How to Advance Your Pharmacy Career: Expert Tips for Growth and Success

Pharmacy is a rewarding and in-demand field offering diverse career paths However, with rapid changes in healthcare, advancing as a pharmacist takes proactive planning. Whether seeking leadership roles, higher salaries, or new challenges, progress requires the right skills, experience, and strategy

This guide provides expert tips to help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians navigate career growth. It covers advancing in clinical and retail pharmacy settings through expanded responsibilities, certifications, specialization, leadership development, and continuing education.

Taking on New Responsibilities

Gaining expertise beyond your formal job description is essential for advancement. Look for opportunities to:

• Learn workflow processes outside your assigned tasks
• Cross-train in other pharmacy areas like sterile compounding or inventory management
• Volunteer for pharmacy committees and quality improvement projects
• Train new hires and act as a preceptor for students/interns
• Create guidelines, tools, and systems to improve pharmacy operations
• Participate in business analysis such as cost reduction and revenue growth initiatives
• Write content for employee wellness programs, newsletters, or the company website
• Assist with clinical program development and expansion

Building a breadth of comprehensive pharmacy experience prepares you to take on greater responsibilities in management and clinical roles. It also builds relationships with stakeholders across the organization.

Earning Professional Certifications

Pharmacy certifications validate specialized expertise to employers while boosting your earning potential Top options include

Board Certification

Obtaining board certification in a specialty demonstrates advanced clinical proficiency. Options from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties include:

• Ambulatory care pharmacy
• Critical care pharmacy
• Nuclear pharmacy
• Nutrition support pharmacy
• Oncology pharmacy
• Pediatric pharmacy
• Pharmacotherapy

Specialty Credentials

• Diabetes educator (NCBDE)
• Asthma educator (NAECB)
• Immunization certification (ACPE)
• Medication therapy management (AMCP)
• Cardiology care certification (NACDS)

Management Certifications

• Pharmacy quality certification (NCPDP)
• Health system pharmacy administration (ASHP)
• Business operational certification (NACDS)

Technical Certifications

• IV and sterile compounding certification (PPAG)
• Inventory control certification (NCPDP)
• Technology certification (ASHP)

Select certifications that align with your interests and career aspirations. Some require prerequisites like direct patient care experience or residencies. Give yourself at least 3-6 months for exam preparation through individual study and review courses.

Considering Residencies and Fellowships

For clinical and research career paths, formalized post-graduate training is extremely valuable:

• Residencies: 1-2 year programs to gain expertise in specialties like ambulatory care, oncology, pediatrics, infectious disease, cardiology, critical care, and more.

• Fellowships: 1-2 year programs offering subspecialty training in areas like psychiatry, nephrology, hematology/oncology, cardiology, infectious disease, critical care, and pediatrics.

Benefits include focused skill development, work experience in your specialty, advanced clinical knowledge, research opportunities, and expanded career prospects. When evaluating programs, look for established teaching sites that match your interests and offer strong mentoring. Be prepared to relocate if needed.

Choosing a Specialty

Pursuing a pharmacy specialty allows you to gain expertise in a specific clinical area:

Common Specialties

• Ambulatory care
• Geriatric pharmacy
• Community pharmacy
• Health system pharmacy
• Nuclear pharmacy

Clinical Specialties

• Oncology
• Psychiatric
• Pediatric
• Critical care
• Cardiology
• Infectious disease

Consider your passions, abilities, and career goals when selecting a specialty. Shadow other specialists to learn day-to-day responsibilities. clinical specialists need experience providing direct patient care, residency training, and possibly board certification. Evaluate job opportunities when choosing a specialty path.

Developing Leadership Skills

Advancing into pharmacy leadership requires a dedicated focus on management skills:

Communication

• Provide clear direction through active listening, empathy, and influencing others

Team Building

• Motivate staff, facilitate collaboration, and resolve conflicts

Coaching

• Develop team members through mentoring, training, and performance management

Project Management

• Plan initiatives, delegate tasks, monitor progress, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery

Business Acumen

• Analyze data, manage budgets and staffing, improve processes, and support growth

Vision and Strategy

• Set goals, create plans, and drive change through innovation and calculated risk-taking

Pursue leadership development through coursework, peer networking, and professional coaching. Seek committee roles, volunteer initiatives, and special project opportunities to gain experience. For directors, VP, and executive roles, an MBA or management-focused degree is often advantageous.

Earning an Advanced Pharmacy Degree

Advanced pharmacy degrees open doors to high-level clinical, research, academic, and industry careers:

• PharmD/MBA Dual Degree: Combines clinical and business skills for pharmacy leadership roles

• PharmD/MPH Dual Degree: Ideal for public health, policy, advocacy and population health roles

• PharmD/PhD Dual Degree: For research and academic positions at universities and pharmaceutical companies

• PharmD/JD Dual Degree: Enables pharmacy law, policy, and patent attorney roles

Pursuing a dual-degree program saves time compared to completing degrees separately. Weigh goals, career options, and time investments when deciding if an advanced degree is right for you.

Maintaining Continuing Education

Lifelong learning is essential for all pharmacists to advance their practice:

• Complete required CE hours for license renewal in your state(s)

• Seek live and online CE programs related to your specialty and interests

• Read professional journals to stay updated on new research and best practices

• Attend annual conferences of pharmacy organizations and specialty academies

• Enroll in skills-based training like motivational interviewing and point-of-care testing

• Refresh foundational knowledge through CE courses in calculus, biostatistics, physiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics

Continuing education fosters clinical growth and exposes you to new career possibilities. Sharing your expertise by teaching CE courses also builds your professional reputation.

Networking and Finding Mentors

Expanding your professional network provides critical support for navigating your pharmacy career:

• Attend conferences to connect with peers locally and nationwide

• Join professional associations related to your specialty, setting, or interests

• Connect with pharmacy leaders through LinkedIn outreach and informational interviews

• Partner with peers on research, presentations, publications, and projects

• Build relationships with pharmacists across departments and specialties

• Seek out mentors who can advise you and champion career advancement

Tapping into the collective wisdom of fellow pharmacists at all levels allows you to maximize opportunities, avoid missteps, and contribute to the profession.

Key Takeaways for Advancing Your Pharmacy Career

• Take initiative to expand your responsibilities, gain new skills, and build your expertise.

• Earn professional certifications and complete residencies or fellowships to specialize.

• Develop strengths in leadership, management, strategy, and business operations.

• Pursue advanced degrees and continuing education tailored to your career goals.

• Build relationships and seek mentors across pharmacy networks.

• Remain flexible and open-minded as new opportunities arise.

With proper planning and preparation, pharmacy offers diverse options for challenging and rewarding career development. Define your professional goals and implement targeted steps to continue growing your skills, experience and impact.