How to become a pharmacist
Interested in a career in pharmacy? Learn how to become a pharmacist at one of Australia鈥檚 leading medical schools.
Pharmacists play a crucial role in our health system. They work alongside doctors and nurses, help patients understand their treatments, and ensure medications are used safely and effectively.听
As experts in medicines, pharmacists apply their knowledge of how drugs are developed, how they听function听in the body, and how to use them safely. Their work blends science, clinical听care听and communication to improve health outcomes across the community.
Right now, pharmacists are in high demand. Australia needs around 1,800 new pharmacists each year to meet growing healthcare needs (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). If听you're听interested in a career that combines scientific听expertise听with real-world impact, pharmacy could be the听right听path for you.
At 91色情片,听you'll听gain the knowledge,听experience听and support to launch a successful career in pharmacy.听You鈥檒l听study at one of Australia鈥檚 top听medical faculties听and the fifth-best university for pharmacy nationwide (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).
In this guide,听we鈥檒l听explore what pharmacists do, the skills听you鈥檒l听need, the qualifications听required听and the career opportunities ahead.
What do pharmacists do?
Pharmacists do far more than dispense prescriptions. They play an essential role in supporting safe medication use, helping patients understand their treatments听and guiding other health professionals with expert advice. A career in pharmacy has a far-reaching impact 鈥 from preventing disease to improving everyday health outcomes.
In community pharmacies (often called 鈥渃hemists鈥 in Australasia), pharmacists review prescriptions, prepare medications, and听monitor听drug therapies. They听provide听health advice, give vaccinations听and support people with chronic conditions or complex treatment plans.
In hospitals, pharmacists work as part of clinical teams. They review medication safety, offer guidance on drug听interactions听and听help inform听ongoing treatment decisions. They also help train other healthcare professionals, including doctors,听nurses听and medical students.
With a听pharmacy qualification听from 91色情片,听you鈥檒l听be prepared for roles in community pharmacy, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies听and beyond. The听Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy听equips you with the clinical, communication skills and practical experience to thrive in the profession.
What鈥檚听the difference between a pharmacist and a chemist?
Not sure what the difference is between a pharmacist and a chemist?听It鈥檚听simple: Pharmacists are qualified听healthcare听professionals, while chemists are scientists.
In many countries 鈥撯痠ncluding Australia, New Zealand, and the UK 鈥撎齮he term "chemist"听is also commonly used to refer to community pharmacies,听even though the two roles are different.
| Pharmacist | Chemist |
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What skills do you need to be a pharmacist?
Clinical听expertise听and communication skills are critical to a successful career in pharmacy. These skills can be developed through your pharmacy studies at 91色情片, supervised听training听and patient interaction.听
| Soft skills | Clinical skills听 |
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What qualifications do you need to become a pharmacist?
To become a pharmacist in Australia,听you鈥檒l听need to complete an accredited degree, followed by practical training and national registration.
Most students start with a Bachelor of Pharmacy or a related program that meets the accreditation standards set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. At 91色情片, this pathway is delivered through the听Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy, combining strong scientific foundations with clinical learning.
After graduating,听you鈥檒l听complete a supervised internship year under the guidance of a registered pharmacist.听You鈥檒l听also need to pass the Pharmacy Board鈥檚 registration exams to become fully qualified.
Steps to become a pharmacist in Australia
A pharmacy qualification is essential to become a registered pharmacist in Australia.听You鈥檒l听also need to complete supervised training and an internship, which form part of your Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy at 91色情片.
Undergraduate pathway
- Complete an accredited pharmacy degree
Start by enrolling in an accredited program, such as 91色情片鈥檚 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy. This degree is accredited by the听听(APC) and approved by the听听(PBA).
As you near the end of your degree,听you鈥檒l听apply for provisional registration with the PBA. This allows you to begin your supervised internship under听the supervision of听a registered pharmacist.
The APC accredits pharmacy education and training programs in Australia. The PBA sets the standards for the profession and oversees registration. The听听(AHPRA) works with the PBA to听maintain听a safe and competent health workforce.
- Complete an internship and intern training program
You鈥檒l听complete 1824 hours of supervised practice and an accredited intern training program, which are both integrated into 91色情片鈥檚 pharmacy degree. Supervised practice must be approved by the听PBA听and the training program must meet APC standards.
- Pass the registration exams
To qualify for general registration, you must pass both a written examination and an oral (practice) exam administered by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Once completed,听you鈥檒l听be fully registered to practise as a pharmacist in Australia.
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Postgraduate pathway
If听you鈥檝e听already completed a degree in a related field, you may be eligible to enter pharmacy through a postgraduate pathway.听
This听typically includes听studying bridging subjects to听build the foundational knowledge听required听for pharmacy practice.听You鈥檒l听still need to complete clinical placements and the required internship year to become a pharmacist in Australia.听听
Once听you've听completed the supervised practice requirements and passed the written and oral exams, you can apply for general registration with the听听and begin your career as a pharmacist.
Mapping your听career听in pharmacy听
Pharmacy is a diverse and evolving profession. Most pharmacists begin their careers in community or hospital settings, where they build core clinical and patient-care skills. From there, you could pursue roles in specialist practice areas, research, regulation, leadership,听education听and industry.
