy. Teaching and research positions generally require further education.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 3131: Pharmacists occupational group, 75.8% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 3131: Pharmacists occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 97 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $43.27 | $52.44 | $49.29 | $50.00 |
| Overall | $45.30 | $58.65 | $53.18 | $55.25 |
| Top | $47.00 | $61.28 | $55.77 | $60.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $86,047 |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | $86,928 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $84,677 |
| Public Administration | $106,329 |
Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) website: abpharmacy.ca
Alberta Pharmacists’ Association website: www.rxa.ca
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: www.hsaa.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
