How to Become a Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy managers play a crucial role in the healthcare industry, as they ensure the efficient and effective operation of a pharmacy. Their importance lies in their ability to provide a high level of patient care with a reliable pharmacy that their community can depend on.
You will find a pharmacy manager in almost every pharmacy across the country. But what exactly does a pharmacy manager do, and how do you become a pharmacy manager?
In this guide on how to become a pharmacy manager, Soliant’s pharmacy experts cover everything you need to know about pursuing the career. From the typical job description to day-to-day responsibilities and requirements, learn about becoming a pharmacy manager below!
What is a Pharmacy Manager?
A pharmacy manager is a licensed pharmacist who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy. Their primary duties include supervising pharmacy technicians and other staff, ensuring compliance with all regulations and laws, managing inventory, providing excellent customer service, and handling administrative tasks.
Pharmacy Manager Job Description
Have you ever noticed that when you go to the pharmacy with your prescription, they usually fill your order within half an hour? Pharmacy managers can be attributed to the effective operations of the pharmacy.
The responsibilities and job description of a pharmacy manager can vary due to the number of patients they serve, the size of the pharmacy, the type of pharmacy, and the number of employees they oversee. However, there are several responsibilities that remain constant for pharmacy managers.
Inventory Management
Pharmacy managers are responsible for managing the inventory of medications, which includes ordering medications and maintaining records. Ensuring that the pharmacy is well-stocked and able to meet patient needs is a vital responsibility. They need to know which medications are most likely to be prescribed by anticipating demand, and they make sure they have those that are less often prescribed on hand as well. By tracking inventory levels and maintaining records, pharmacy managers prevent delays in patient care and reduce the risk of medication errors, such as letting inventory sit past its shelf life. Medication inventory management is a complex yet exciting aspect of the role.
Ensuring Compliance
Pharmacy managers must also ensure that their pharmacy complies with all relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. They’re responsible for staying up-to-date on changes in legislation, implementing necessary modifications to pharmacy procedures, and ensuring that all staff members are properly trained and licensed. Compliance with both national and state regulatory requirements is essential for maintaining patient safety and protecting the pharmacy’s reputation.
Employee Management
Pharmacy managers are essential to employee management within a pharmacy. Some tasks a pharmacy manager might be responsible for include, making schedules, reading and distributing new documentation on medications and drug interactions, meeting quality assurance goals, and monitoring and evaluating employees. Pharmacy managers also handle customer complaints, maintain contact with doctors’ offices, and build relationships with their customers and their community. Essentially, pharmacy managers take on all the duties of a typical manager role while also ensuring that life-saving medications are available for their patients – what a responsibility!
How To Become a Pharmacy Manager
Below are the steps you’ll need to follow to become a pharmacy manager:
- Bachelor’s Degree: The first step to becoming a pharmacy manager is obtaining a bachelor’s degree. It’s recommended that you obtain a bachelor’s degree in biology or another healthcare or physical science-related field.
- Doctor of Pharmacy Degree: Next, you will need to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited institution. A list of accredited programs is available from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The program will typically take three to four years and will allow you to gain supervised work experience inside the pharmacy.
- Licenses: All states require pharmacists to be licensed; however, the specific licenses and additional requirements for pharmacy managers may vary by state. In most cases, you’ll need to complete the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). In addition, the pharmacy may require additional certifications in a specific field from the Board of Pharmacy Specialities.
Once you meet the above requirements, you’ll be ready to take on an entry-level pharmacist or pharmacy manager position. Keep in mind that most pharmacy manager positions will require several years of pharmacy experience and even other managerial experience. However, this varies from employer to employer, and some positions may only require one year of experience.
Pharmacy Manager Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
- North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)
- Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE)
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Immunization Certificate
- 1+ Years of Experience
In addition to the above, there are certain soft skills required for the role:
- Strong leadership and management skills.
- Excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Attention to detail.
- An understanding of finance to manage budgets and make informed decisions.
- Organizational skills.
Become a Pharmacy Manager
If you’re looking for an exciting role in the pharmacy where you can have a significant positive impact on your community, one of Soliant’s pharmacy manager positions might be perfect for you!
Soliant has the most pharmacy manager opportunities in a wide range of settings nationwide, including hospitals, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, clinics, government health agencies, and more.
As a pharmacy manager, you are responsible for taking care of your pharmacy. At Soliant, we want to take care of you and your career. Whether you’re interested in a pharmacy manager position or a travel pharmacy opportunity, explore all of our available pharmacy jobs using the button below!
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