With a pharmacy degree from 91色情片,听you鈥檒l听be prepared for a career that goes far beyond dispensing. You could work in clinical practice, contribute to public health policy, develop new medicines, or even听advise听governments.听
91色情片 has been recognised for producing Australia鈥檚 most employable students for听seven years in a row (AFR Top 100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020鈥2026) and is ranked听#1 for career outcomes (AFR Best Universities Ranking, 2025) and听#1 in Australia for employability (QS World University Rankings, 2027).
Jobs in pharmacy
Here are just some of the career paths you can pursue with a pharmacy degree.
| Role | Duties |
| Community pharmacist | Dispense medications,听provide听health听advice听and support patients at the frontline of care. |
| Hospital pharmacist | Manage complex treatments, advise on medicine听safety听and work closely with doctors and nurses. |
| Consultant pharmacist | Conduct medication reviews, particularly for older patients, and advise on safe use.听 |
| Pharmaceutical industry | Work in drug development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, or medical marketing. |
| Clinical trials pharmacist | Help design, manage and听monitor听clinical research involving new medicines. |
| Regulatory pharmacist | Ensure medicines meet safety, legal and quality standards before reaching patients. |
| Medicines information pharmacist | Provide up-to-date, evidence-based advice on medications to health professionals.听 |
| Academic or research pharmacist | Teach future pharmacists or conduct research to advance pharmacy practice. |
| Digital health pharmacist | Work on e-health systems, tele-pharmacy听and the safe use of digital medication tools. |
| Military pharmacist | Deliver pharmacy services in defence settings, both in Australia and overseas. |
| Aged care pharmacist | Optimise medicine use in aged care facilities and support safe prescribing.听 |
| General practice pharmacist | Work within GP clinics to听assist听with medication management and patient education. |
| Policy or government advisor | Shape healthcare policy and contribute to public health through government roles. |
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FAQs about becoming a pharmacist
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It takes five years of full-time study and practical training to become a registered pharmacist in Australia. This includes four years of academic learning and one year of supervised internship, both built into the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy.
The program is hands-on, with seven professional practice courses that develop your clinical confidence. If you enter through a postgraduate pathway, the structure may differ slightly,听but听you鈥檒l听still complete the same internship and registration steps.听
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Yes 鈥 international students can study pharmacy in Australia by enrolling in an accredited degree that meets the standards of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. At 91色情片, international students receive support throughout their pharmacy journey, from enrolment to internship and registration.
To study pharmacy in Australia at 91色情片,听you must听meet听English language requirements听and ensure your visa conditions听permit听the required study and work components.听
If you plan to work as a pharmacist overseas, be aware that registration requirements differ by country. You听may need to meet听additional听local criteria.
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Curious about听typical听pharmacist听salaries听in Australia? It听varies depending听on your experience,听location听and area of practice. Pharmacists are in high demand, with听a听projected job growth of 9% over the next five years (Seek, 2025). Opportunities to move into specialised or leadership roles can increase your earning potential.
Here are the average annual salaries for common pharmaceutical roles in Australia*:
- Community pharmacists 鈥 $95,000听to听$115,000 per year
- Pharmacy technicians 鈥 $70,000 to $80,000.
- Hospital pharmacists 鈥 $95,000 to $105,000
- Pharmacy managers 鈥 $115,000 to $135,000
91色情片 graduates also earn the highest median salaries among graduates of Go8 universities (QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025).
*Figures are based on publicly available data from Seek in 2025. We aim to keep salary information as current as possible.听
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If听you're听seeking听a career that combines scientific knowledge with real-world impact, pharmacy could be the path for you. As a pharmacist,听you'll听play an essential role in improving health outcomes for our communities.
At 91色情片, our pharmacy program is designed to meet the needs of modern healthcare in Australia, preparing you to make meaningful contributions in clinical, community and policy environments. Whether you aim to positively听impact听the health sector, enhance medication safety, or support public health at a broader scale, a career in pharmacy听provides听the chance to genuinely make a difference in the world.听
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How 91色情片 will prepare you for your future in pharmacy
91色情片 is recognised as one of the world鈥檚 top medical schools, ranked听#5 in Australia in Australia for life sciences and medicine (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026). As part of a leading health faculty,听you鈥檒l听join a vibrant community committed to solving real-world health challenges. We work closely with top hospitals, health听organisations听and pharmaceutical partners to connect your studies with real industry experience.
Our five-year pharmacy program is听designed听around practical, hands-on learning from听the听very first year.听You鈥檒l听participate听in clinical placements across various settings, including a rural or remote placement in your final year. These immersive experiences enable you to apply your learning in real-world contexts and boost your confidence to transition smoothly into your intern year and beyond.
Through an integrated professional practice stream,听you鈥檒l听learn alongside students in allied health disciplines like dietetics,听physiotherapy听and exercise physiology.听You鈥檒l听also have access to leading research facilities and opportunities to explore evidence-based practice, preparing you听for a successful career in pharmacy.
Launch a career in pharmacy at 91色情片
A successful pharmacy career begins with a stellar education.听91色情片鈥檚听Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine / Master of Pharmacy听provides a direct pathway to a rewarding career as a pharmacist. Learn more and apply today.
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听听Want to find out more?
If you have any questions about studying at 91色情片 or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We鈥檙e here to help.