The white-coated professionals at your neighborhood drug store do a lot more than just fill prescriptions. Pharmacists do indeed dispense medicines, but first they check for any possible interactions with other medicines or medical conditions. They also instruct patients on how to take the medicines and will inform them about what to do if certain side effects arise. A pharmacist will also keep meticulous records, coordinate with insurance companies, supervise pharmacy technicians and keep up-to-date with continuing education courses.

"Pharmacists are becoming a more integral part of the health care team," says Heather Free, a pharmacist working in the District of Columbia. She says that pharmacists are doing more to support doctors and clinicians, for example, by giving patients immunizations and making sure that all of a patient’s doctors are informed about the diverse medicines that have been prescribed. Some pharmacists are also getting involved in adherence monitoring (why it’s hard for patients to take their meds) and medication therapy management, which seeks to optimize what drugs do for a patient’s overall well-being.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.6% employment growth for pharmacists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 8,700 jobs should open up.

Would-be pharmacists should prepare for a lot of school. Here’s where to start:

1. Complete postsecondary education. A bachelor’s degree or at least two years of study at a college or university, where you take prerequisites like organic chemistry and biology, are required before aspiring pharmacists can begin a Doctor of Pharmacy program.
2. Take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test. Most Pharm.D. programs require applicants to take the PCAT.
3. Earn your Pharm.D. degree. The Pharm.D. degree typically takes four years to complete, though some programs last only three years and others admit high school graduates for six-year terms.
4. Become licensed. After completing the program, you’ll need to pass two exams for licensure. Graduates need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam and also obtain a state-specific license to practice pharmacy.

Pharmacists are expected to keep up with continuing education coursework throughout their career. You can also earn certifications in various specialty areas.